Reynolds action gets underway at Pocono

Tim Tetrick and McGibson (McArdle-Armbro Althea) opened Grand Circuit Week at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs Tuesday night with a wire-to-wire victory in the first of four divisions for 3-year-old pacing fillies of the W.N. Reynolds Memorial Stake.

In the first race of the 16-race card, McGibson, driven by Tetrick, left quickly from the five post, taking the seven-horse field of fillies to the opening panel in :27.4, half in :57.1, three-quarters in 1:24.1 before winning in 1:51.2, a new lifetime mark for the Linda Toscano-trained McArdle filly.

“They were sprinting pretty good in the second-half of the race,” said Tetrick in the winner’s circle. “I just kept rolling.”

It was the :29.2 second quarter that really made a difference for the winner by a length and three-quarters over Billie Bluechip (Joe Pavia Jr.) and third-place finisher Breach The Gap (David Miller).

This was the sixth win in 11 starts for McGibson with two seconds and a third-place finish in 2009.

Trained and driven by Jimmy Takter, Federalreservenote (Tom Ridge-Starlet Lane) scored his second straight lifetime victory and it also came wire to wire in the first of four divisions of the Reynolds for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings.

Federalreservenote, part of a two-horse entry, left from the eight post and quickly assumed the lead in this race followed by Woody Marvel (Andy Miller) and Sailaway Dream (Tetrick). The opening quarter was timed in :28.4 and half in :58.4 before Federalreservenote won in 1:57.2. This 2-year-old Tom Ridge colt's only other start was a 2:01.3 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes victory at The Meadows.

Takter also scored another Reynolds 2-year-old colt trot victory with Chimon, driven by Dan Dube. Chimon (SJ`s Caviar-Gildone) was a winner in 1:59.2 and was coming off an eighth-place finish in his first start ever in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at The Meadows after going on an early break.

Jim Morrill Jr., the leading driver at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, collected his first win of the evening in the 11th race, driving Upfront Pattys Boy (Windsong`s Legacy-Ebba Hanover) to a win in the Reynolds for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters. Time of this mile was 1:59.4.

“He (Upfront Pattys Boy) surprised me,” said Morrill afterward. “I was hoping for a check after deciding to come second over. He wants to be a horse. I really like him.”

Mark Ford trains Upfront Pattys Boy, whose only other start was a 2:05 second-place finish at Goshen on July 2.

Soul Man Hall (Ray Schnittker), the race favorite finished second to Upfront Pattys boy with Morven (Takter) third.

Grand Circuit Week continues Wednesday night with divisions of the 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings and 2-year-old pacing fillies. (Pocono Downs)

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