Wilkes-Barre, PA — The Bar Hopping sophomore ridgling Top Me Off became the only male to finish the Bobby Weiss Series preliminaries undefeated, as he equaled his mark of 1:54.2 with a hard-earned victory in his $17,500 third-round preliminary division on the Sunday (April 18) twilight card at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

Top Me Off took his third straight win in the Bobby Weiss Series with a 1:54.2 triumph at Pocono on Sunday. Curtis Salonick photo.

Todd Schadel guided Top Me Off, last year’s Pennsylvania Fair champion, to the lead before the :27.3 first fraction, with Tart Tongue yielding to stalk him through middle fractions of :57 and 1:25. Tart Tongue took his shot in the Pocono Pike but came up a half-length short, with Black Tie Bash closing well to miss second by a nose. Schadel also trains Top Me Off, and shares ownership with his wife, Christine, along with Rick and Regina Beinhauer.

The Winning Mister gelding Tricky Dick reversed last week’s photo loss to Credit Con by catching that one late to win by a neck in 1:56.1 for his second series win. Anthony Napolitano drove the developing 3-year-old for owner-trainer Jim McGettigan.

The Southwind Frank colt Pilot Hanover, a $240,000 yearling, punched his ticket for next Sunday’s (April 25) $40,000 final, but he needed the entire stretch to wear down a game Ceffyl Dwr by a nose in a new mark toof1:55.3. Mattias Melander drove the consistent sophomore for trainer Marcus Melander and S R F Stable.

Monday’s (April 19) 12:30 p.m. card at Pocono will feature three sections of the final Weiss preliminary for sophomore pacing fillies, featuring two-time series winners So Irresistible (race three, post three) and Incaseyoudidntknow (race five, post six). Program pages will be available at the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association website.