Big Nudge Topples Clarion Hall at Mohegan Sun Pocono Downs

 by Tony Verruso

It was a bit misty and the temperatures dropped considerably for the AHDC amateur trot at Mohegan Sun Pocono Downs on Sunday. Unfortunately for the even money post time favorite Clarion Hall with Joe Pennacchio driving the temperature wasn't the only thing that cooled off. The big gelding's streak of three wins in a row including the AHDC race last week came to a crashing halt.

Clarion Hall did leave the gate as he has in weeks past, but Lucky June Bug and Bob Krivelin made him work pretty hard to get the top this week. Pennacchio was able rate a 30:3 second quarter which jammed up the field a bit. With the trotters in tight quarters, Big Nudge guided by Tony Verruso, who was running up on French Moni and Paul Minore, pulled first up from fourth and steadily gained on the leader. Midway up the bacstretch Verruso urged his horse as he saw Clarion Hall not as sharp as the previous week shortening strides and cleared to the front heading into the last turn. Lucky June Bug slid out behind him but could not muster a late bid and just held of a strong closing Silvermass Volo and Maria de Bruijn for second.

For the winner Big Nudge trained by Symon Spicer, it was his first win of the year in nine tries returning $10.60 to win and trotting an impressive mile in 1:55:3. It was Tony Verruso's eleventh win of the year and twenty fifth race hitting the board in thirty three starts for a UDRS of .522.

Cool Papa Bell, Justice, and Branded By Lindy get NYSS wins at Tioga

Tioga Downs played host to three divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for 2-year-old trotting colts & geldings on Sunday (July 18). 

Cool Papa Bell (Jason Bartlett) destroys field in the $34,300 first division of the NYSS. 

Barn Bully (Corey Callahan) took the lead and led to the first quarter in :29.1.  He then used a :29.4 second quarter to hit the half in :59.0.  Cool Papa Bell ($3.40) made his move from third and brushed on by to grab the lead before hitting three-quarters in 1:27.3. 

As they headed to the stretch Cool Papa Bell turned on the jets and left everyone else far behind as he won easily in 1:56.3.  Grand Spa (Scott Zeron) came up to finish second.  Barn Bully held on for third.   

Cool Papa Bell is a 2-year-old gelding by Chapter Seven-Blk Thai Optional.  He is owned by Runthetable Stables and trained by Jim Campbell.  He is now a perfect three for three in his young career. 

Justice (Ake Svanstedt) breezes to an easy win in the $33,600 second division of the NYSS. 

Justice ($3.00) jumped straight out from the gate and surged right to the lead.  He hit the first quarter in :28.3.  Secret Rule (Joe Bongiorno) came first-up and tucked in second as they went by the stands for the first time.  Justice was first to the half in :57.3 and first to three-quarters in :1:27.1. 

As they made the turn for home Secret Rule popped out of the pocket but he just sputtered as Justice found another gear and just breezed down the stretch to win easily in a lifetime best 1:55.4.  Velvet Style (Jason Bartlett) came up to finish second.  Secret Rule held on for third money. 

Justice is a 2-year-old colt by Chapter Seven-Religulous.  Svanstedt is trainer and part owner with Little E LLC, Torbjorn Swahn Inc., and Myfab Inc.  He is now two for two in his career. 

Branded By Lindy (Scott Zeron) comes flying late to capture the $33,600 third division of the NYSS. 

Quincy Market (Corey Callahan) went straight to the front but Castle House (Kasper Foget) went on by to hit the first quarter first in :27.4.  Quincy Market regained the lead with a lap to go and was first to the half in :56.4.  Distance Learning (Brian Sears) made a first-over move down the backstretch.  Quincy Market shook him off and led to three-quarters in 1:26.0. 

Branded By Lindy ($2.90) was fifth as they hit three-quarters.  As they made the turn for home Quincy Market looked like he was going to put them all away but Branded By Lindy looked like he was shot out of a cannon down the stretch and blew right on by to win easily in 1:56.2.  Quincy Market held on for second.  Chapheart (Jason Bartlett) finished third. 

Branded By Lindy is a 2-year-old colt by Chapter Seven-The Lindy Label.  He is owned by Lindy Farms of Connecticut and trained by Domenico Cecere.  This was his first win in two career starts. 

Tioga Downs returns to Live racing on Saturday (July 24) starting at 6:15 p.m. 

For more information go to www.tiogadowns.com. 

Stranger Things 'Cleans Up' At Buffalo Raceway

 

by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway

 

HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Stranger Things literally let Daylight Rush do the dirty work over the sloppy track at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday night (July 17) but cleaned up in the end with a stunning $57.00 victory in the $11,500 Class AA pace.

 

With the heavily favored Daylight Rush cutting the splits with fractions of :29.1, :58.0 and 1:27.2 over the rain-soaked half mile oval, Stranger Things (Kyle Cummings) followed along in the pocket.

 

Turning for home, Daylight Rush (David McNeight III) tried to hang on but Stranger Things and Art Scene converged on the leader. Things were tight at the end with a three-way photo needed to call the winner. Stranger Things finished getting a head in front of the hard-charging Art Scene (Shawn McDonough) while Daylight Rush had to settle for a tough luck third.

 

Stranger Things (Western Terror-Southwind Prairie) is conditioned by Angelo Nappo and is co-owned by Virginia Schoeffel, Kathy Schoeffel and Jim Reuther. The 5-year-old gelding has now won four of 23 starts on the season, earning $24,049 and $103,460 in his career.

 

In the $10,500 Class A Pace, Darbie's Ideal ($2.50) found the front end to be the 'ideal' place to be and made every pole in winning one as he was victorious over Gallery Opening (Kevin Cummings) by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:55.4. Loaded Deck (McDonough) took the show position.

 

After a skirmish with Major Authority and Gallery Opening, Darbie's Ideal (Ray Fisher Jr.) finally took control by hitting the opening panel in :28.3. The rest of the race boiled down to see if anyone could gun down Darbie's Ideal but the remaining seven entrants came up shooting blanks.

 

Owned by the Swift Racing Stable and trained by Ryan Swift, Darbie's Ideal is a 4-year-old horse who has posted three victories in 12 attempts in 2021. His bankroll increased to $19,665 on the year and $76,497 lifetime.

 

The season ending awards for the 2021 campaign were announced at Buffalo Raceway during the finale.

 

Morrill Jr., who had a double on the night, was the 'Driver Of The Meet' as he won 88 races while Gerry Sarama was the Trainer Of The Meet' as he collected 63 victories. It was the first training title for Sarama at Buffalo Raceway.

 

The 'Pacer Of The Meet' went to R J P, 'Trotter Of The Meet' was Southern Palms while Protect Blue Chip claimed  'Mare Of The Meet' honors.

 

Racing is expected to resume in January, 2022.

 

For more information including the latest news, race replays, entries and results, go to www.buffaloraceway.com