WILKES-BARRE PA – Somebody AS, a daughter of Striking Sahbra who shares a name with a nutrition/health company in Scandinavia, showed her fitness Sunday night at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono by winning the harness racing $20,000 featured trot in 1:54.1.
George Napolitano Jr. left from post two with the Anette Lorentzon-trained mare, gave up the lead to Classicality just past the 27.1 quarter, retook immediately from that one and coasted to the half in 57, then put up a 1:25 time at the ¾ before holding off the potential pocket rocket by a half-length on a cool (51o) night in the mountains. Tweet Me, who had to come first-over, finished third, a length behind Classicality.
Somebody AS, winning for the seventh time in 22 starts this year, has now assembled a very healthy lifetime bankroll of $558,163 for international owners ACL Stuteri AB of Paris (Kentucky, y'all) and Kjell Johansson of Sosdala, Sweden.
Earlier, Chuck Connor Jr. guided a horse back to Pocono's Victory Lane for the first time in eleven years and nine days when he scored a maiden victory behind Claire, a filly with a pedigree (by millionaire Breeders Crown winner Chapter Seven out of millionaire Breeders Crown winner Housethatruthbuilt) that suggests many more good things to come.
Connor, who usually races at Pocono only a couple times a year, posted career victory 1894 behind Claire, and marked his first visit to the local winners circle since he arrived there behind Bet On The Grey on September 16, 2005.
PHHA / Pocono