By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
WILKES-BARRE PA – Ever since the Game Of Claims Series earlier in the spring, the Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania Race Office has been able to keep together multiple divisions of the top claiming handicap trotters, and on Tuesday afternoon two $15,500 sections were featured.
 
The Wheeling N Dealin gelding Diehard Seelster parlayed a pocket trip into a victory for the second straight week in the faster division, gaining into a :28.2 last quarter for driver Marcus Miller to take an easy victory in a 1:54.4 mile, a tick off the lifetime mark he set last week. However, if Diehard Seelster is to run his winning streak to three, he’ll be doing it for different connections, for the horse was claimed from owner Jerry Zollo and trainer Marc Mosher for his $25,000 tag.
 
In the other division the Muscle Mass gelding Dart Guy came up with the mile of his life, grinding first-over to the lead and holding off the field in a lifetime best of 1:55.3. You don’t often get 20-1 on driver Matt Kakaley at Pocono, but you did here if you backed the Steven Brabrook-trained trotter, owned by Jaypaul Hoover.
 
There were also four divisions of the $15,000 “nw 4 races” class for the various gaits and sexes. Two of the races were for trotters, and trainer/driver Åke Svanstedt won both with three-year-old fillies bred on the Continent.
 
Pure Hope S was certainly impressive in her 2023 debut, making the lead at the quarter and then striding home in :27.3 to lower her mark to 1:54.1. The daughter of Brilliantissime showed she could go with the best fillies last year and reinforced that position with the win for Soderberg Bloodstock LLC. And another competitor in the higher ranks in 2022, Emira Mil IT, followed up on her season-opening Lady Suffolk victory with a triumph in 1:54.4, a new mark for the daughter of Face Time Bourbon, who is owned by Pimpicks Inc.
 
In the male pace, the Huntsville colt Taste Of Honey needed every bit of a 1:50.4 clocking to catch a stubborn Zeus Hanover by a half-length in the final strides. The sophomore earned a new mark while winning for driver Simon Allard, trainer Ron Burke, and the ownership of Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, J&T Silva Stables LLC, and Phil Collura.
 
Female pacers were mastered by the So Surreal mare Kay Sage, who bounced back quickly off a sick scratch to use the Pocono Pike as the route to tie her lifetime best of 1:52.4. Braxten Boyd was in the sulky for trainer Bill Mac Kenzie and owner Ted Gewertz.
 
There was a surprise in a $13,000 “nw2” pace, as Thorn Toad blazed through Open-like fractions of :26.1, :53.3, and 1:20.2. But he could not sustain his advantage; instead, the Artiscape colt Bullville Stephano, sitting snug in the three-hole, tipped wide in the stretch and won handily in 1:49 (yes, “nw2”) for driver Ridge Warren, trainer Steve Crevani, and Crevani Farms. The Pocono surface, as it always has been, continues to be one of the speediest ovals around.
 
Matt Kakaley and Ridge Warren shared the day’s driving honors with three victories apiece.
 
Pocono is currently on a four-day schedule, with racing on Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday at 1 p.m. and Sunday at 6 p.m.; this Sunday, some of the best three-year-old trotting fillies will face off in three divisions of their Pennsylvania All-Stars event. Program pages for all Pocono races are or will be available at https://www.phha.org/downsmsppps.html.                   

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
WILKES-BARRE PA – Holy Being worked his way to the lead past a :28.1 opening quarter, got soft middle splits of :58 and 1:27.1, and then was able to finish strongly to win the $15,000 featured trot at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania Monday afternoon in 1:55.1. Anthony Napolitano, top driver of the day at Pocono with three victories, guided the Archangel gelding to a 1¼ length victory over Quarantina for trainer Jake Huff and Beauty Bridle Racing Stable Inc.
 
The story at Pocono on Monday was quite the tale of two opposite halves of the twelve-race card. Holy Being was the only frontender to win in the last six races, while five of the first six winners raced on the lead. In a perhaps-related bit of news, the favorites won each of the first six races of the day, and then were shut out the rest of the way, with the afternoon punctuated by Optrix (Tom Jackson) winning the last race at $104.60, second-highest price of the 2023 season.
 
Tuesday’s card, not surprisingly given the above mutuel breakdown, will have three different carryovers (Pick-4, Pick-5, and High-5); the racing features will be two $15,500 events for the top claiming handicap trotters on the ground, plus four $15,000 divisions of the steppingstone “nw 4 races” class. The Tuesday card starts at 1 p.m.; program pages for all Pocono races are or will be available at https://www.phha.org/downsmsppps.html.    

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
WILKES-BARRE PA – On a warm Sunday evening at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania which all but required winners to be on or near the pace, driver Mark MacDonald moved Hunting Season to the top in front of the stands and went on to win the $15,000 distaff pacing feature in a lifetime best 1:51.1.
 
The sophomore daughter of Huntsville, who traces back to millionaires Cathedra Dot Com and Cabrini Hanover a couple of generations back in her bloodlines, got away fourth in the :26.2 opening quarter, then was moved by MacDonald to take charge by the :55.1 half. She passed the three-quarters in 1:23.2 and then stepped home in :27.4 to hold off the early leader, My Hungry Girl, by three-quarters of a length. Trainer Ray Schnittker owns the winner with Steven and Mary Kinsey Arnold.
 
Every one of the night’s eleven Pocono winners were either on the lead, in the pocket, or mounting a first-over bid as the field passed the half towards the backstretch. Driving honors were spread evenly among double winners Simon Allard, Braxten Boyd, Tyler Buter, and Marcus Miller. Ron Burke trained a Pocono winner to add to the five successes he had during Super Sunday at Pocono’s sister track Harrah’s Philadelphia, and the victory put him atop the contested conditioners’ column at the mountain oval.
 
Racing will be held on Monday and Tuesday at 1 p.m.; Monday’s feature will be the trotting equivalent of the class that was featured on Sunday. Program pages for all Pocono races are or will be available at https://www.phha.org/downsmsppps.html.  

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
CHESTER PA – On a day which saw two world records, the all-age track record on the pace shattered twice (the faster the quickest mile ever on a 5/8-mile track) and equaled on the trot, and six divisional track records, the undercard to the three $100,000 Invitational events contributed more than its share to the magic of this Super Sunday at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
 
INVITATIONAL PACE
A $40,000 Invitational Pace was carded to make Super Sunday even more super, and to kick off a $10,000 guaranteed Pick-4 wager that had the three Invites at the end of the bet.
And this Invitational proved unprecedented in the annals of Harrah’s Philadelphia, as the five-year-old Always B Miki gelding Southwind Gendry paced the fastest mile ever at the southeast Philadelphia oval, 1:47.2, knocking a fifth off the standard previously notched by Wiggle It Jiggleit in 2016 and equaled by Allywag Hanover last year. (Yes, this record would only last 79 minutes, until Allywag Hanover went 1:46.3 in the Auger Invitational; you can read a separate story about it.)
Tattoo Artist, sent off at even money to Southwind Gendry’s 8-5, went to the lead in a :25.4 quarter; Yannick Gingras decided to bypass a possible hole before the quarter and go up to challenge for the lead with “Gendry,” making the lead just before a fantastic half in :52.4, and passing the three-quarters in 1:20.
Tattoo Artist wheeled out of the hole headstretch and gained on the leader with every step, but Southwind Gendry held off his fellow millionaire by the smallest possible margin in the epic mile. This was the third collaboration on the day between Gingras and trainer Ron Burke, and that count was before the Invitationals started (see Hillexotic in the Maxie Lee Trot story); both also had a win without the other. Southwind Gendry, who raised his bankroll to $1,167,322, is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Phil Collura, Knox Services, and J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby. 
 
 
SIRE STAKES
 
The three divisions of the $155,149 third preliminary leg of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing males were an excellent part of the Super Sunday excitement. 
The Stay Hungry colt Seven Colors got a “patented” second-over trip from the track’s top driver, Tim Tetrick, swept wide on the far turn, and (atypically for Philly) closed for victory in 1:48.1, which equaled the track record for his division, equaling the mark first established by A Rocknroll Dance. Sizzling fractions of :25.3, :52.4, and 1:19.4 helped set up the stretch kick of Seven Colors, who took a lifetime mark for trainer Brian Brown and the partnership of Country Club Acres, Joe Sbrocco, Bill Elliott, and Milton Leeman.
It’s My Show, winless at two, is now four-for-four as a sophomore, including two Sire Stakes wins, lowering his speed record to 1:49.1. The Sweet Lou gelding out of champion Put On A Show was the last horse to the top well past a :26.1 opener, setting the pace through middle fractions of :54.2 and 1:22.1, drifting out slightly early in the lane, but righting quickly and defeating Breeders Crown winner and pocketsitter Ammo by three parts of a length. A brief inquiry in the stretch action gave the judges no reason to place the winner, who was driven by Scott Zeron for trainer Linda Toscano and Richard and Joanne Young.
The Captaintreacherous colt Ervin Hanover took the lead past a 26.3 opener in his division, yielded to favored Bamboozler after keeping him out almost to the half in :54.1, stayed in to the 1:21.3 three-quarters, then was moved outside in the lane by driver Yannick Gingras and worked past the leader by a length in 1:49.2, a lifetime best. Ron Burke conditions the winner of $245,329 for Burke Racing Stable LLC, J&T Silva Stables LLC, Jim Simpson, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
 
STALLION SERIES
 
Five $20,000 divisions of the complementary Stallion Series were part of the “big card” as well.
Super Sunday started off in spectacular fashion with a 1:48.1 mile from Save America, a Captaintreacherous gelding who lowered the divisional track record of Boogie Shuffle by a tick and missed his divisional world record, co-held by Lucan Hanover and Wiggle It Jiggleit, by a fifth. Yannick Gingras pointed the winner of $357,005 down the road and went giant fractions of :26.1, :54, and 1:20.2 en route to altering a line in the record tables and reducing his own mark for 3 Brothers Stables and Caviart Farms.
Captaintreacherous picked up a second StS credit with the gelding Command, who paced in 1:50.1 for trainer Brett Pelling and Diamond Creek Racing. Todd McCarthy moved first-up with the winner after scalding early fractions, got a brief pocket respite on the far turn, then came out again and paced away to victory. 
Stay Hungry sired two other Stallion Series winners who put up lifetime bests. Hungry Man went to the front before the quarter for driver Todd McCarthy and stayed in front to the wire, coming home in :27 for a 1:49 victory for trainer Tony Alagna and owner Brad Grant. And Binge On Yankee was a pocket rocket as the longest shot on the board at 17-1, defeating late-clearing Flash Move by a neck (all five horses were within two lengths at the wire) while taking a new mark of 1:50.4. Driver Joe Bongiorno drove for trainer Ron Burke; Brad Grant also owns a piece of this winner, along with Burke Racing LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, and Lawrence Karr. 
Cannibal is perfect in two seasonal starts, both in Stallion Series action, after winning the other StS division in 1:48.3. The Sweet Lou colt gained a second Stallion Series credit for Diamond Creek Farms, who owns the winner of half his ten lifetime starts; Scott Zeron drove him here for trainer Nancy Takter.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
​WILKES-BARRE PA – On Higher Ground, who lowered the local seasonal standard on the trot to 1:51.4 last Saturday, lowered it again this Saturday afternoon, to 1:51.2, while lowering his own mark in the $25,000 Preferred handicap trot at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
 
The mare P L Notsonice was taking no prisoners early from the pole, going :27.1 to put Rich And Miserable in the pocket and On Higher Ground into third. In front of the stands the first time, Jason Bartlett gave the Cassis gelding the word and he quickly took off, making the lead into turn two before the :55.1 half.
 
The three-quarters was reached in a “moderate” 1:24.1, but there was nothing moderate about the :27.1 finishing split, in which On Higher Ground stormed off to win by 3½ lengths over P L Notsonice. The fast trotter has now won three straight for trainer Jennifer Bongiorno and owner Robert Weinstein.
 
There was also an $18,500 fast-class co-feature on each gait. The pacing co-feature rates the higher position in the story, as the 1:48.2 clocking put up by Jack’s Legend N equaled the fastest mile anywhere, on any size track, in North America so far this year. 
 
Matt Kakaley directed the winner of $921,286 to the lead, and the Bettor’s Delight gelding posted fractions of :27.1, :55.1, and 1:22.3 before pacing home in a devastating :25.4 to leave a good field far behind for trainer Trevor Alexander and owners Symmetry Stables LLC. The 1:48.2 at press time has been reached by three horses in 2023, including South Beach Star here earlier in the meet.
 
In the trot, the Chapter Seven gelding Special Prosecutor rode a fine pocket trip behind fractions of :28.1, :56, and 1:24.1, then utilized the Pocono Pike and was up over closer Kinda Lucky Lindy by three parts of a length while taking a new mark of 1:52.4. Jason Bartlett, who swept the trotting highlights en route to tying with Simon Allard as leading driver on the day with three, handled the Saratoga invader for trainer David Dewhurst, who is also co-owner with Phillip Hale.
 
Racing will resume at Pocono at 6 p.m.; there are also Monday and Tuesday cards slated for 1 p.m. Program pages for all Pocono races are or will be available at https://www.phha.org/downsmsppps.html.     

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
CHESTER PA – It is hoped that the Harrah’s Philadelphia racing surface can be as fast on “Super Sunday” as it was on Friday afternoon, when twelve horses took lifetime marks in the fourteen races, and three horses were victorious in 1:50.
 
One of the 1:50 miles and new marks was put up by the Manhardt mare Man Dontforget Me, who went wire-to-wire in the $20,000 distaff Open pace. Maximizing the good fortune of moving into post six because of scratches rather than starting from the dreaded post eight, Man Dontforget Me and driver Marcus Miller were willing to pay the :26 price to get to the lead, then backed off the half to :55. Favored Gotthegreenlight engaged the pacesetter before the 1:22.3 three-quarters and stayed right at her in the :27.2 sprint home, but Man Dontforget Me was resilient and held on by three-quarters of a length for trainer Daniel Renaud and owner Robert DiNozzi.
 
The other 1:50 clockings came in high-level claiming events, and both generated lifetime bests. The Captaintreacherous gelding Voyager sailed to victory for driver Simon Allard, trainer Darren Taneyhill, and owner Eric Prevost; the other speedy winner was the Rockin Image gelding High Impression, driven by Tim Tetrick, the meet’s (64) and day’s (5) top driver, and successful off a claim by trainer/owner Clifford Scofield.
 
The highly-regarded three-year-old pacing filly Charleston, 10-6-4-0 at two and second in the Breeders Crown and Kindergarten Final, made her 2023 bow against a field of tough older horses and acquitted herself very nicely. The daughter of Downbytheseaside raced second-over as Big Bettor Hanover set splits of :27.2, :56.2, and 1:23.4 with In The Spotlight N on her back, as Charleston was fifth, 4¼ lengths off at headstretch. However, she put in twin splits of :27.1 in the back half to miss only a neck while dead-heating for the deuce with Big Bettor Hanover behind the pocket rocket In The Spotlight N. In The Spotlight N took a new mark of 1:51.3 in winning for driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Jeff Cullipher, top conditioner at the meet and also co-owner of the winner with Pollack Racing LLC.
 
“Super Sunday” comes to Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday, with almost $640,000 in purses to be offered in what may well be the best harness racing card offered anywhere in North America so far in 2023. The three $100,000 Invitational races feature fields who have earned over $17,000,000 combined, and there will also be lively Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action for the “glamour division” three-year-old pacing colts. There will also be a $10,000 guaranteed Pick-4 pool on the bet stretching from races ten to thirteen, including the Invitationals. Program pages for the Super Sunday extravaganza are available at https://www.phha.org/harrahspps.html.       

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
CHESTER PA – The backers of 2-5 favorite Always B Naughty got a bit of a scare as the filly made an early stretch break in the $14,400 featured pace at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon, but she caught stride quickly and surged to win in 1:51.2 while recording her fourth straight victory.
 
The daughter of Always B Miki was parked much of a :27 opening stanza, then yielded the lead to Southwind Bella in front of the stands en route to a :54.4 half. “Bella” got stern first-over pressure from Ginger Tree Coco to and past a 1:23.1 three-quarters, while Always B Naughty and driver Yannick Gingras waiting for inside space.
 
Just as the sophomore cleared to the inside she went offgait for a couple of steps, but rebounded quickly and paced away to a 1¼ length victory over Ginger Tree Coco, who in turn was a neck ahead of Southwind Bella. The judges reviewed the videotape of the stretch incident but did not place Always B Naughty for any rule violation, with the winner running her lifetime total to 7-5-2-0 for trainer Nancy Takter, who is also co-owner with JL Benson Stables Inc. and R.B.H. Ventures Inc.
                                                                                                                                
David Miller was top driver on the Thursday Philly card, coming back to the winners circle four times.
 
The morning line favorites for the three $100,000 Invitationals that will be held here this “Super Sunday” at 12:40 are Racine Bell in the Betsy Ross Pace for distaffs, Hillexotic in the Maxie Lee Trot, and Lochinvar Art A in the Joseph Auger Pace. They will join with Pennsylvania-sired sophomore colts and many other fast animals in what may be the best card in North America in 2023 so far, with more than $600,000 in purses on the line. Program pages for Friday’s 12:25 card and the Super Sunday extravaganza are or will be available at https://www.phha.org/harrahspps.html.         

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
CHESTER PA – The Fabulous Wood colt Top Leader S made two moves in the $14,400 trotting feature at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon, yet still was a winner in a career-best 1:54.1.
 
Trainer-driver Åke Svanstedt left between horses to get to the top before a :27.2 quarter, then let Count The Coin claim command and take the field over to the half in :57. Svanstedt came back out again as the field approached the backstretch, wasted little time in establishing a clear lead before the 1:25 three-quarters, then was coasting late when Maiden Voyage made an eyecatching stretch move to finish only a length behind. Suleyman Yuksel Stables Inc. and Goran Falk share ownership of the promising sophomore winner .
 
A rare piece of horsemanship was on display in the very next race after the feature, as 68-year-old H. Nelson Baitzel III sent out the winner Chocolate Matters – the very first horse he has ever started as a trainer! His career training victories now match his career driving victories, as while driving between 1984 and 1986, he recorded one sulky success – and then came a training victory 37 years later.
 
Simon Allard drove five winners on the Wednesday card at Philly.
 
Racing will continue on Thursday and Friday at 12:25 before “Super Sunday,” the giant card Harrah’s will host on Sunday at 12:40, featuring three $100,000 Invitationals and Pennsylvania-sired action for three-year-old pacing colts. (A separate release describing the highlights of “Super Sunday” was issued earlier in the day and should be available.) Program pages for all Philly cards, including the Super Sunday program, are or will be available at https://www.phha.org/harrahspps.html.      

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
WILKES-BARRE PA – Lexus Ranger ran his local victory record to three for four since coming in from The Meadows, winning the fastest of the three $15,500 divisions of the top claiming handicap trot on Tuesday afternoon at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
 
Lexus Ranger, an altered son of Archangel and the second choice, made every pole a winning one for driver Jim Pantaleano, keeping pocketsitting favorite Justlikehim 1¾ lengths at bay to the wire in 1:53.4, the fastest win in his career. The three-for-four record of this horse recently extends to trainer Pierre Paradis and Elite Harness LLC, who acquired him on April 14.
 
The other divisions both went to driver Marcus Miller. Mushana, on a roll in this class with victories in three of his last four starts, here went uncovered yet winning in 1:54.4 for trainer Steven Brabrook and owner Jaypaul Hoover. Miller, sitting second with favored Diehard Seelster in the other cut, literally got a big break when the pacesetter broke turning for home, with “Diehard” and Miller able to easily get through along the inside for a 1:54.3 lifetime best for trainer Marc Mosher and owner Jerry Zollo.
 
Marcus Miller had five trips to Victory Lane to lead all local drivers on the day. He also brought home $51.40 shot Divine Spirit to take the top spot in the Downs colony with four winners paying “bomber” ($50+) mutuels this season.
 
Racing resumes on Saturday at Pocono with a 1 p.m. card, featuring a $25,000 Open handicap trot with On Higher Ground, who won in this class last week here in 1:51.4 for the fastest trot mile of the local season, starting from the outside in a field of six. Program pages for all Pocono races are or will be available at https://www.phha.org/downsmsppps.html.    

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
WILKES-BARRE PA – The first clash of the Hambletonian-hopeful three-year-old trotting males took place Monday afternoon at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, with even money shots Herodotus and Once In A Lifetime earning new speed marks while winning their respective $37,500 divisions.
 
Herodotus, named after a Greek historian, certainly has a solid record this year, notching his third win in four 2023 starts with a 1:53 victory for trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Hatfield Stables. David Miller moved Herodotus from second past a :28.1 quarter, took the lead, then surrendered it to Commander Frank, who carried the field to midsplits of :56.3 and 1:24.4, with favored (by $41) French Wine challenging first-over.
 
In the stretch, the battle fell to the front two inside horses, with Miller tipping Herodotus to the Pocono Pike, and although Commander Frank battled hard, the half-length win margin was not really reflective of the confidence Miller seemed to have in his Bar Hopping gelding late.
 
Once In A Lifetime, the 2022 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes divisional champ in his section, remained unbeaten in two seasonal outings for trainer Jim Campbell and Sad Frog Farms while winning in 1:53.3. Tim Tetrick made two moves to control the pace through fractions of :28, :57.2, and 1:26.1, then bid the field adieu by tacking on a :27.2 last quarter. Crantini, the second-place finish in the PaSS Championship last season, did well from the pocket after hard early usage but came up shy by 1¼ lengths to the Father Patrick colt Once In A Lifetime, who was the pari-mutuel favorite.
 
In a sentence one might think would originate from the southern part of the state, Tim Tetrick was the day’s leading driver with three victories. In a sentence one would seldom associate with Tetrick, he also drove the biggest-priced winner on a day kind to well-regarded horses, scoring with Silky Stride ($10.60).
 
The racing week concludes on Tuesday with a 1 p.m. card, featuring the top claiming trotters and several groups of developing younger horses. Program pages for all Pocono races are or will be available at https://www.phha.org/downsmsppps.html.