The meets leading driver, Jimmy Marohn, Jr. teamed –up again
with trainer Danny Gill for the 7-year-old Bettor’s Delight gelding’s
second win the series. Last week Haroun Hanover, a career winner of over
$285,000, scored in 1:58.3 nevertheless yesterday (Wed. Feb. 13)
the pacer’s victory was more impressive after a gate to wire triumph from
the seven-hole one and one quarter lengths ahead of second place finisher
Lastcomicstanding and driver Jimmy Devaux.
Still in for the bargain price of $4000 Haroun Hanover,
owned by Ed Hall and James Hall of Connecticut, notched his fifth consecutive
seasonal victory and returned a $2.80 win mutuel . He was the only repeat
winner in the series today.
After finishing second, missing by just a neck last week,
Nutmegs Taxi made amends when Patrick Beeler followed live cover until the top
of the lane and then rallied his pacer to a short nose victory over River Waltz
N and driver Kevin Switzer, Jr. It was the third seasonal triumph for the Four
Starzz Shark 6 year old gelding who’s owned by James Schreibeis of
Florida, NY. Nutmeg’s Taxi paid $9.30 for win.
In the final split Pat Beeler and Four Starzz Lefty
stalked the pace-setter Thomas John N (Mike Simons) with until midway through
the homestretch and then charged home to be a neck winner in a time of
1:58.4. Thomas John N (Mike Simons) held on for second money.
Owned by the Chalky Tom Racing Stable of
Ballston Spa, NY the winner paid $29.80 and gave trainer Billy Devine a
pair of winners on the card.
Although none of the owners used the option of adding
another $1000 to their horse’s claiming price in the series second leg, when
the final prelims are raced next Wednesday owners can enter their pacers for
$4000; $5000 or $6000 again with the higher priced claimers drawing outside of
those with a lesser price tag.
