WILKES-BARRE PA – The Bobby Weiss Series, a traditional launching pad for young talent named after the man who developed the racetrack at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono into one of the most popular surfaces in the world, opened its 2019 campaign during the Monday twilight card, with all three winners of their $15,000 first preliminaries posting lifetime bests.
Fastest was the Sportswriter mare Cardiff, who raced very big with the introduction of Lasix and stopped the timer in 1:53. Simon Allard got early position in the 26.3 opener, then brushed to the lead well before the 55.3 half. Cardiff kept right on rolling, passing the ¾ in 1:24.2 and then widening her lead to 3¾ lengths over Sewonandsewforth for trainer Rene Allard and the partnership of Allard Racing Inc. and Carmen Carson.
The sole three-year-old winner in the first Weiss leg for this group was the Art Major filly Ashlee Sparkles, who made every pole a winning more in 1:54.2 under the guidance of George Napolitano Jr. Mccoolen gave valiant chase from the pocket but was 1¼ lengths in arrears of the winner, who is conditioned by Blake MacIntosh; McIntosh also shares ownership with Hutt Racing Stable, Jacqueline Tierney, and the Mortgage Boys Stable.
Weiss Series Action will continue on the 4 p.m. Tuesday Pocono card, with trotting distaffs sharing the spotlight in four divisions of their first round action.