Nicholas Beach wins Pocono qualifier in 1:54
At 0h30, on March 18, 2021 • By POCONO DOWNS
The return of the Somebeachsomewhere gelding Nicholas Beach to Pennsylvania took place Wednesday morning at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, where he streaked a last quarter of :26.2 to win a qualifier in 1:54.
Nicholas Beach, a $110,000 yearling, showed precociousness at two by following up a second in his debut with a 1:53.2 win at Pocono on Aug. 19, 2018. But then Nicholas Beach did not get back to the races for 551 days, trying unsuccessfully to qualify once at three, and finally returning to the track and winning twice at Pocono at the end of winter 2020.
Another 172-day layoff ensued (remember COVID), and Nicholas Beach came back ready, winning seven of eight starts and finishing second in the other. He took a mark of 1:49 at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Aug. 28, coming his back half in :53.3 from post eight. His last 2020 victory was at Yonkers on Nov. 23, and his new connections, which include trainer Jennifer Bongiorno, brought him back out for a March 6 qualifier at Meadowlands where he won in 1:53.1 from post ten.
