Hemi Seelster trots to a new mark

WILKES-BARRE PA – Hemi Seelster trotted to a new mark of 1:52.2 in taking his third straight race, the $20,000 trotting feature at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Sunday night, his third straight harness racing tally since joining the barn of Tom Milici.

 

The Holiday Road gelding, handled by Jason Bartlett in an infrequent Pocono appearance, brushed to the front past the quarter and won by 4½ lengths for owners Richard Lombardo, Carl Atley, and Robert Leblanc. Hemi Seelster certainly doesn't need to carry his racetrack with him – his top five lines show Harrington, Monticello (a scratch), Saratoga, Yonkers, and now Pocono.

 

Two driving streaks continued during the card, but one ended. The leading local horsemen, driver George Napolitano Jr. and trainer Chris Oakes, won the first race on Saturday and then Sunday for the second straight weekend combination – the two have had 11 wins together in Pocono's last six cards. ("George Nap" had five in total on Sunday at Pocono.) And Eric Carlson, who guided Windsun Steson to a $72.20 victory last week, continued his membership in the Bomber Squad with a $50.80 tally behind Yankeroo on Sunday.

 

On the other side, Jim Marohn Jr. has nothing to feel bad about although losing a string of nine straight Pocono cards where he's had multiple winners – after all, he's only had his picture taken after 63 races since October 1, 41 times at Pocono!