By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
CHESTER PA – Driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Scott Di Domenico combined to sweep the feature events for fast-class horses on “Trottin’ Thursday” at Harrah’s Philadelphia, winning both races by a half-length to get their horses, Benjamin Hanover and B Mo, back on the winning track.
 
For a horse such as Benjamin Hanover, who won 31 of his first 56 lifetime starts, a recent skein of eight performances without reporting back to Victory Lane was an aberration due to end, and the Sebastian K S gelding got the decision in the $13,000 feature in 1:52.4. Benjamin Hanover, owned by Angela Cornell, was away strongly from the rail to protect the pocket behind Lefties Righties, the second choice who put up numbers of :27.2, :56.3, and 1:24.1, but then the pacesetter was worn down by the favored pocket horse.
 
The Trixton gelding B Mo, had not won in seven 2026 outings, despite having the lead at the stretch call in four of those races, but on Thursday in the $11,500 fast-class subfeature Tetrick kept the horse rolling after setting fractions of :28.1, :57, and 1:25.3, holding off passing lane charger Diplomacy while taking a lifetime best of 1:54 or owner Ben Robards.
 
In a $12,000 event for developing diamondgaiters, the Walner mare R Lady W came through after slow early splits of :30 and :59.3, speeding up to a 1:27.1 three-quarters that put her in a position to finish out a neck ahead of Just Teasing in 1:55.2. The four-year-old R Lady W had not won in 560 days, since October 24, 2024, when she won the Massachusetts freshman championship, but she had earned her way with earnings of $111,476 in the interval between victories, taking advantage of “triple eligibility” in the Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Kentucky programs, Here she regained winning form for driver Mark Herschberger, trainer Linda Toscano, and lessees M And L DE/Armitage Farm.
 
Feature-winning drivers Tetrick and Herschberger were the only sulkysitters with multiple victories on the card: meet leader Tetrick came home first five times, and Herschberger, now up to third in the local standings, tallying three times. His fast-class trotters provided Di Domenico the only double in the trainers ranks.
 
Distaff pacers will headline Friday’s 12:25 racing card, and then Mothers Day Sunday will have an array of attractions: UFC lightweight star Charles Oliveira, who lost his first pari-mutuel driving start on Tuesday at Pocono by a nose, is scheduled to drive five horses as he continues to immerse himself in the sport which he started to enjoy in his native Brazil; there will be promotions centered on the Mothers Day theme; an Elvis impersonator is scheduled to be coming into the building; and yes, there will be fast pacers also for the enjoyment of the patrons at the 12:40 card. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha,org.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
WILKES-BARRE PA – Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania annually presents the Pennsylvania All-Stars series of races, giving the state-sired stars of the sport an additional opportunity of racing while bringing quality horses to the northeast Pennsylvania oval. The first of the All-Stars races, for the "glamour division" of the three-year-old pacing colts, will be held this Saturday (May 9) in four sections; its companion race for fillies will be held in three cuts on Pocono’s following racing day, Monday the 11th.
 
It was taken for granted that trainer Ron Burke would have many of the top contenders among this group of three-year-old pacing males. Frantic Hanover set a one-year Sire Stakes record for earnings of $288,564 in 2025, beating the ten-year-old mark of pacing filly Pure Country, $286,918, while winning all four of his prelims and then the Sire Stakes Championship; he was also a factor on the national scene, as were stablemates Al Papi and Melillo, 2-3 to him in the PaSS Championship.
 
All three of these horses raced in the Sires first leg at The Meadows last Saturday, but none came away with a win – “Frantic” and Melillo were second, Al Papi third. Yet the Burke Brigade still won a Sire Stakes division behind the developing Another C Note, perfect in four starts this year and having taken his mark of 1:50.4 at Pocono in his seasonal debut. Another C Note, a Captaintreacherous colt owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC along with Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Scott Dillon, will be driven Saturday by local leading sulkysmith Tyler Buter from post four in the fourth race All-Stars division, which like the others will go for $30,000.
 
Monday’s filly contests find all the first state-sired prelim winners – two from the Sire Stakes and five from the Stallion Series – entered into the All-Stars. The most attention will be on the rapidly-developing Miss Jum Jabber, who spoiled the 2026 debut of Dan Patch Award winner Loua Dipa in their Sires matchup, coming from last and flashing home in an almost-unbelievable :53 - :26.2 to catch Loua Dipa in 1:51.3! Miss Jum Jabber, a daughter of Bettor’s Wish trained by Brett Pelling for his Pelling Racing LLC, will be starting from post five in the twelfth race Monday, with Andrew McCarthy set for sulky duty. This will be only her sixth lifetime start; it’s a bit scary if she continues to get better!
 
The All-Stars contests for the Pennsylvania three-year-old trotters will be held later in May; all four two-year-old contests are clustered in the first half of July. It should be noted under “Pennsylvania-Sired Stakes News” that the following Saturday (May 16) will find Pocono hosting the second preliminary of the Sire Stakes and Stallion Series for the pacing colts, races which should bring more early-season clarification to this talented division.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
​WILKES-BARRE PA – Charles Oliveira, a star of the UFC (mixed martial arts) lightweight division, is a longtime Standardbred fan from back in his native Brazil, and on Tuesday he made his pari-mutuel debut as a driver at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, acquitting himself honorably by missing by just a nose with Kashed Up N to favored I’ll Play It Alone.
 
On paper the race looked front-end-heavy, which is probably why the renowned leaver Ronaldo N was taken back off the gate and why Josias Santos, the Brazilian who introduced Oliveira to the game and who was also in his first p/m start after winning a qualifier last week, was aiming early for a tuck with Neyreit, another horse who almost always fires away. Instead, He’s Special, who had succeeded on the front end last time, blasted out to command, with Oliveira guiding Kashed Up N into the two-hole as the pacesetter put up a :27.4 opener then got a breather against the wind to a :57.4 half.
 
I’ll Play It Alone, coming off a strong closing win, started uncovered in front of the stands and advanced, and as the field started down the backstretch Oliveira decided to vacate the two-hole with Kashed Up N, battling the pacesetter to and past a 1:25.2 three quarters, with the chalk following the live cover then tipping three-high with an eighth to go.
 
The pacesetter stayed in the battle until midstretch; at that point it was apparent that the decision was going either to Kashed Up N and Oliveira or I’ll Play It Alone and driver James Kennedy. The two horses and drivers gave their all, and then the photo finish declared a decisão por uma margem minima (Portuguese, the language of Brazil, for “a victory by the smallest margin”) to I’ll Play It Alone in the 1:54.2 mile. Oliveria was thrilled by the competition and his participation, and Santos also showed his gameness – he now owns Neyreit, and the pair is right back in to go Friday at Philly! Oliveira will be at Philly on Sunday for more competition; that card will be drawn tomorrow.
 
The racing features were four $15,000 divisions of the first preliminary of the Game Of Claims Trotting Series for horses base-tagged at $20,000. The fastest winner was the heavy favorite LMC Wagon Wheel, winning in 1:54.4 with identical halves for Jason Bartlett. One of the hazards of the GOC Series, however, is the possibility of being claimed, and LMC Wagon Wheel will be going for new connections in his next start.
 
Another division saw two horses claimed – the two who finished in a dead heat for first in 1:56.4! Favored Pisces Rising (Tyler Buter) and Roger Rabbit (Ridge Warren) were inseparable on the line, and both will now be living in new environs after their haltering. In all, five GOC trotters were exchanged for a gross of $105,000.
 
The other GOC divisions were won by rank outsiders, both of whom will go back to familiar surroundings.  Kountry Express (Simon Allard) made a last-to-first backstretch move to win in 1:56.3 and pay $50.20 to win, while Songs In The Wind, the longest shot in his race, benefited from a cagey drive by meet leader Tyler Buter – tucking in, backing out to follow cover, and then rallying to a 1:55.3 victory while lighting up the tote board to the tune of $60.00 (hard to believe that the meet’s leading driver is also the meet’s leading driver of horses paying $50 or more to win, with three). A race before that one, George Napolitano Jr. made every pole a winning one with Toby Ornot Toby at a $59.80 mutuel in an overnight.
 
Pocono’s next two cards, on Saturday and Monday at 1 p.m., will both feature Pennsylvania All-Stars action for three-year-old pacers. Another C Note, undefeated in four starts this year and a winner in the first Sire Stakes leg at The Meadows, tops the colt and gelding ranks, while Miss Jum Jabber, who defeated 2025 division champion Loua Dipa last week at Philly, heads the contending fillies. Free Pocono programs pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
CHESTER PA – As has been the case overall for the last couple of years, Tim Tetrick had the hot driving hands at Harrah’s Philadelphia during the Tuesday morning qualifying session, bringing home five of the nine winners.
 
The Papi Rob Hanover colt PA Luke just appeared in a Canadian press release as a North America Cup eligible who had not started yet in 2026. The second part was taken care of Tuesday, as Tetrick piloted the Breeders Crown finalist to a 1:54.1 mile, fastest of the morning. The Robert Cleary trainee took command past the quarter, then blitzed home in :54.3 - :27.1 to win by 17½ lengths, and off that speed, the colt, owned by Celtic Racing, may have a date north of the border in a month or so.
 
The Captain Crunch filly Gauntlet, victorious in KY’s Wildcat Series last year, came from fifth at the half and smoked her back half in :56.2 to get home first in 1:56.4 for driver Bradley Chisholm, trainer Brett Pelling, and Diamond Creek Racing while edging fellow sophomore filly Stormy by a half length.
 
In this period of watching for sophomores getting ready for their stakes, two three-year-old trotters were winners, one handled by Tetrick. That one would be Captain Jordan, a Captain Corey colt who at two won in the Simpson and Standardbred stakes and was second to Apex in the NJ Classic Final. The Scott DiDomenico trainee, sometimes with behavior complexities, had no such deportment problems here, coming out of the pocket in :58.2 - :29 to win in 1:59.1 for Joe Faraldo and Triple D Stables Inc.
 
Captain Corey had another siring success story with the filly Show Pony, a MD Race Fund winner at two who toyed with a short field in 2:01 - :58.4 for driver Corey Callahan and owner-trainer Richard Hans, eternally associated with Googoo Gaagaa.
 
All of the other Tuesday Philly winners were older stock, including the day’s fastest trotter, Frontier Macho, home in 1:58.1 for Tetrick, trainer Chuck (Three Wide N’ Wingin’) Crissman Jr., and Elite Harness Racing LLC. In addition to the winners he guided for conditioners Cleary, Di Domenico, and Crissman as mentioned, “Timmy T” triumphed twice with Joe Bongiorno trainees.
 
The Tuesday Philly qualifiers can be viewed at www.phha.org.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
WILKES-BARRE PA – A mere head away from being unbeaten in nine starts since coming Stateside earlier this year, the Johny Rock mare Raspalia N continues to give evidence that she could be a factor at the very top level with a 1:51.1 victory in the $17,500 featured distaff pace Monday at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
 
Tyler Buter got a two-hole trip with Raspalia N as Sammy Jo Hanover set sail and cut fractions of :27, :55.4, and 1:23.1. The Kiwi import moved out on the far turn, overhauled the pacesetter, then withstood the railskimming Please Be You by three quarters of a length for trainer Agostino Abbatiello and Durazzano Stable LLC.
 
The one second-place finish should not be geld against Raspalia N, as her conqueror that day was Worklifebalance, a New Jersey Sire Stakes and New Jersey Classic winner last year. and she had to make two moves from an outer post and was just photoed in 1:50 flat. She seems to have the speed and temperament to be competitive against the top-drawer distaffs, and the winning streak should boost her confidence – and she still has another start in this class under the AE earnings condition.
 
A race earlier, trotters had their turn in the spotlight with a $15,500 contest for up-and-comers, taken by Melissa P, who made two moves to control the pace and take a new mark of 1:55.3. Anthony Napolitano was in the sulky behind the Swan In A Million mare for trainer Vinny Ginsburg and owner Jaypaul Hoover.
 
Tyler Buter widened his lead at the top of the local driver standings, increasing his chances of being a seasonal repeat winner at The Downs by visiting Victory Lane five times on Monday. Doubles on the card were recorded by drivers Braxten Boyd and Anthony Napolitano along with trainer Jean Drolet.
 
Tuesday’s 1 p.m. card at Pocono has excitement on two fronts, one being the return of the Game Of Claims Series, as trotters base-priced at $20,000 in this first prelim will go for $15,000 in each of four divisions.
 
Two drivers both making their first career betting starts in the same race, starting side-by-side, normally wouldn’t garner big attention. But one of them is UFC lightweight superstar Charles Oliveira, a big fan of harness racing, right down to the elaborate tattoo on his arm, who beat Tim Tetrick in an exhibition race at Yonkers. The other is a fellow Brazilian, Josias Santos, who won a qualifying race last week at Pocono. O jogo bonito (“the beautiful game” in Portuguese, the language of Brazil) will turn from football/soccer to harness racing in race thirteen at Pocono tomorrow; take a look at the free program pages for Pocono at www.phha.org.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
CHESTER PA – On the way to increasing his lead in the Harrah’s Philadelphia drivers derby by winning four races Sunday, Tim Tetrick had a natural hat trick, the middle race of which was a 1:51.4 victory with the Papi Rob Hanover gelding TH Colby in the $13,500 featured pace for developing males.
 
Tetrick sat second with TH Colby as Lazarus Star took over before a :28 quarter and then got a breather to the half in :57.3. The winner stayed close to the leader as that one sped up to a 1:24.2 three-quarters, then moved from the two-hole to beat the pacesetter by 1¾ lengths. Ron Burke trains the four-year-old for Burke Racing Stable LLC, Phil Collura, Lawrence Karr, and J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby.
 
A $13,000 sidewheeling contest for experienced performers won by Newsroom, the son of Always B Miki gaining three lengths from racing third at  the three quarters by stepping off a :27.3 kicker to catch pacesetting favorite Sugar Man by half a length; pocketsitter Jack’s Shadow N was just another neck back in third. Newsroom, owned by Lawrence Vukovic and William Daggett Jr., was driven by Art Stafford Jr. for trainer Stacy Johnson-Stafford, who’s been winning at a 23% clip since getting her trainer’s license back in August.
 
A race later, the $11,000 co-feature for fast-class pacers went even faster, as the Sweet Lou gelding Solid Character stepped his last half in :54.4 on the lead to withstand increasingly-menacing pocketsitting favorite Major Hothooves N by a head in 1:50.4. Another Ron Burke trainee for the ubiquitous combine of Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Joe Bongiorno held the horse together to the wire for the tally.
 
As mentioned, Tim Tetrick paraded back to  Victory Lane four times, twice behind Ron Burke horses; as also noted Joe Bongiorno drove a Burke winner once, ironic since that moved Burke closer to Bongiorno’s meet lead for training triumphs. George Napolitano Jr. drove two winners, while Andrew Harris trained the winners of the Early Double for his two-bagger.
 
Racing returns to Harrah’s Philly on “Trottin’ Thursday” at 12:25, with the usual complement of tough diamondgaiters loaded up throughout the various classes. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
CHESTER PA – Simon Allard solidified his second-place ranking (behind Tim Tetrick) in the Harrah’s Philadelphia driver standings, posting five victories on the Kentucky Derby Saturday afternoon card at the southeast Pennsylvania oval, including both of the features.
 
Allard’s big day was not totally unexpected as he was the morning line favorite in nine of the card’s fourteen races, but the $12,000 featured pacers for developing horses went to an early line chalk, Southwind Galvestn – who returned $16.60 to win. The successful altered sophomore son of Always B Miki had been showing solid form, with two seconds and a third in Weiss Series prelims, but the crowd went heavily for Louaville, a stakes horse in 2025 making his yearly debut and perhaps overbet a bit because of the location of a certain Thoroughbred race Saturday. But Southwind Galvestn got a soft half, then sprinted home in :55.4 - :27.4 to ward off a hard challenge from the first-over favorite by a length while taking a new record of 1:53.3. Jamie Sullivan won in her second start training the horse for owner Frank Chick.
 
The Tall Dark Stranger mare Turn Up The Music won for the third straight time in a $10,000 fast-class distaff handicap co-feature, heading right down the road but having to be good to hold off first-up Prideful by  a length in 1:53 for Allard and Morrison Racing Stables. Turn Up The Music is a member of the incandescent barn of Joe Bongiorno, which finally finished off the board for the first time in seventeen 2026 local starts (in Friday’s PaSS against Miss Jum Jammer and Loua Dipa), but got back on the winning track with “Music,” now sporting an 18-12-4-1 tally to generate an unreal UTR of .807.
 
Scott Zeron drove two winners to give sons of Quebec half of the day’s card when added to Allard’s five; Johnathan Ahle also guided two winners. Noel Daley had a pair of horses from his barn win to top his segment.


The compact three-cards-in-three-days Harrah’s racing schedule concludes on Sunday at 12:40, with pacers both seasoned and developing providing challenging races to handicap and bet. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha,org.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
WILKES-BARRE PA – The Always B Miki gelding Joemikiyoursofine worked out a pocket trip, then cleared up the inside and had enough kick to catch favored Federer, who had taken a short stretch lead after an uncovered trip, to capture the $20,000 fast-class feature in 1:50.4 on Kentucky Derby Saturday afternoon at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
 
Joemikiyoursofine was looped out of the gate and made the top soon past a :27 opener; Stag Party was just behind that one and next cleared to the lead, putting up midsplits of :55.4 and 1:23, having to deal with a solid grind from halfway down the backstretch from Federer. Federer as noted went on to gain a short advantage, but Braxten Boyd quickly had started the winner up again, and he beat out the uncovered favorite by three quarters of a length. Chris Choate trains the winner of $348,805 for owners Anthony Ruggeri and Richard Tosies.
 
There was a $16,000 subfeature for the second-level horses at each gait, and the pace produced the fastest mile of the day, a 1:49.4 victory for Manolete that raised his lifetime bankroll to $483,313. Andrew McCarthy used quarter-moving tactics with the second-time 2026 starter, and a pair of :27.3 back quarters helped the son of Cattlewash keep place horse Boom N 1¾ lengths at bay for trainer Karen Williams and the ampersand owners, M&L Of Delaware LLC and M&M Harness Racing LLC.
 
The $16,000 trot was reduced to four by scratches, but it still was an exciting contest as Duly Resolved headed straight down the road for driver George Napolitano, then held his ground staunchly to defeat first-over Give Me A Yankee by a head in 1:54.2. A career winner of $868,337, the victorious altered son of Resolve is trained by Enrico Robinson for Pollack Racing LLC.
 
Younger, on-the-way-up trotters went for $17,500, and prevailing was Shoresy, a son of Cantab Hall who has now won seven times at the young Pocono meet, including Saturday’s fifth seasonal victory in this very class, which finally will force him to move up as he has now exceeded the “AE” money condition. Shoresy had won only one of his last four starts, but today he was on top of his game to take a new mark of 1:53.3 for driver Andrew McCarthy, trainer Per Engblom (the top conditioner at Pocono), and owners Timothy Betts and Shanamphilankilou Inc.
 
Five drivers had exclusivity in the winners circle after Saturday’s eleven races – Braxten Boyd tripled, and driving doublers were Andrew McCarthy, Anthony and George Napolitano, and Ridge Warren. Darren Taneyhill, second on the PcD trainers list, had two of his three victories driven by Warren; Tee Wine teamed up with Boyd for both of his wins.
 
Next racing at Pocono will be on Monday at 1 p.m.; the Tuesday 1 p.m. card finds the Game Of Claims Series returning with four $15,000 divisions for $20,000 base-tagged claimers. Free Pocono program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
CHESTER PA – Loua Dipa, last year’s Dan Patch Awardwinner and the fastest two-year-old filly ever at 1:48, made her 2026 debut in one of two divisions of the first leg of the $105,554 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes as the PA-sired season opened at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Friday afternoon.
 
As one would guess, Loua Dipa was a heavy favorite. But there were two questions: 1) the only time she had finished off the board in her career, it was at Philly, when she had a rough trip and was fifth in her Sires Championship, and 2) Miss Jum Jabber had won two Weiss Series legs at Pocono and seemed to have the field at her mercy in last Tuesday’s $50,000 Championship, but trainer Brett Pelling opted to come try the Sire Stakes rather than what looked like a more-solid cash-in-hand opportunity.
 
The result? Over a track not friendly to closers, Miss Jum Jabber came from last at the half to catch pacesetting Loua Dipa by a head in 1:51.4.
 
This division opened with the two winningest drivers in North American harness racing history, Dave Palone and Tony Morgan, slugging it out through a :27.1 first panel, with Morgan protecting the inside with Caviart Daisy and Palone determined to get to the front while three-wide with Spoon Fed. Loua Dipa and Ron Wrenn Jr. were in-between these two much of the initial bend, then was backed off to let the fireworks settle, going frontwards off the first turn to the lead by the three-eighths and hitting the half in a pedestrian :56.4. Miss Jum Jamber was nine lengths behind at the half.
 
“MJJ,” a daughter of Bettor’s Wish, was aided greatly when Fitness First (Tim Tetrick) made a huge backstretch blitz raw, tailing second-over to a 1:24.3 three-quarters, but still fifth, three lengths back. Miss Jum Jabber’s driver, Andrew McCarthy, tipped her wide for the stretch duel; the filly, still appearing a trifle green in only her fifth start and going as she had done with her head a bit to the right, had no trouble generating her awesome late burst, and that pair finally got the top in the shadow of the wire, the fleet filly pacing her own back fractions in :53 - :26.2. Loua Dipa held her ground very gamely in her first start in 167 days, with Fitness First third after the raw journey, but it was Miss Jum Jabber’s “coming out” party for Pelling Racing LLC.
 
The other Sire Stakes winner was also won by a second choice, Darlin’s Angel (Captaintreacherous – Darlin’s Delight), who took command in :27.3 then yielded for the garden seat behind favored Topville Lucky during middle splits of :57 and 1:24.4. The chalk had little lick in the home straight, and Darlin’s Angel was able to come up the inside for driver Lauren Tritton and defeat uncovered Bettor Be A Star by 1½ lengths in 1:53; last year’s $135.60 PaSS Championship winner Say Goodnight was third. Juan Cano conditions the winner of six-of-nine lifetime for Hot Lead Farm.
 
In the five $20,000 Stallion Series divisions, the favorites were perfect, with three wins for both Jason Bartlett and sire Papi Rob Hanover. Two of the wins came via the Sunshine Meadows to Pocono to Philly route for Bartlett, trainer Hunter Oakes, and part-owner Flying A Racing Stable, including the fastest StS cut, 1:51.4 (ironically the only section that did not produce a lifetime best), turned in by the Papi Rob Hanover miss Imagine Heaven, with Flying A partners on this winner with Lucky Strike and Charles Oakes. Flying A is the co-owner with Chuck Pompey of the Tall Dark Stranger filly Tall Dark Tequila, a 1:53.2 winner for Team Oakes/Bartlett.
 
Bartlett won his third Stallion Series split with the Always B Miki filly Carolina, who also was clocked in a lifetime best 1:53.2. Per Engblom oversees the handling of the winner for his Engblom Farm LLC, R A W Equine Inc., Daniel Sarafian, and Evans Nation.
 
The other two successful daughters of Papi Rob Hanover in Stallion Series action were Real Fast, now six for nine in her brief career after a 1:52 victory for driver Ron Wrenn Jr., trainer Ron Burke, and Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC along with Knox Services Inc. and Slaughter Racing Stable,  and Make It Right, lowering her mark to 1:52.3 for owners Gary McCandless, Jo Ann Looney-King, and Larry Rathbone and the noted “Team Pacing Distaff” of driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Jim King Jr.
 
Racing live on Kentucky Derby Saturday caused Philly to go dark on Thursday, so the “Trottin” Thursday” diagonal gang had the features a day late. Top purse, a $13,500 event for up-and-comers, was won by the International Moni mare Moni Buys Happynes, who may not be able to spel but who has a shiny new speed badge of 1:54.1 after winning for driver Todd McCarthy and trainer-owner Richard Hans of Googoo Gaagaa fame.
 
The $13,000 fast-class trot saw the Chapter Seven gelding Dame Good Time win in 1:51.4 for the second time in as many 2026 starts for driver Andy Miller, trainer Nick Devita, and owner John Cummins while stamping himself as a serious contender for the $100,000 Maxie Lee Trot, part of Super Sunday at Philly on Sunday, May 24.
 
All of the horsemen with multiple victories on the card have already been mentioned: for the drivers, Jason Bartlett with three, and Andy Miller and Todd McCarthy with two, and for the trainers, doublers Per Engblom and Hunter Oakes.
 
As mentioned, there will be a special Kentucky Derby Day live card Saturday at 12:40; a Sunday program at 12:40 winds up the local week. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
WILKES-BARRE PA -- The Gimpanzee filly Concise didn’t exactly make short work of her opposition, but the answer to every question she was asked in the Bobby Weiss Trotting Series for fillies was “Correct” – she won all three of the preliminaries and then the $50,000 Weiss Championship on Tuesday afternoon at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
 
Todd McCarthy had the catch-drive behind Concise, and after letting Aviatrix Blue Chip take the field to the quarter in :27.3, the pair retook command and got a breather to a :58 half. From that point there was no relaxing, as I Take The Care challenged the leader to a 1:25.1 three-quarters, and when that foe faded Aviatrix Blue Chip came on to try the favorite again, but she fell short by a length to the 1:54.3 lifetime best winning time posted by Concise.
 
Trained by Nik Drennan for his Drennan Stable LLC, Joseph Davino, and Brad Shackman, Concise was the only four-time winner among all the divisions of the Weiss, taking three prelims and then the Championship. Her four Weiss starts is her total output for the year, and she has won five of six lifetime trips to the gate.
 
In a $20,000 Weiss Consolation for the trotting fillies, the E L Titan miss B Eyelash also proved worthy of being backed as the favorite, posting a lifetime mark of 1:56.3 in winning for driver Braxten Boyd, trainer Jenny Melander, and Exceed Stables LLC. B Eyelash won by 3½ lengths while coming home in :57.2.
 
The pacing fillies also raced their $50,000 Weiss Championship on the Tuesday card, with no entrant having two preliminary wins but six of the eight having won one prelim round. Posting her second Weiss success at the optimal moment was the American Ideal filly American Cheese, who posted a swift 1:51.1 lifetime best while winning as the second choice.
 
Like his filly, driver Scott Zeron showed good Weiss timing as American Cheese was his only drive at Pocono on Tuesday. He worked out a two-hole trip behind fractions of :27, :56.2, and 1:23.2 behind Vanna By The River, then headed to the Pocono Pike and beat out the pacesetter by half a length, with favored Sicerto another half length back. Jared Bako conditions the winner, now three-for-five this season for Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc. and Philip Steinberg.
 
Tyler Buter, top Pocono driver in 2025 and again so far in 2026, won the last race to take Tuesday’s honors with three, including two sent out by the day’s only doubling trainer, John Butenschoen. Also visiting Victory Lane twice were sulkysitters Braxten Boyd, Todd McCarthy, and George Napolitano Jr.
 
Thoroughbred racing’s most famous race, the Kentucky Derby, will be preceded this Saturday (May 2) by a 1 p.m. card of live Standardbred racing at Pocono. Free program pages for Pocono are or will be available at www.phha.org.