As October draws to a chilly close in Northeastern Pennsylvania, The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono is headed into the final month of the harness racing season. In the next few weeks we'll be taking a look back at everything that the 2016 racing season had in store for us. That means that this will be the final edition of the Weekly Awards for the year. Congratulations to all the winners from the past seven months or so. I only wish we could have handed out many more, since there were many who were deserving who just missed the cut.
PACER OF THE WEEK: SOMEWHERE IN L A
A five-year-old gelding from the Ron Burke barn, Somewhere In L A arrived at Pocono likely feeling a little frustrated, having lost as an odds-on favorite in his last two starts at Yonkers. He quickly took out that frustration on a $12,500 condition group at Pocono on October 8, as he absolutely destroyed that field on the front end in a career-best 1:48:4, one of the fastest miles at the track in several weeks.
Buoyed by that win, he jumped a couple steps on the ladder to compete in Saturday night's featured $15,500 condition pace. Despite an outside post and the move up in class, Somewhere In L A was made the 2-5 betting favorite. Driver Pat Berry sent him to the front and he was able to make the lead by the quarter-pole. From there Berry was able to ease off the throttle a bit, since there wasn't any real pressure on the horse from the outside.
In the home stretch, Somewhere In L A was still in front, but long shot Kid PK made it interesting with a furious late rally that came up a half-length short. Facing the tougher class, Somewhere In L A was able to come home a winner in a much more modest time than in his previous victory, the 1:52:2 mark more than three seconds slower. But the bottom line is that he has two wins in a row and should be ready to take on even tougher next time around.
Honorable mention on the pacing side goes to: Black Queen (George Napolitano Jr., Jason Robinson), a mare who picked her third straight claiming win on Monday, this one coming in 1:53:2; Father Sarducci (Tom Jackson, Tom Shay), who won his second straight Monday feature condition pace this past week, getting the job done in 1:53:3; and Single Me (Andrew McCarthy, Ross Croghan), a mare who moved up in class to win Tuesday night's feature condition pace in 1:51:4, her second straight victory.
TROTTER OF THE WEEK: BOFFIN
This six-year-old gelding trained by Anette Lorentzon has had success at Pocono in the past, including a career-best time of 1:51:1 in a start here last year. He spent most of his 2016 season in the Midwest, arriving finally last week to capture a $20,000 condition trot in come-from-behind fashion in 1:53:4. He was bet at 6-1 in that race, but went off as a 4-5 favorite in his return engagement against that class this past Sunday night.
Leaving from the #1 post in a field of eight, Boffin once again sat back off the early pace. When he started to move on the back stretch, he found his way blocked by two horses in front of him in the outer flow. Driver George Napolitano Jr. decided a three-wide move was his best opportunity to get his charge a shot at the lead.
As they rounded the final turn, Boffin was still three-wide but had pulled up alongside the leaders. Once he had a clear look, there was no holding him back. He sped by to win by a 2 ¼ lengths over second-place Watkins. His winning time of 1:53:4 was identical to his time from the week before, and it was also the fastest trotting time of the week at the Pocono oval. Boffin certainly seems glad to be back at MSPD; I'm not so sure his competitors at the top of the trotting ranks feel the same way.
Other top trotters this week include: Zette Starlet (George Napolitano Jr., Cozette McAvoy), a three-year-old filly who scored her second straight condition win on Sunday night, matching a career-best time of 1:54:4 in the process; Caulfield (Sean Bier, Chris Oakes), who now has three wins in his last four races at Pocono after a condition victory on Saturday night in 1:55; and Undercover Beauty (Jim Marohn Jr., Andy Gardner), a three-year-old filly who has now won two straight after a condition win on Tuesday night in a career-best 1:56:4.
LONG SHOT OF THE WEEK: HOLIDAY SPIRIT
This claiming trotter with Jim Marohn Jr. in the bike started Monday's racing off with a bang, winning the first race at 34-1 for a $71.60 payoff on a $2 win ticket.
DRIVER OF THE WEEK: TOM JACKSON
Jackson had back-to-back wins on Sunday night with horses that went off at 12-1 and 9-1, and then picked up the win in Monday night's feature with Father Sarducci.
TRAINER OF THE WEEK: MATIAS RUIZ
Ruiz has been a steady presence in the training standings all season long, and he added to his ledger with a victory by his trainee Xtatic Hanover on Sunday night.
That will do it for this week, but we'll see you at the track. Feel free to e-mail me at jbeviglia@mohegansunpocono.com.
Jim Beviglia