By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
WILKES-BARRE PA – The Captain Crunch gelding Southwind Celsius was last at the quarter in the $17,000 featured pace Tuesday afternoon at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, but with astute handling by driver Braxten Boyd, the strong closer actually got a good trip to go on to win in a career best 1:51.1.
 
About the only fate worse than “being last at the quarter” is “being hung the whole mile raw,” and that was the route that befell favored Arbitrage Hanover, who was not at his best on the bends. The chalk was outside midpack through early splits of :26.1 and :55.1, with Boyd hustling Southwind Celsius up to get directly behind “Arbitrage”’s cover.
 
The favorite found a better gear straightened down the back and streaked up to challenge before the 1:23 three-quarters, with the winner being towed up perfectly. With Arbitrage Hanover’s bid stalling somewhat into the far turn, Boyd sent Southwind Celsius wide and looped to the lead, opening a clear margin and then being kept to business late as Arbitrage Hanover, who had fallen back to fifth midstretch, again used his top speed on a straight course to rally for second, a length back.
 
Mark Ford trains the winner for owners David Hamm, Glenn Phillips, and Pit Bull Stable LLC. This was the fourth victory of the day for the 24-year-old Boyd, now in the top five in the Pocono standings.
 
Vengeance Blue Chip ran his recent record to four wins in his last seven races and lowered his mark to 1:50.1 in winning the $15,000 subfeature pace. The Captaintreacherous sophomore gelding was driven by George Napolitano Jr., who himself had three wins on the card, for trainer Joe Pavia Jr. and the ownership of Vincent Ferriero Jr., John Whitig, Donald Kayser, and Pint Size Racing LLC.
 
Racing resumes at Pocono Downs this Saturday at 1 p.m., which will feature three $17,000 trotting contests. Saturday is also Hambletonian Day, and you can watch and wager on the big-time card at The Meadowlands at Pocono through its system – and get a preview of many of the world-class horses who will be coming here for the $2M Sun Stakes Saturday card of August 17, with the top three-year-olds and seasoned stars. Free Pocono programs are or will be available at www.phha.org.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
ATTRIBUTION – Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association, Pennsylvania Fair Harness Horsemen’s Association, and Meadows Standardbred Owners Association partnership
 
 
BEDFORD PA – Sam Beegle “went home” to record his 1000th career driving victory during Tuesday afternoon’s card at the Bedford (PA) Fairgrounds.
 
The President of the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association and the Chairman of District 7 (Pennsylvania) of the U. S. Trotting Association, the 73-year-old native of Bedford is still a full-time hands-on horseman, as he proved at the 2-day Fair Sire Stakes meet at Bedford on Tuesday, Never one to make a fuss or drag things out, Beegle went out and won the very first race of the session with the Papi Rob Hanover – Latte Lady two-year-old pacing filly Ginger Tree Millie in 2:00.1, only three-fifths off the divisional track record at Bedford.
 
The talented baby cut all the pace, set fractions of :30.2, 1:00.2, and 1:30.4, opened ten lengths at the stretch call, and won by 7½ lengths to break her maiden and earn Beegle his milestone win. Sam is the trainer of the filly, and he co-owns her with Ginger Tree Ventures LLC, Knollview Stable, and Robert Reber Jr.
 
A state finalist as a high school wrestler, Beegle still shows the energy and drive of a teenager while keeping a schedule that might be daunting (even cut in half) to a younger person.
 
A full recap of the Bedford meet, with summaries of the two-year-old racing of Tuesday and the three-year-old competition of Wednesday, will be following after the action concludes at Bedford Wednesday night.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
WILKES-BARRE PA – The Explosive Matter gelding Suits Me, a consistent checkgetter, had not made the breakthrough to the winners circle in 2024  until the $15,000 featured trot Monday at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, when he beat the heavy favorite Sainthood by a neck while taking a new mark of 1:55.1.
 
Jim Pantaleano sent Suits Me away quickly, and with the inside holes filled challenger Soncando was parked well past a :27.4 opener, making the top in front of the stands; however, the latter would soon yield to a brushing Sainthood, coming off a PA Stallion Series victory,  who was on top by the :57 half. Pantaleano brought Suits Me out for more down the back and gradually was able to work up to the pocket as Sainthood passed the three-quarters in 1:25.3. The battle boiled down to these two in the stretch, and coming up the inside Suits Me trotted past the chalk for trainer/owner Austin Brubacker.
 
The toteboard may have short-circuited after the posting of the results of Monday’s last race, which saw the two favorites make breaks: Youcomehereoften (56-1) decisioned Padre (52-1), with Tailgate Buzz (23-1), Mystical Wynn (23-1), and Chamba (18-1) next in line under the wire. With a $115.60 winner and an exacta returning $2651.40 for $2, it was no surprise that the race’s High 5 betting yielded no 5-1-2-7-8 tickets, which means a carryover into Tuesday’s last race.
 
The week’s racing winds down Tuesday with a 1 p.m. post, which will offer both developing horses in a $17,000 pacing feature and a carryover into the Pick 3 wager beginning in race four, along with the carryover in the last race High 5 wager mentioned above. Free Pocono programs will be available at www.phha.org.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
WILKES-BARRE PA – Noses, closers, and upsets were the order of the day at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Sunday evening, especially in the two feature races.
 
In the top event, a $15,000 trot, the Southwind Frank gelding Songs In The Wind, who had been better than fifth at the quarter only once on his charted lines, wound up in the pocket, behind slow fractions of :28.2, :59.1, and 1:28.1. The tempo, and the competition, certainly picked up in the stretch, with Songs In The Wind using the famed Pocono Pike to win a four-horse photo in a career-best 1:56.2, himself coming home in :27.4 for trainer Richard Titter, co-owner with Susan Titter. For driver Braxten Boyd, the $51.20 mutuel was his fifth “bomber” ($50+) of the meet, the youngster showing he can do a lot with horses not particularly fancied.
 
International Gift swung widest and was just a nose off Songs In The Wind and a half length ahead of pacesetter The Moment, who in turn was a neck ahead of fourth-place finisher and favorite Sister Diane.
 
In a $14,000 co-featured pace for distaffs, it was the Stay Hungry sophomore filly Shanghai Star who shone brightest by a nose, the 7-1 winner edging out 47-1 maiden American Starlight while taking a new mark of 1:53.1. In this back-and-forth event, Shanghai Star was the first leader and then the fifth and final leader, backing out from the rail and coming off American Starlight’s cover for trainer Mark Ford and All Star Racing Inc.
 
Shanghai Star was the fifth success story of the evening for driver Matt Kakaley, and watching him and George Napolitano Jr. battle at the top of the standings is like watching a heavyweight prizefight, with Napolitano racking up five scores when Kakaley was at The Meadows Saturday, and then Kakaley answering that punch with a five-spot of his own Sunday. Only one of Kakaley’s five winners was favored, and that one by less than $100 to win.
 
Matt reduced George’s lead to 169-166; Napolitano himself arrived at Pocono after doubling at Philly in the afternoon and drove in the last two races, beaten a total of 6½ feet (a horse is about eight feet long) from sweeping the Late Double.
 
There were four races Sunday that were won by a nose, one by a head, and another two by a neck. And there was only one horse leading at the three-quarters and going on to win. It was an unusual night.
 
Things may return more to normal during Monday and Tuesday cards starting at 1 p.m. Free Pocono programs will be available at www.phha.org.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
CHESTER PA – South Beach Star was undoubtedly helped by first turn confusion while winning the $15,000 featured fast-class handicap pace in 1:48.4 Sunday afternoon at Harrah’s Philadelphia, but after making the lead with relative ease then storming home in :53.2, no one may have been able to catch him anyway.
 
The victorious Somebeachsomewhere gelding  and Joemikiyoursofine got away 1-2 in that order. Maximus Miki, the conqueror of “Star” last week, is not quite as handy as the “Star,” which cost him here, because as he was been taken back towards fifth, three-holer Belmont Royale N made a break, compromising the chances of the rest of the field.
 
Meanwhile South Beach Star went early splits of :26.4 and :55.2 for driver David Miller, then shifted to higher gear to hit the three-quarters in 1:22, with Joemikiyoursofine still second and Maximus Miki, least-bothered by the early trouble, had caught up to a closer third. But South Beach Star still had plenty in the tank for the stretch, with Joemikiyoursofine second, a length back, and Maximus Miki third.
 
South Beach Star, the winner of the #Senditin Pace on Philly’s Super Sunday, sure loves to win for trainer Mark Silva and owner All Star Racing Inc.: he’s 5-for-8 this year, 16-for-37 over the last two campaigns combined, and 30-for-80 in a career which has seen him earn $456,015.
 
In the $14,000 subfeature fast class handicap pace, the Bettor’s Delight gelding Mac’s Delight got a drop in class after winning at the $15,000 purse level in his last start, because his stablemate for trainer Tom Cancelliere and owner/brother John was the returning Maximus Miki. Mac’s Delight took full advantage of the opportunity, closing off cover to post a 1:49.4 tally.
 
Water Sports Teen put on a front-end speed show of :25.4, :54.2, and 1:22.1, with Arden Messi N (at 36-1) challenging uncovered and Mac’s Delight right on his back. Into the stretch, Arden Messi N kept going gamely, but Mac’s Delight just had too much kick after the perfect cover trip, and he won by  a length, raising his success rate to half in eight seasonal starts.
 
Unusual patterns in the horsemen’s colony Sunday: Corey Callahan drove three winners, all for different trainers; David Miller, Anthony Morgan, and George Napolitano Jr. drove two winners each, with none of them winning for one trainer twice; trainers Jeff Cullipher and Dean Eckley trained two winners each – both trainers using different drivers for their respective victories.
 
Racing returns to Harrah’s Philadelphia on Wednesday, with a 12:25 start; the same first post will be in place for Thursday and Friday racing, with the week ending Sunday with a 12:40 opener. On Hambletonian Day Saturday, fans can watch and wager on the high-class Meadowlands card (many of whose combatants have raced locally this year) at Philly or through its network. Free Philly programs are or will be available at www.phha.org.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
WILKES-BARRE PA – Energysource and Hankins Hanover got the job done in the $17,000 featured trots on Saturday afternoon at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
 
Energysource, a Swan For All gelding, has a history of bunching his wins – half his twelve lifetime victories before this race came in a month and a half at the Indiana fairs last year – and here he took his second straight victory while lowering his mark to 1:53.3. Anthony Napolitano had his horse perfectly-placed second-over as the fractions went :27.1, :55.4, and 1:24.4, then swung him wide and ran down the horse who had set much of the pace, the favored Crystal Trio IT, by 1½ lengths. Lance Hudson trains the sharp trotter for owner William Hartt.
 
Hankins Hanover, a sophomore Walner gelding, had to do his work uncovered as Missile set fractions of :28.1, :57.3, and 1:26.2, but the three-year-old showed grittiness as he grinded down the pacesetter to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:55.1, with Attis Rock ducking to the Pocono Pike from second-over to get third, another three parts of a length behind. Hankins Hanover was driven by Tyler Buter for trainer Nifty Norman and owners Pinske Stables and David Hoese.
 
Two and three starts ago Imaginary Line had caught Shoobie Doo A up the inside from the pocket in Pocono’s $16,500 claiming handicap pace; last week others were involved early, shuffling Imaginary Line to third-in, and when free he couldn’t catch “Shoobie” and lost his six-race win streak.
 
This week the “normal order” was restored as the Betting Line gelding Imaginary Line, who was driven by Tyler Buter for trainer Darren Taneyhill and LAV Racing Stable Inc., parked Shoobie Doo A just past a :25.4 opener, sat on his back through midsplits of :54.3 and 1:22, then again used the Pocono Pike as a route to victory in 1:49.4. Epic Ace finished with a rush to take second, a neck behind the winner and three parts of a length ahead of Shoobie Doo A. The winner and pacesetter were haltered for a second straight week, with their old owners each forking over $1000 extra this time to get back the two horses, who were here taken for a combined $79,000.
 
With the words “Adios,” “Meadowlands Pace,” and “North America Cup” scattered in his competition lines, the Captain Crunch sophomore gelding Number Cruncher showed his appreciation for getting away from those roughies by taking a $15,000 pace in 1:50.2. Marcus Miller, driving for trainer/father Erv, sat comfortable fractions of :27.1, :55.3, and 1:24, then burned home in :26.2 to hold off two-holer Chrchviewcamlot IR by 1½ lengths for Ervin Miller Stable Inc. Douglas Overhiser, and Greg Gillis.
 
George Napolitano Jr. had the hot hands on the Saturday card, bringing home five winners.
 
Pocono races on Sundays at 6 p.m.; that card will be followed by Monday and Tuesday programs at 1 p.m.  Free Pocono programs are or will be available at www.phha.org.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
CHESTER PA – It appears as if Pennsylvania may be blessed with two extraordinary two-year-old pacing fillies this season, as hard on the heels of Papi Grad’s three 1:51.1f miles to open her career, the Sweet Lou – Beach Body miss Beach Rules made a stunning initial start Friday afternoon at Harrah’s Philadelphia, pacing in 1:50.4f. That clocking ties that of the filly Chantilly, recorded at Woodbine Mohawk, as the fastest mile by any two-year-old this year (at press time).
 
Coming of a 1:53.4 winning qualifier at The Meadowlands in which she came from far back while pacing her back numbers in :54.4 - :26.4, Beach Rules left the gate like a shot in her purse bow under the guidance of the 21-year-old Enzed phenom Carter Dalgety. Through fractions of :27, :54.3, and 1:22.2, she had a lead of four, three, and four lengths at those respective markers; her advantage increased to eight lengths by the stretch call, and the final margin of victory was 9¼ lengths.
 
Hall Of Fame trainer Linda Toscano trains the impressive homebred filly for Conrad Zurich and Purple Haze Stable LLC. It’ll be interesting to see if both star fillies turn out for the invasion of their Pennsylvania Sire Stakes division here on August 15.
 
Trainer Toscano also sent out the winner of the $12,000 distaff handicap pace for fast-class horses as the Heston Blue Chip mare Odds On Hail Mary took her field wire-to-wire for driver Corey Callahan in 1:52, her third win in her last five starts. DC Batgirl shook loose late and was eating up stretch ground, but she was a neck shy at the wire to the winner, who is owned by Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Odds On Racing. Callahan was top sulkysitter on the day with four wins.
 
The $12,000 pace for the top claimers on the grounds saw the Straight Shooting gelding Straight Up Cool win for the fourth time in his last five starts, yet still pay off at 12-1. Troy Beyer reserved the winner just off the speed, then charged home with a :27.1 individual last quarter to win in 1:51.1, a length ahead of He’s Gonna Getya. Straight Up Cool, stepping up in class and still winning, was a new acquisition for trainer Marc Mosher and owner Joseph Riad, who claimed the sharp sidewheeler last week.
 
$12,000 was also the purse for a pair of races for developing distaff pacers. The Sweet Lou filly Blue Pacific got her own way on the front end to the half, then came home in :55.2 to ward off the uncovered Parkavenuelisa by a nose in 1:52.2 for driver Corey Callahan, trainer Joe Holloway, and Val D’Or Farms.
 
In the other section of this class, Let It Ride Stables Inc. got a second feature win on the afternoon with a daughter of Heston Blue Chip, as the sophomore Bares All gained good ground uncovered , pacing her own back half in :55.2 to tally in 1:52.3 for driver David Miller and trainer Robert Cleary.
 
Sunday has a $15,000 and a $14,000 event for fast-class pacers, and both races have three horses handicapped outside due to earnings – with the some trainers outside in each race: Ron Burke, Tom Cancelliere, and Mark Silva. There will also be a carryover into the fifth race’s Pick 5 wager. Free Philly programs are or will be available at www.phha.org.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
CHESTER PA – Southwind Banshee was ruthless in the $13,500 feature on “Trottin’ Thursday” at Harrah’s Philadelphia, in control at every fractional pole en route to taking a new mark of 1:53.3.
 
Tim Tetrick, who furthered his lead in the local drivers standings with five firsts, reached the lead with the sophomore daughter of Muscle Hill before the :28 quarter, then negotiated the front half in :57. The fast distaff reached the three quarters in 1:25.3 then widened out on to win by 7¼ lengths for trainer Åke Svanstedt and his Åke Svanstedt Inc.
 
There were a trio of $12,000 subfeatures, with the one for fast-class performers won in an upset by another offspring of Muscle Hill, the gelding The Fast Lane, who took a new mark of 1:53. The Fast Lane didn’t appear to be in the fast lane much of the way as he gapped in the pocket behind favored Kierkegaard K’s fast fractions of :27.2, :55.1, and 1:23.1. But the winner drew closer as Outside The Fire moved up, backed out behind that one as the challenger started to wear down the pacesetter, then swung wide to win by 1 1/4 lengths. Tony Morgan drove the winner for trainer Tim Crissman and owner Elanor Laws.
 
The other pair of $12,000 events were for developing horses, with trainer Nancy Takter in charge of both winners. The Chapter Seven sophomore colt Devastate set all the pace in the faster cut, then survived a late thrust by luckless Canadian invader Shermont to get the nod by a half-length in 1:54.2 for Diamond Creek Racing and driver Dexter Dunn, wearing the stable colors.
 
Takter then came back with the Walner three-year-old filly Walla, who minded her manners today and led her field at every pole to take a new mark of 1:54.3, ahead by 3½ lengths over Tracks Of My Tears at the finish. David Miller was in the sulky behind Walla for Christinatakter&Anderberg, John Fielding, Oakwood Farms, and Nancy Takter.
 
There is a quartet of $12,000 headliners set for Philly’s Friday card, with many of the same classes coming back for distaff pacers – a fast-class contest and two divisions of a classification for up-and-coming younger horses. Those races will be joined by a claiming handicap pace for the priciest sellers on the grounds. Free Philly programs are or will be available at www.phha.org.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
CHESTER PA – Ifthasritthatsrong and Goliath Hanover were both very impressive in winning the $12,000 pacing features Wednesday afternoon at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
 
Ifthasritthatsrong may not know how to spell, but he certainly can pace, as the Scioto invader made two speed moves for driver Simon Allard during fractions of :27, :55.2, and 1:22.2, then paced out the clock in 1:49.4, lowering his mark by 4 3/5 seconds. The Stag Party sophomore gelding comes from the team of trainer Robert Belcher and owner Todd Rosenberg.
 
The other feature division also produced a lifetime best, as the Betting Line three-year-old gelding Goliath Hanover went to the lead past a :26.4 quarter, put up midfractions of :55.1 and 1:23.1, then fended off pocketsitting Atoughnuttocrack by a half length in 1:51.2. The Scott Di Domenico trainee for his Triple D Stables Inc. was one of four winners for the meet’s top driver, Tim Tetrick.
 
Two-year-olds winning on the card included pacing filly Three Times Bettor (Bettor’s Delight – Three Times A Lady), breaking her maiden in 1:55.2; pacing colt Top Tier (Papi Rob Hanover – Captiva Island) getting his first win in 1:55.1; and trotting filly Bridgeoverbroadway (Six Pack – Black Broadway), a maiden no more after a 1:58.2 victory.
 
“Trottin’ Thursday” again brings some fine contests among diagonally-gaited horses to the Harrah’s Philadelphia oval. Of big interest to Philly punters is that the Thursday card will feature a $15,000 guaranteed pool for the Pick 5 wager starting in race five, after no winning tickets Wednesday produced a double carryover in excess of $3800. Free Philly programs are or will be available at www.phha.org.