By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
WILKES-BARRE PA – Favorites won all four divisions of the $155,948 second preliminary round of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing males at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania Sunday night, with Hall Of Fame trainer Linda Toscano sending out two of the PaSS winners.
 
The Sweet Lou gelding It’s My Show made his 2023 Sire Stakes bow a successful one while taking a new mark of 1:49.2 for driver Scott Zeron and owners Richard and Joanne Young. The Sweet Lou gelding showed he deserved being favored after two overnight wins, tucking in the pocket early to a :26.2 quarter, rushing to the lead before a :53.3 half, surrendering command to Bamboozler to a 1:21.1 three-quarters, but then being able to rerally past the horse who passed him down the back, winning by 1¾ lengths.
 
The second Toscano trainee was the Heston Blue Chip colt Fulton, last year’s Sire Stakes champion and winner of his first 2023 Sire Stakes outing in 1:49.3, who came back here to win in 1:50.2 for driver Dexter Dunn and the ownership of Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Bottom Line Racing LLC. Fulton moved past Lyons Surfing past a :27.1 initial split to take the top and put up midfractions of :54.4 and 1:22.3, then had to dig down to hold off the resurgent Lyons Surfing by a head.
 
Joining Fulton as a double Sire Stakes winner was the Captaintreacherous colt Ken Hanover, who was the evening’s fastest stake winner when posting a new mark of 1:49. David Miller reserved the colt off fractions of :26 and :54.2, moved him uncovered and saw him go :26.4 down the back to clear before the three-quarters in 1:21.3, then safely withstand the horse on his back, Larceny, by 1¼ lengths. Trainer Polie Mallar is also co-owner of the three-time May stakes winner with Patrick Leavitt, William Jordan, and Dennis Osterholt.
 
Sire Sweet Lou and driver David Miller both had a Sires double as they combined on Ammo, last year’s Breeders Crown winner, who remained undefeated after two seasonal starts for trainer Joe Holloway and owners Val D’Or Farms and Ted Gewertz. Ammo moved after a :27.2 quarter, got to the lead well before the :56.1 half, then sped to the three-quarters in 1:23.3 and home in 1:50.3, a lifetime best, while defeating pocketsitter Flite Craft by 1½ lengths.
 
There were also five $20,000 divisions of the companion Stallion Series for this group. Driver Matt Kakaley and trainer Travis Alexander teamed for two PaStS successes with Stay Hungry geldings, both of whom reduced their lifetime records: Hunter’s Hero, at 4-1 the longest shot in all the stakes, winning in 1:50.4 for Fiddler’s Creek Stables LLC, and Im Hungry, home in 1:51.3 for Schooner II Stable.
 
Fastest Stallion Series winner was the Always B Miki gelding Joemikiyoursofine, lowering his mark to 1:50.2 for driver Simon Allard, trainer Chris Choate, and owners Anthony Ruggeri and Richard Tosies. The Captaintreacherous gelding Lyons Spirit became the only double StS winner when he took a new mark of 1:52 for driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Jim King Jr., and owners Threelyonsracing; completing the Stallion Series winners was first-time 2023 starter Cannibal, whose 1:50.3 was a tick off his mark, with Dexter Dunn driving for trainer Nancy Takter and Diamond Creek Racing.
 
The stakes schedule continues at Pocono Downs Monday at 1 p.m. with two $35,000 divisions of the Pennsylvania All-Stars event for three-year-old trotting males, including several Hambletonian hopefuls. Program pages for all Pocono races are or will be available at https://www.phha.org/downsmsppps.html.      

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
CHESTER PA – Sunday afternoon at Harrah’s Philadelphia saw a world record and a track record in “odd-distance” races along with a sharp win in the $20,000 Open trot by Pappardelle in 1:52.2.
 
Pappardelle, the winner of the Brennan Series final at Yonkers on April 26 and away from the races since then, showed no rust in fronting his field in a 1:52.2 in the $20,000 Open handicap trot. Wide early and out to the :27 quarter before grabbing control of the engine, the altered son of Winning Stone put up middle splits of :56 and 1:24 under the guidance of Joe Bongiorno, then marched home unthreatened 3¾ lengths ahead of Yanks Dugout, who photoed favored Yall Beneath Me.
 
Pappardelle has now won his last four starts and six of his last seven. His success here boosted the Jenn Bongiorno trainee, owned by The Delaware Group, Joe Sbrocco, JB Racing, and JAF Racing LLC, to $219,457.
 
Dirt On My Boots broke the world pacing record for 5/8 of a mile on a 5/8-mile track with a 1:06.3 victory at the sprint distance. The former world record, 1:06.4, was set by Rose Run Uriah at Dover earlier this year, and the track record of 1:07.1 by Toatsmygoats was obviously also eclipsed.
 
The world record sprint was strictly a two-horse affair between the two favorites – Hes Rockin Ralphie was rockin’ and rollin’ in posting amazing fractions of :26 and :52.3, with Dirt On My Boots gradually narrowing in the latter stages, Dirt In My Boots caught the frontstepper by 1¼ lengths under the handling of Simon Allard for trainer Jody Dunning and owners Paul Piper Reid and Alvin Stafford.
 
Another “odd distance” race altered another line in the Philly record books, as Mister Boinga took control on the second of four turns and trotted 1¼ miles in 2:26.1, breaking a co-held mark of 2:27 that was set within three races of each other on October 13, 2016 by Xtatic Hanover and Valley Of Sin. Mister Boinga won by 4¼ lengths for driver Pat Berry, trainer Jill Roland, and owner Bernard O’Brien. Berry and Tim Tetrick tied for the day’s driving honors with three victories.
 
Racing this coming week will be held on Wednesday through Friday at 12:25 and Sunday at 12:40. This Sunday Harrah’s Philadelphia is proud to host what may be the best card of North American harness racing so far this year – three $100,000 Invitationals in the Maxie Lee Trot, the Joseph Auger Pace, and the Betsy Ross Pace for distaffs, along with the “glamour division” of the Pennsylvania-sired program, the three-year-old pacing colts, in both Sire Stakes and Stallion Series competition (the card to be drawn Wednesday). Program pages for all Philly cards are or will be available at https://www.phha.org/harrahspps.html.   

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
WILKES-BARRE PA – On Higher Ground shipped in from Yonkers to Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania and promptly won the $25,000 Preferred trot on Saturday afternoon in 1:51.4, a new mark and the fastest trotting mile of the year at The Downs.
 
Driver Jason Bartlett kept the Cassis gelding in third early as P L Notsonice took the lead away from favorite Rich And Miserable after a battle to a :27 quarter, with the mare carrying on to the half in :55.4. On Higher Ground was full of trot when Bartlett moved him outside down the backstretch, grinded to the leader by the 1:24.1 three-quarters, then drew away from that one by six lengths with a :27.3 last quarter; Rich And Miserable had to settle for third.
 
Jennifer Bongiorno trains the fast winner of $416,539 lifetime for owner Robert Weinstein.
 
In the $18,500 co-featured trot, Robbie Pev was able to sustain his frontstepping advantage to the wire, taking a new mark of 1:53.1. The Bar Hopping gelding made the top before a :27.2 opener, then had plenty of midrace pressure from the favored Dandy, who had to come a long way uncovered during splits of :56.2 and 1:24.1. Robbie Pev opened a brief clear lead early stretch and then held off second-over Share The Wealth by three-quarters of a length, with Dandy continuing on for third. Robbie Pev was driven by Tyler Buter for trainer Jill Roland and owner Bernard O’Brien.
 
There was also an $18,500 event for pacers, with Luckbewithalex, already the author of three sub-1:50 miles at the meet against lesser foes, stepped up in class and gamely held off favorite Da Delightful in 1:50. Jack’s Legend N made the front by the :26.4 quarter, with Da Delightful and Luckbewithalex both on the move behind him; Da Delightful first claimed the top, with Luckbewithalex then going past that one by the :55.3 half. Odds On Osiris posted a serious uncovered threat to the 1:23 three-quarters, but in the stretch the two second quarter movers were the main fighters; Luckbewithalex held off his inside foe by a nose for driver Anthony Napolitano, trainer Lance Hudson, and owner William Hartt. 
 
Fastest winner on the card was RIP Wheeler, a Rockin Image gelding who impressed while taking a $17,000 pace in 1:49.4 for driver Matt Kakaley (top sulkysmith of the day with three successes), trainer Hunter Oakes, and owners Thaddeus Wier, Donald Mac Rae, and Stephen Klunowski.
 
Sunday’s 6 p.m. card will feature four divisions of the second leg of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for three-year-old colt pacers, plus five complementary sections of that group’s Stallion Series. All four of the first round Sire Stakes winners – Annapolis Hanover, Bamboozler, Fulton, and Ken Hanover – are set for action on Sunday at the mountain oval, building up their pointtotals as they eye their September $250,000 Sire Stakes Championship. Program pages for all Pocono races are or will be available at https://www.phha.org/downsmsppps.html.  

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
CHESTER PA – Hall Of Fame driver David Miller posted the 14,000th victory of his career on Friday afternoon at Harrah’s Philadelphia when he guided Island Of The Sea to victory. It was not an easy journey for the Always A Virgin gelding, parked past a :26.1 quarter to get the lead then going on to hang up numbers of :54.2 and 1:22 before pacing on to a 1:50 win for trainer Eric Ell, co-owner with Lisa Ell.
 
Miller, 58 and a proud son of Ohio known as “The Buckeye,” recorded his 14,000th victory in career start 69,240, reflecting a lifetime win percentage over 20%. He is the sixth North American driver to reach the 14,000 figure, and sits fourth among active drivers: preceding him, listed in current order of lifetime victories, were Dave Palone, Tony Morgan, Herve Filion, Cat Manzi, and Aaron Merriman. Miller is also the leading active driver in terms of his horses’ career earnings at $272.5 million, and trails only John Campbell’s all-time mark of $299.9 million.
 
In the day’s $20,000 Open handicap pace for males, Ruthless Hanover returned to the oval where he started his 2023 career with a pair of victories and added another engine triumph in 1:49.3. The Somebeachsomewhere gelding, trained by Tom Cancelliere for owner/brother John, was in high gear off the gate to clear South Beach Star, whose recent four-race winning streak included the fastest mile of the year on a 5/8-mile track, 1:48.2. After getting the lead towards the :26.2 quarter, George Napolitano Jr. gradually reduced the tempo so that “Ruthless”  only had to go :55.4 to reach the half.
 
The pace certainly picked up from there, as a :27 third quarter brought the winner to the three-quarters in 1:22.4, and from that junction the earner of $375,423 needed a :26.4 last quarter to withstand the tenacious South Beach Star by three-quarters of a length. (In fact, if you deduct the :29.2 second quarter, Ruthless Hanover went his “other” three splits in a total of 1:20.1!)
 
The companion $20,000 Open distaff pace saw Dougs Babe A hang favored Amazing Dream N beyond a :26.4 opener, wait in the pocket past a :55.4 half and while first-over Mikala went after the leader to and past the 1:23.1 three-quarters, then use the inside to take the victory in 1:50.3. Mikala, in her first start of the year, was within a neck of the winner at the wire; Amazing Dream N, away from the races since her Blue Chip Matchmaker final win April 24, was only another half-length back in third.
 
The winner is a daughter of Western Terror who was third as the favorite in the Matchmaker final and now has career earnings of $263,411. Nifty Norman trains her for Tom Vassiliou, Nicholas Tallarico, Patricia Stable, and Enzed Racing Stable Inc.       
 
Five drivers won twice on the day, but no driver could bring home three winners; however, trainer Eric Ell did send out a trio of successful horses, including Island Of The Sea for David Miller’s 14,000th.
 
Racing resumes on Sunday at 12:40 with a $20,000 Open handicap trot and some variety in a 5/8-mile pace and a 1¼-mile trot. The following Sunday, May 28, is Super Sunday at Harrah’s Philadelphia, with three $100,000 Invitationals and Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action for the three-year-old pacing colts in what might be the best card of the year so far in 2023. Program pages for all Philly cards are or will be available at https://www.phha.org/harrahspps.html.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
CHESTER PA – The Huntsville sophomore filly Southwind Bella, a three-quarter sister to 2019 Little Brown Jug champion Southwind Ozzi, showed the family talent and speed when she lowered her mark to 1:50.2 in the featured $14,400 distaff pace on Thursday afternoon at Harrah’s Philadelphia. 
 
Todd McCarthy left other foes argue a :27.1 opening quarter, then moved his filly to the lead and passed the middle timers in :55.1 and 1:22.4. Southwind Bella had plenty left in the tank to come home in :27.3 and maintained a 1¾ length lead over Romantic Evening for trainer Brett Pelling and owner Thaddeus Wier.
 
The meet’s leading driver, Tim Tetrick, posted four victories for the second consecutive day. What was unusual about this quartet for Tetrick is that they included the two longest-priced winners on the card: Hungry Lizzo ($37.20) and Allrighty Then ($27.80), who together paid more than the other twelve winners combined on the generally-chalky day at Philly.
 
On Friday at 12:25 Philly will be offering two excellent $20,000 Open paces: a very competitive field of swift mares, and a handicap event for males that pits Ruthless Hanover and South Beach Star, the two dominant pacers in eastern Pennsylvania over the last few weeks. Program pages for all Philly cards are or will be available at https://www.phha.org/harrahspps.html.         

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
​​CHESTER PA – Wild Bill Kelso was very sharp in his 2023 debut on Wednesday afternoon at Harrah’s Philadelphia, taking the $14,400 featured trot and earning a new race mark of 1:55.3.
 
Scott Zeron reserved the sophomore Crazy Wow gelding off the :28.4 quarter, then moved coming off that bend to make the lead in front of the stands. Midfractions of :57.1 and 1:26 were posted with little apparent effort by the Jim Campbell trainee, and he reached the wire 3¼ lengths ahead of the closing Chezactic to raise his lifetime bankroll to $102,077 for Runthetable Stables. 
 
Both Simon Allard and Tim Tetrick drove four winners during the Wednesday racing at Philly.
 
Racing resumes Thursday at 12:25, with a $14,400 featured pace for developing distaffs. There are two dynamite $20,000 Open paces Friday at 12:25, with the male division the clash of the recent titans Ruthless Hanover and South Beach Star, while Sunday’s 12:40 program will have a $20,000 Open trot plus a pair of odd-distance races: a 5/8-mile event for pacers and a 1¼-mile contest for trotters. Program pages for all Philly cards are or will be available at https://www.phha.org/harrahspps.html.   

By: Jerry Connors, Jr.
WILKES-BARRE PA – Matt Kakaley closed out a storybook week at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, one in which he went over $100,000,000 in career earnings, by notching his 6000th driving victory with Willing Hanover in the trotting division of three $15,000 conditioned featured races on Tuesday afternoon.
 
The 35-year-old Kakaley teamed with the Donato Hanover gelding to overcome an uncovered trip with ease, guiding him to a lifetime mark of 1:55 for trainer Tim Lancaster, also co-owner with Mark and Meghan Lancaster. After the race, family, friends and the horse’s connections joined with Matt in the winners circle (their first winners circle celebration of the week, as Matt went over $100 million by finishing second in a PA All-Stars contest Sunday).
 
There were also two pacing divisions of the feature. One went to the Betting Line mare Zeus Hanover, who was used early and late yet had enough to win a three-way photo in a lifetime best 1:52.3. Jim Marohn Jr. adapted to circumstances well in winning with the Lisa Martin trainee, who is owned by Mary Martin and Roger Dirlam.
 
The other sector also went in 1:52.3 and also saw a new mark taken, as the Stay Hungry sophomore gelding Full Support moved to the lead off the first turn and held off pocketpulling favorite Erinwood Yves for the victory. Matt Kakaley capped off his day with his third triumph on the card, tops among the local crew, for trainer Joe Pavia Jr. and the partnership of Steven Held, Joe Pavia Jr. Stable Inc., Bridgette Jablonsky, and PCW Racing LLC.
 
There were also three divisions of the top claiming handicap trot, each going for $15,500. Two of the winners were driven by Tyler Buter and trained by Jason Brewer, although Brewer lost both to $30,000 claims: Town Mister won in 1:55.3 as he departs the ownership of First Up Racing Stable, and Lady’s Image took a new mark of 1:54.2 before leaving the proprietorship of Ameer Najor. The other winner was 14-1 shot Mushana , piloted to a 1:55 victory by Marcus Miller and staying with trainer Steven Brabrook and owner Jaypaul Hoover.
 
Racing resumes on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Pocono with a strong card; on Sunday a 6 p.m., the card will feature the second preliminary round of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts, with the four divisions of Sire Stakes horses containing many horses expected to contend for the “glamour division” national stakes, complemented by five divisions of Sire Stakes action. Program pages for all Pocono races are or will be available athttps://www.phha.org/downsmsppps.html.  

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
WILKES-BARRE PA – On Monday afternoon at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, the theme of the day was “Driver Tyler Buter and Trainer John Butenschoen Click With Another Three-Year-Old Trotter,” as the trotmeisterssent out four winning diamondgaited sophomores, including both winners in the $15,000 featured races.
 
The faster of the featured performers was the Tactical Landing colt Purple Lord, who bounced back from a break in his seasonal debut at Philly, circling up off cover and catching pacesetting favorite Bella Macchiato by a neck in 1:54.3. Purple Lord, second to Volume Eight in the Kindergarten Final last year, is owned by Harmony Oaks Racing Stable Inc., Berg Brothers Stable, and Rich Preziotti.
 
The Helpisontheway gelding Help Page also righted the ship after a Philly break in his 2023 bow, trotting steadily up to the lead in front of the stands and maintaining a length lead over pocketsitter Quite Fast for a 1:56.4 triumph. Harmony Oaks and Preziotti combine in the ownership of Help Page with James Crawford IV.
 
Buter/Butenschoen also clicked with the Crazy Wow gelding Some Kinda Crazy in 1:55.2 for Crawford, Preziotti, Andray Farms, and VIP Internet Stable LLC, while the Father Patrick filly Baby Take A Vow broke her maiden in 1:58.2 for Butenschoen, David J. Miller (an actual USTA legal entity); Heritage Standardbreds; Lawrence Means; and VIP. Buter would add a fifth sulky success with the pacer Mikiteen, breaking his maiden in 1:52.3.
 
$475,000 yearling Unicorn Blue Chip, a Chapter Seven filly with Mr Muscleman and Plunge Blue Chip not far back in her pedigree, won her second straight race, although they came 220 days apart – her previous race was at Lexington in October. The Lucas Wallin trainee, owned by Harbor Racing Stable LLC and Mazza Racing Stables LLC, rallied from the two-hole for the 1:57.1 victory, catching pacesetter I Cant Refuse by a neck while being handled by Pocono’s leading driver, Matt Kakaley.
 
Kakaley deserves an extra mention, as the 37-year-old, in finishing second with Mamba in a Pennsylvania All-Stars race here last night, eclipsed $100,000,000 in lifetime driving earnings. And yes, Matt is still only 37, with many more turns around the ovals to add to that formidable total.
 
The racing week at Pocono ends Tuesday at 1 p.m., with developing horses sharing the spotlight with the top claiming handicap trotters on the grounds. 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 Pennsylvania-sired “glamour division,” the three-year-old pacing males, were featured in their first of two consecutive Sunday stops at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, contesting three $30,000 divisions of their Pennsylvania All-Stars event.
 
The fastest divisional winner, the Sweet Lou gelding Idiosyncratic, was also the only non-favorite to be victorious, taking a new mark of 1:50.3 as the 5-2 second choice. Simon Allard directed Idiosyncratic three-wide down the backstretch to loop a parked-the-mile horse, then kept coming in the stretch to catch Mamba, who had gone fractions of :26.4, :54.1, and 1:22.1 under pressure, by three-quarters a length, with favored Stay Grounded shuffled back then closing for third. Ron Burke trains the winner, a winner of half his twelve seasonal starts who lowered his mark from The Meadows last week by a tick, for Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
 
Favored sons of Captaintreacherous took the other two cuts, one easily, one not so easily. The Brett Pelling-trained Command gradually worked up from the outside post eight by Todd McCarthy, wearing the colors of owners Diamond Creek Racing, and took command, putting up splits of :27.2, :56, and 1:23.3. Hunters Hero swung wide from second-over and closed powerfully on the far outside at 30-1, but he was a nose shy in the 1:51.1 mile, with pocketsitter Panettone Hanover just another nose shy of taking it all. 
 
Perhaps the most impressive winner to the eye won in the slowest clocking of the three, 1:51.4. Ken Hanover, coming off a 1:49.4 Meadows Sire Stakes win, was the overwhelming choice and was driven by confidence by David Miller (career win #13,998), laying off early fractions of :27.2 and :57.1 before launching a steady uncovered bid well before the 1:24.3 three-quarters. Ken Hanover ate up the ground until taking over late on the turn, then held off second-over Lyons Surfing by 2¼ lengths while pacing his own last half in :53.4. Trainer Polie Mallar and co-owners Patrick Leavitt, William Jordan, and Dennis Osterholt look to have themselves a national-caliber colt here.
 
Pocono will close out its racing week with 1 p.m. cards on Monday and Tuesday, with younger horses featured on Monday and sharing the spotlight with the track’s top claiming handicap trotters on Tuesday. 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’s Academic trotted the fastest mile over any 5/8-mile in North America this year when he won the $20,000 Open handicap trot at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon in 1:51.2.
 
The $1,393,092-winning son of Uncle Peter burst away from the gate for driver David Miller, getting around double millionaire Amigo Volo past the middle of the first turn. That positioning required a :26.2 expenditure of energy but was a good investment, as It’s Academic was then able to get moderate middle splits of :55 and 1:23.2 before sprinting home in :28 to defeat Amigo Volo by 1¼ lengths. Ron Burke trains the classy winner, who had won at The Meadowlands in 1:51.2 in his last start, for owner Brad Grant.
 
A $15,300 trot for developing younger horses saw the Wheeling N Dealin gelding Archery Seelster rally from second-over – not the most-favorable spot on the speed-favoring Philly track – to just catch Ginger Tree Brad for a nose decision in 1:54. The meet’s leading driver and trainer, Tim Tetrick and Jeff Cullipher, combined for the victory with Archery Seelster, who is owned by Pollack Racing LLC.
 
The day’s $14,400 pacing headliner, also for up-and-coming horses, saw the Huntsville gelding Hazeville show courage to rally back for victory in a lifetime best of 1:50.4. Bloodhound took the lead before the :26 quarter and kept Hazeville on the outside most of the way to a searing :53.2 half before yielding, only to come back to reclaim the top before a blistering 1:21.2 three-quarters. But Hazeville stayed game and rallied up the inside for a neck victory over Sweet Treasure, who was just up to photo out Bloodhound for second. 
 
Hazeville, driven by Simon Allard, has now won two of three 2023 starts and half his ten lifetime trips behind the gate for trainer Tom Fanning and the partnership of David Rovine Stable LLC, VIP Internet Stable LLC, and Howard Taylor.
 
Tim Tetrick won four of the first eight races before heading to Pocono for stakes action, with his win total enough to lead the other drivers and fatten his lead atop the local standings.
 
Live Wednesday racing rejoins the basic lineup at Harrah’s Philadelphia this coming week, with the track settling into its main spring/summer schedule of Wednesday through Friday at 12:25 and Sunday at 12:40. Program pages for all Philly cards are or will be available at https://www.phha.org/harrahspps.html.