Scorpion Moon wins open trot at Pocono

Jim Morrill Jr. worked out a pocket trip with Scorpion Moon to win the $28,000 open handicap trot at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs Tuesday (April 27) night.

Trained and owned by Tracy Brainard, the nine-year-old Armbro Scorpion gelding followed No. 4 Grain Of Truth (Ray Schnittker) from the three post in the eight horse field.

Grain Of Truth, who was looking for his third win in four open handicap trots in 2010 at the Northeastern Pennsylvania racetrack, took the field to the first split in 27.3, half in 57.3 and three-quarters in 1:26 with Scorpion Moon and Morrill Jr. sitting a close second. The two nine-year-old gelding trotters battled down the lane with Scorpion Moon pulling out the victory by a neck. Badboy Paparazzi A (Mike Simons) finished third, two and one-half lengths behind.

Scorpion Moon, also owned by Andrew M. Herzog of Monticello, N.Y., was winning for the fourth time in 10 starts this season with more than $87,000 in earnings.
Morrill Jr. collected four wins through the first 11 races of the 16-race card.

Lima Apollo, a three-year-old Jailhouse Jesse gelding trained by Kent Sherman, made it two straight in the Wyoming Valley Trot, posting a 1:56.4 time. Yannick Gingras was in the sulky and sat second or third throughout the race before winning a division of the second leg for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings.

Schnittker drove Homerun Hitter, a three-year-old Muscles Yankee colt, to a 1:57.4 win in the second division of the Wyoming Valley Trot. He went wire to wire from the six post in the six horse field. Schnittker also trains Homerun Hitter and his other trained horse in the field, Eggipus Complex (David Miller) finished second with third place going to Stanchion Hanover (Matt Kakaley). (Pocono)