By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
WILKES-BARRE PA – The longest shot on the board in her first lifetime start, Abbess won the fastest of three $30,000 closely-contested divisions of a Pennsylvania All-Stars event for two-year-old trotting fillies on Tuesday afternoon at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
 
A daughter of Father Patrick – Dew Can Dew who showed only a second in a qualifying line for trainer Chase Vandervort, Abbess was kept near the back of the field as several of the favorites argued fractions of :28.2, :58.4, and 1:27.2. The light bulb went on for Abbess around the far turn, as she completed a personal :57 last half and closed from fifth at the stretch call to garner a neck victory over Contrition, who photoed Litt Up for place. The remainder of Abbess’s connections are not ones you would associate with 25-1 odds but would with stakes success: driver Tim Tetrick and owners Arden Homestead Stable.
 
After winning a Pennsylvania Sire Stake event in her last start, the Bar Hopping – Perfect Chance miss Ginger Tree Lex added another stakes credit to her burgeoning resume with a defeat of a game Lainey W by a nose. After fractions of :29.4 and 1:00.2, first-over Ginger Tree Lex went first-over with a :27.3 brush that saw her pass Lainey W to the lead at the 1:28.2 three-quarters. But the former leader was not finished and narrowed back in gamely, with Ginger Tree Lex proving just a nose more photogenic in 17.1, equaling her mark. Matt Kakaley was the driver for trainer Steve Cook and owners Sam Beegle, Ginger Tree Ventures LLC, Knollview Stable 2, and Robert Reber Jr.
 
The Greenshoe – Tricky Sister filly Shoestrings, third in a Sire Stakes event  in her purse debut, had the “easiest” All-Stars victory, by three parts of a length over French Echo in a new mark of 1:57.1. The latter sat in the pocket as Shoestrings set splits of :29, :59.1, and 1:28.4, then closed a little into a :28.1 last quarter, but not enough to defeat Shoestrings, who was driven by Jim Marohn Jr. for trainer-owner D. R. Ackerman.
 
Though he won no stakes events, trainer-driver Åke Svanstedt drove three horses from his barn to victory, by a combined 17¾ lengths, to lead the Pocono horsemen in both categories on Tuesday.
 
Racing resumes at Pocono on Saturday at 1 p.m., and an instant possible bonanza awaits fans – there will be carryover into the first race Superfecta. Free Pocono program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
WILKES-BARRE PA – There were four $30,000 divisions of a Pennsylvania All-Stars event for two-year-old pacing males at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, and trainer Ron Burke won two of them, sending out two favored first-time starters, one of whom set a season’s record for colts and the other beating out a stablemate after a good battle.
 
It was obvious that the Stay Hungry – Francessa colt Frantic Hanover had a ton of ability, coming into his first purse start off a qualifier in which he paced his back three-quarters in 1:22 over a mile track. And he again showed superb promise while winning in 1:52.1, the season’s record for freshman colts on an “f”-sized track.
 
Thai Hanover shot out to command ahead of the winner, reached the quarter in :28, and then backed off the half to :57.3. After speeding up to a 1:25.1 three-quarter pole lead, Thai Hanover continued gamely and still had a :27 kicker in him, but he also had a determined colt chasing him to his right, and the photo decision gave the nod to Frantic Hanover by a head. Tim Tetrick drove the precocious freshman for Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Brad Grant, and Knox Services Inc.
 
Burke’s other All-Stars winner was Al Papi, a Papi Rob Hanover – Baron Remy colt coming off two Gaitway wins with sub-:55 back halves. That turn of quick foot served him well again today, as after sitting the two-hole to splits of :28.1 and :58, driver Ron Wrenn Jr. moved the talented baby to the lead before a 1:26 three-quarters, then withstood onrushing stablemate Melillo (another one to watch for) in 1:53.1 for a mark. Al Papi is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby, and Lawrence Karr.
 
Papi Rob Hanover earned another All-Stars sire credit with Swig Hanover (dam Stolly Up Bluechip), who may be the only undefeated horse around with a “negative cumulative margin”: in his first start he was second, beaten a neck, but was placed up as another rival went inside pylons, while Monday he put up the fractions of :28.3, :58, and 1:25.4, then held off favored potential pocket rocket Wingin The Captain by a head in 1:53.2, also a mark. Tim Tetrick grabbed a second All-Stars credit by piloting the Darran Cassar trainee for Jessica and Cayla Cassar, Barry Charles, Robert Muscara, and William Rochetti Jr.
 
The only gelding to win an All-Stars contest, Western Raptor (Wild Wild Western – Kitty Kitty Hawk), is now two-for-two after just missing his own section season’s mark by a tick with a 1:52.4 victory. Mike Wilder moved the winner to the lead after a :27.4 quarter, went on with midsplits of :56.4 and 1:25.2, then rushed home in :27.2 for trainer Norm Parker and owner Andrew Altobelli.
 
A first-rate $25,000 fast-class mares pace saw the Shadow Play mare Silk Cloud A show both speed and grit in lowering her lifetime mark in 1:49.1. Lauren Tritton left like a flash with the winner, hung Talk Curdy With Me well past a :25.4 opener before yielding to the one to sit in the pocket to a :55 half. But Tritton sent her mare, a career winner of $554,981, back out at the five-eighths and to the lead by a 1:22 three-quarters; favored Louisville GB loomed off cover, but Silk Cloud A found a little more and earned a one length decision for trainer Peter Tritton and owners Eric Good and David Kryway.
 
Pennsylvania All-Stars competition for two-year-olds will also be featured on the week-ending Tuesday 1 p.m. card at Pocono, with three $30,000 divisions for trotting fillies to be in the spotlight. Free Pocono program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
WILKES-BARRE PA – Lunar, extremely hard-used to gain the lead in front of the stands the first time, dug in gamely making his second pass under the wire and won the $16,000 claiming handicap pace in 1:49.1 on Sunday night at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pocono.
 
Lunar, the favorite, was looped out of the gate by recent frequent winner Belmont Major N, but driver Jack Pelling pressed on with him past a :26.3 quarter and made the lead at the three-eighths. Lunar went on to sapping middle splits of :53.3 and 1:21.2, and Hammering Hank tried to take advantage of the hot fractions from second-over, but the brave Lunar maintained his advantage, which was a neck at the wire.
 
The Sweet Lou gelding won the feature for trainer Hunter Oakes and owner Carmen Iannacone, but they did see Lunar changing barns via the claiming box for $38,000.
 
There were two claiming paces, both carrying a purse of $15,000, carded for horses priced just below the feature horses. The first was taken by 19-1 prospect Cruzin America in what was not only a blanket finish, but it was a very small blanket, too – three-quarters of a length separated the entirety of the six-horse field at the finish. Cruzin America, an American Ideal gelding, got a nice trip second-over and took the victory by a neck in 1:51.3 for driver Tyler Buter, trainer Brandon Presto, and Meredith Farms LLC.
 
In the other division, Bullville Stephano, a son of Artiscape, was a 1:50.4 winner. Anthony Napolitano made the lead before the quarter, backed off at the half, then scurried home in :53.4, needing all of that to withstand pocketsitter Downrightdelicious by three parts of a length. Owner Todd’s Auto and trainer Lou Pena recorded their second straight win with the pacer, but they won’t be notching a third, as the winner was claimed for $25,000. (On the other hand, Todd’s and Pena were the successful claimants on feature winner Lunar.)


Jack Pelling and Anthony Napolitano both steered three winners on the card. Napolitano, who tripled for the second straight day, guided two winners for trainer Noel Daley; Pelling combined with trainer Hunter Oakes for the fastest mile of the program on both gaits, with feature winner Lunar and with first-time U.S. winner Demone Deiventi IT, who indeed was a demon in a 1:52.2 mile.
 
Pennsylvania All-Stars races for two-year-olds highlight the final two cards of the week, both beginning at 1 p.m., with pacing colts set for Monday and trotting fillies headlining the Tuesday action. Free Pocono program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
CHESTER PA – Mad Max Hanover was out most of the quarter to get command, then had to be good late to hold off Mac’s Delight by a length in a 1:49.4 $13,000 fast-class pacing handicap Sunday afternoon at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
 
The two horses with the homonymous first names were the bettors’ two choices at even money, with Mac’s Delight having $12 more wagered on him to win than Mad Max Hanover despite drawing outside that foe, and the difference in gate position may have been the difference in the race.
 
“Max” hustled to get the early lead from the quick starter Water Sports Teen by a :27 opener, with “Mac’s” having to accept the three-hole behind the two fighters. The winner went to the half in :55.2, then had the favorite race up alongside before the 1:22.2 three-quarters. There wasn’t much between the two since before the third call, but Mad Max Hanover had just a bit more to win for the third time in his his last four starts. Mark Herschberger guided Mad Max Hanover, a winner of $871,338, for trainer Jake Leamon and owner Marvin Rounick.
 
There was a pair of $12,000 contests for developing horses, one on each gait. In the pace, which was restricted to males, the public again foresaw the race as a two-horse battle, and they were correct. The favored Captaintreacherous sophomore gelding Seaworthy Hanover sat the pocket behind second choice Captain Fear during splits of :27.3, :56.1, and 1:23.4, then moved out for the lane and despite drifting out slightly gradually wore down the leader by 1¼ lengths, with the 1:51.2 final time a new mark. Andrew McCarthy handled the Marvin Rounick-owned winner, trained by Jake Leamon (the same trainer-owner combo that won the feature).
 
On the trot, Kelly’s Landing went the mile of her life, as the Tactical Landing sophomore filly was rolled by Corey Callahan on a speed mission of :28, :55.4, and 1:24.2 before finishing out with a new mark of 1:54.4. No one could get close to the winner in the last quarter as she won for trainer Christopher Freck and Stormi And Bruiser Stable.
 
In an $11,000 handicap pace for the top claimers on the grounds, the Huntsville gelding The Boss Said, noted for his early speed, showed he could come from off the pace as well. Seventh at the three-quarters, The Boss Said circled leaders who fought through fractions of :26.4, :55.3, and 1:22.4 to be along by three quarters of a length over 66-1 shot Barbossa Hanover in 1:52.1. The Corey Callahan-driven Darren Taneyhill trainee, owned by LAV Racing Stable Inc., has now won four of his last seven races.
 
Corey Callahan and Andrew McCarthy each won three races to share the day’s honors; trainer Jake Leamon was the only conditioner doubling, and both came in feature races.
 
Harrah’s races in July are conducted on Wednesday through Friday at 12:25 and Sunday at 12:40; Wednesday’s card will feature a carryover into the fifth race Pick pool. The Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and Stallion Series return to Philly on Friday, with some Hambletonian possibilities among the three-year-old trotting male entrants. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
WILKES-BARRE PA – The favorites did not live up to the tote evaluation of them in the Saturday afternoon features at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, leaving the door open for two second choices and a third choice to step to impressive victories.
 
There was a $17,000 contest on both gaits for horses nearing the high rungs of their developmental class ladder. In the pace, the Sweet Lou gelding Sweethomealabama N went around chalk Its Saturday Night approaching the first turn and laid down fractions of :26.3, :55.4 (against the wind), and 1:22.2. After shaking off a first-over challenger, the winner had to stave off a late rush by the chalk, but was equal to that task by a head while reducing his mark to 1:50.1. Anthony Napolitano, who steered three winners on a day when no other pilot had more than one, drove Sweethomealabama N for trainer Cory Stratton and owners VIP Internet Stable, Our Three Sons Stable, and Stratton Stable.
 
In the trot, Kierkegaard K was the favorite, and he made a move after the :27.1 initial station to race on the engine and set middle fractions of :56.2 and 1:24.1. The Crazy Wow gelding Spending Crazy, at 7-1, sat in third to the far turn, then was moved to challenge by driver Ridge Warren and overhauled the crowd’s choice by a half length in 1:53.1, his fastest winning time. Todd Buter trains the winner for Mary Ellen Abbot, Lawrence Vincent, and Michael Card.
 
A $16,500 fast-class pace saw the Always A Virgin gelding Virgo use his preferred frontending tactics to ring up numbers of :27, :55.1, and 1:22.1, then pace home strongly for a 1:49 conquest, with Belmont Royale N closing well to photo pocketsitting favorite Combustion for second. Virgo, who raised his lifetime tally to $566,237, was driven by Simon Allard for trainer Darren Taneyhill and owners Mark Jakubik and Jason Darling.
 
Next up at Pocono will be Sunday twilight racing at 6 p.m., with a carryover into the first race Pick 4 and a double carryover into the fifth race Pick 5. On the Monday and Tuesday 1 p.m. cards, there will be Pennsylvania All-Stars events for two-year-olds, with pacing colts featured Monday and trotting fillies on Tuesday. Free Pocono program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
CHESTER PA – Pilar Hanover, on the board in all four of her initial 2025 starts, was quite impressive in finally reaching this year’s win column, winning a $14,000 handicap pace for up-and-coming female pacers at Harrah’s Philadelphia Friday afternoon while lowering her mark to 1:51.1.
 
Corey Callahan, top driver on the day at the southeast Pennsylvania oval with four sulky successes, had a simple strategy: take Pilar Hanover to the front and don’t let anyone else go. The pair reached the top before a :26.3 initial split, then would not yield to parked challenger Strutsville, who raced alongside to the half in :54.4 and to near the three-quarters in 1:22.3 before fading.
 
Cant See Me, third behind two decent fillies named Rodeo Drive Deo and Miki And Minnie in her last start and favored here, had to go three-wide as the parked horse faded, and though she rallied gamely she still came up 1 1/2 lengths short. Jim King Jr. trains Pilar Hanover for partners Jo Ann Looney-King, his wife, and Paton Racing Inc.
 
There was a pair of $12,000 subfeatures for developing pacing distaffs one level below the feature class. The quicker of the two was the 1:52.2 victory turned in by Intricacy, another three-year-old daughter of Papi Rob Hanover, who tucked behind early fireworks then advanced uncovered midbackstretch. She continued strongly and got the better of leader Lyons Benz by three quarters of a length in the stretch drive, with George Napolitano Jr. handling the Nik Drennan trainee for Joseph Davino, Brad Shackman, Patrick O’Brien, and Drennan Stable LLC.
 
The uncovered route also proved successful in the other subfeature section, as the Captaintreacherous sophomore Lyons Anitasangel came from sixth uncovered at the half and zoomed home in :56.1 to set a lifetime best of 1:53.4. The alliance of Callahan and King again prevailed for owner Threelyonsracing.
 
In the faster of two $11,000 contests for freshman pacing fillies, Papi Rob Hanover picked up a siring triple in the day’s features as Call Me Angelita (dam Angel’s Pride) won in 1:53.4 to equal the season’s record for her group on a 5/8-mile oval (tying Spoon Fed’s clocking at The Meadows). The Scott Di Domenico trainee hustled to the top in :28.1, hung up middle splits of :57.1 and 1:26.1, then still had a :27.3 kicker in her to hint at better things to come for the ownership of Triple  D And Oompa Farm, Michael Rekoon, Craig Henderson, and Steve Stewart. Call Me Aneglita was driven by Tim Tetrick, who started his Friday at 9:02 a.m. in Meadowlands qualifiers, came down here, was hustling back up the Jersey Turnpike afterward for night racing, and then starting his Saturday at The Meadows.
 
In the other section for the two-year-old misses, the Perfect Sting – Captain’s Muse filly PA Perfect was content to sit in the pocket behind Lady Oakley, who got to set her own pace, then ripped outside and paced home in :56.1 - :26.4 to complete a 1:57.3 victory in her first start. Corey Callahan drove the promising freshman for trainer Chris Choate and owners Son Of A Beach Racing, Albert Zullo, and Craig Adam Smith.
 
The racing week closes out on Sunday with a 12:40 card, featuring a $13,000 fast-class handicap pace where the average mark of the seven entrants is 1:48.2. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr.
HUGHESVILLE PA –- Three-year-old trotters and pacers took to the track Thursday during a “Two-Day Meet” at the Lycoming County Fairgrounds in this northcentral Pennsylvania borough, following the two-year-old racing of the day before, and the sophomores put a battering on the local speed record book, the likes of which has seldom been seen at any Keystone State twicearound oval.
 
Start with the fastest mile of the day – and the fastest mile ever at the Hughesville oval, 1:55.2, paced by the Always B Miki filly Milagro for the driver-trainer husband-wife team of Tony and Linda Schadel. The previous overall local standard had been 1:56.1, also set by a filly, Blank Cheek, in 2023.
 
Setting records is nothing new for Milagro, who rewrote the Championship record for her division last year with a 1:54.2 victory at The Meadows, but this win not only gives her the overall bragging rights at Hughesville, but also matches the fastest mile ever at a Pennsy fair for the sophomore filly pacer ranks. R N Artist first posted that time at Bloomsburg in 2003 (at the time the fastest mile ever at any Pennsylvania fair; that overall speed record now stands at 1:53.4 by Midway Island); Tiamogonedancin equaled the standard at Bedford in 2021; and now Milagro adds her name alongside those talented fillies.
 
Lowering the overall track trot record to 1:58.4 – 15 minutes before Milagro strutted her stuff – was the Bar Hopping gelding Set The Bar, who not only broke the old speed bar, but smashed it, with the previous local trotting record of 2:01, set by Aloysius in 2015, left in the stonedust. Trainer-driver Todd Schadel also co-owns Set The Bar, who won at Butler last week, with his wife Christine and Rick and Regina Beinhauer.
 
Todd Schadel would lower the Hughesville standard for sophomore trotting fillies to 2:00.3 with the International Money filly Tally The Tab – and then return in 14 minutes to lower it again to 2:00 with the Cantab Hall filly Shalamar Hanover. Todd and Christine Schadel own both of these promising fillies.
 
The only “A” division not lowering a local record was the pacing colts, with the Captain Crunch colt Bettor Not, who opened the card by winning in “only” 1:57.4 in the only “A” division. Todd and Christine Schadel not only own this one as well, but also are the parents of Cody Schadel, the driver of the second place finisher Wheelhouse Hanover.
 
But the pacing colts would record two more 2:00 miles – in the “B” divisions: Home Run King (driver Joe Chindano Jr.) in 1:58.3, and a 2:00 clocking by Alvin Hanover – driven by Cody Schadel. That’s six 2:00 miles on the day over a fairgrounds oval, two by trotters, for those keeping score.
 
The two-year-olds on Wednesday did not rewrite any Hughesville standards, but each division had a winner faster than the season’s leader established at Butler. Fastest freshman was Quill Gordon, a Stay Hungry – Pueblo Blue Chip gelding who won in 2:00.3 for driver Eric Neal and trainer Mitchell York, co-owner with Erin York.
 
 Steve Schoeffel handled the rest of the day’s headliners: the Captain Corey – First Tracks trotting colt Liege, a 2:05.1 winner, fastest freshman on his gait, for trainer Craig Knude, co-owner with Robert Mcmillan; and the sweepers of the pacing filly action, both of whom he trains: Beachy’s Mistress (Always B Miki – Zane Hanover) in 2:03.1, and Unawatuna (Sweet Lou-Somebeachbythesea) in 2:05.
 
Eric Neal won six races during the two days of racing to lead the sulky colony; Todd Schadel topped the trainers by sending out an equal number of visitors to the winners circle.
 
And the really scary thought to contemplate is that by this time next week, much of what is written here might be old news! This was the special “Two-Day” meet at Hughesville; the racing at the Lycoming Fair proper is this coming Wednesday (two-year-olds) and Thursday (three-year-olds), so the fast Fair Sire Stakes crew will get another shot at what is obviously a honed oval. Post time for both cards next week will again be 4 p.m.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
CHESTER PA – The Walner filly Walspea helped continue a highly-productive “early season” for trainer-driver Trond Smedshammer by trotting to a new mark of 1:53.3 in the $13,500 feature on Thursday afternoon under hot conditions at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
 
Inferno DK, off two frontstepping scores in his last three starts, shot out to command early, with Walspea tucking second and content to sit in that spot as the leader laid down a tempo of :28, :57.1, and 1:25.2. Smedshammer gave his filly the green light early on the far turn and she circled past right to the lead, but Inferno DK was a tough customer to put away, and Smedshammer (41% to win and a UDR of .618 going into today’s card) had to keep after his sophomore miss to maintain a safe margin, the distance 1¼ lengths at the wire. Now a winner of three of five in 2025, Walspea is owned by Purple Haze Stables LLC and M3 Racing Stable.
 
Unevergonnagetthis, who hadn’t shown much gate speed vs. better at Yonkers recently, came to Philly and used the front end to win the $13,000 fast-class handicap trot in 1:54.3. The inside horses, by leaving hard early, may have encouraged driver Corey Callahan to press on to the lead near the :27.2 quarter with the Muscle Mass gelding; they then got a breather to the half in :57.2.
 
No such benevolence awaited the career winner of $515,105 in the third quarter, as All Wrapped Up, handicapped outside after winning in this company in his last start, charged up uncovered from fourth and had the lead, but not the inside, to a 1:25.1 three-quarters. Callahan kept after Unevergonnagetthis to retain the advantage of the inside on the turn and the lead through the lane, and the trotter dug in gamely to record a neck triumph over railshooting Green Pastures, with All Wrapped Up holding commendably for third in the blanket finish (six horses within two lengths at the wire).  The winner is trained by Jeff Cullipher for Pollack Racing LLC.
 
David Miller ($283,922,781 in career earnings and rising rapidly) brought home three winners Wednesday, tops among the sulkysmiths and giving him seven in the first two days of the week at Philly. Two of Miller’s winners are trained by Nifty Norman, the conditioners’ only doubler.
 
Harrah’s Philly will race on the Fourth of July Friday with a special 12:40 post time; that first race post will also be in effect when the racing week concludes on Sunday afternoon. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.

By: Jerry Connors, Jr. 
CHESTER PA – The first of five Wednesday live cards at Harrah’s Philadelphia on July Wednesdays saw the Stay Hungry sophomore filly Shangri La Hanover stave off the late thrust of favored Chakra to win by a neck while taking a new mark of 1:53.3 in the $12,000 feratured pace for distaffs..
 
David Miller had the three-year-old on the move off the first turn and took over the point as the field passed in front of the stands the first time. Chakra went after the second choice pacesetter late on the backstretch and those two dueled the rest of the way, with Shangri La Hanover able to maintain her advantage for trainer Linda Toscano and the ownership of Steven Held, South Mountain Stables, JAF Racing LLC, and the trainer’s Camelot Stable Inc.
 
An $11,000 pace for two-year-old pacing males saw the American Ideal – Southwind Inertia colt Southwind Iron lead from the first step to the last, just withstanding a late charge by Mick Steamy by a head to post his initial win in 1:57.1. Coming off a second in an Excelsior Series race, Southwind Iron was successful to driver Mike Cole, trainer Kevin Lare, and owner Frank Chick.
 
David Miller had four wins Wednesday to get to second place in the local standings, behind only Tim Tetrick, who doubled. Two of Miller’s four victories were with horses trained by the track’s leading conditioner, Izzy Estrada.
 
Philly will have its usual strong “Trottin’ Thursday” card beginning at 12:25, then for this Fourth of July card only will start Friday’s racing at 12:40, the same time at which Sunday’s race-ending program will begin. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.