Blackhawk Zette completed a clean sweep of the Bobby Weiss Series for trotting males on Monday, April 29 at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, capturing the $68,493 final while equalling his lifetime best of 1:54.2.
Four Sixes (Tyler Buter) left strongly from post seven, just outside Blackhawk Zette, and quickly claimed the top; driver Matt Kakaley kept 'Zette' gaining ground until wresting command past a :28 opener. The winner kept the lead through middle splits of :57.1 and 1:26.1, holding off the first-over bid of co-prelim sweeper Victor Laszlo (Mark McDonald), then was in hand fending off the pocket-sitter by 1-1/4 lengths, with Victor Laszlo that same distance behind the second-place finisher. Blackhawk Zette is now undefeated in five 2024 trips behind the gate for trainer Robert Baggitt Jr. and owner J L Sadowsky LLC.
In this Weiss group’s $27,397 consolation, the Greenshoe colt Lammtarra moved out from the pocket behind the very fast pace (:27.1, :55.1, 1:24) set by All Too Well and passed that rival by 2-1/2 lengths to break his maiden in 1:54.1. The $500,000 yearling purchase, whose dam Dream Child has also produced You Ato Dream and Ari Ferrari J, was driven by Mattias Melander for his brother, trainer Marcus, and the ownership of Courant Inc.
A race later, another Greenshoe colt trained by Marcus Melander, Vic Zelenskyy, out of champion Mission Brief ($1,657,399, 1:50.2f), came uncovered after a slow half, charging home in :56.3 to get his maiden victory in 1:57.2 in only his second lifetime outing. Dexter Dunn was behind the strong-closing colt for S R F Stable and Holly Lane Stud East Ltd.
Dunn and Melander came back again with the royally-bred son of Greenshoe, Sky Diver, the $350,000 yearling purchase out of Ariana G ($2,600,995, 1:50.2m), who came out of the pocket to catch pacesetter Supernova Hanover, gaining into the :28 back split to take a maiden mark of 1:55.3 for Brixton Medical Inc., Marvin Katz and Hatfield Stables.
The Weiss Series championships conclude on Tuesday with a $68,493 championship for three-year-old trotting fillies. After Tuesday’s 1 p.m. card, Pocono will dark for live racing on Kentucky Derby Saturday (May 4), before resuming on Sunday, May 5 with a 6 p.m. post time.
(PHHA / Pocono)