Home USA Shipshape sails to victory in Series Final

Shipshape sails to victory in Series Final

WILKES-BARRE PA – The Captaintreacherous harness racing gelding Shipshape, taken at The Meadows for $6000 by Team Pirillo – trainer Justin and owner Gianna – on February 5, now has earned $26,710 for his new connections after triumphing in the $20,000 Championship of the Game Of Claims Pacing Series for $15,000 base-tagged horses in 1:52.4 Monday afternoon at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.

Shipshape sails up in the inside to win his Game Of Claims Series Championship Monday at Pocono (Curtis Salonick Photo)

Shipshape, who had sandwiched a fourth between victories in the preliminaries, forced favored Tellitsabb to go :26.1 to grab the early lead, then sat in the golden chair during midfractions of :55.3 and 1:23.2. Driver Jim Pantaleano then guided the winner to the Pocono Pike and streaked past the leader to enjoy a 1½ length margin at the wire.

SHIPSHAPE REPLAY

With a Game Of Claim Series trot for horses valued between $20,000 and $30,000 starting in two weeks, diamondgaiters in that price range have been the interest of many, none more so than Chapolier, a Chapter Seven gelding who won in the $16,000 co-feature handicap claimer Monday in the fastest time of the year on the trot at Pocono, 1:53.2, despite the outside post eight. Tyler Buter  – the horse’s fourth successive new pilot – had the driving assignment in the quick mile, and Chapolier will be going to a new barn for the fourth straight time, after a one week’s reunion with trainer Hunter Oakes and P T Stable which ran his winning streak to five.

Tyler Buter came home first four times Monday, chipping into the meet advantage of Monday doubler George Napolitano Jr.; the latter’s lead is now 37-35.

Game Of Claims pacing horses ten divisions deep will race for $9000 a section in Tuesday’s final preliminary leg for a group which will carry a base tag of $15,000, headed by two-time prelim winners Stick With Cramer and Captain Terminator as this grouping heads towards its $17,500 Championship a week later. The Tuesday Pocono card will also feature carryover pools in the first race Pick 4 and fifth race Pick 3.Free Pocono program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

From the PHHA / Pocono Downs