Pocono record smashed

Smashingpringipisa won the Tiger-Phil final, sweeping the late-closer series and breaking a track record at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs Tuesday afternoon with a 1:51.4 win. Yannick Gingras drove the 5-year-old mare trained by Mickey Burke to the win, breaking the previous mark for older pacing mares of 1:52.1, which was shared by Female Champs, Nanny Withafanny and A Very Nice Horse.

Armbro Bombay set a blistering pace, while Smashingpringipisa found cover on the back stretch as she moved into third. At the top of the stretch Gingras had a clear path on the outside and gunned the mare forward, holding off Ellen Hanover, also trained by Burke, by three-quarters of a length. Vital Flyte finished third.

Smashingpringipisa picked up her fourth consecutive win, including three straight in the Tiger-Phil series. She is owned by Sylvia Burke of Fredericktown, Pa. and M1 Stable of Bethel, Pa.

In another late-closer series final held on Tuesday, Meteor Man worked out a great trip and flew up the passing lane to pull off an upset in the Duke-North Carolina final. Joe Pavia, Jr. did the driving for trainer Chris Oakes and owner Sam Dalia of Tinton Falls, N.J., guiding Meteor Man, a 12-1 longshot, to a win in 1:53.1. Four Starzzzz Opus finished second and Kat’s Torpedo was third. (Mohegan Sun at Pocono)

« Back