Wilkes-Barre, PA — Literl Lad Hanover, who literally lost an “a” because of name length rules, certainly brought his A-game to Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Sunday night (May 11), closing strongly to win the $15,500 featured pace in 1:51.4.
The winner of $338,859 (whose biggest check came on May 1, 2021, when he won a Pennsylvania Sire Stake) followed up second-over behind Better Option as the early part of the race produced fractions of :26.4, :55.4, and 1:23.3. George Napolitano Jr. then swung the altered son of Somebeachsomewhere wide nearing the stretch, and the winner got past his uncovered rival easily for trainer Dean Eckley, co-owner with William Hartt.
It cooled a bit during the evening card, but fast times were the rule rather than the exception Sunday, and two overnight winners, both driven by Matt Kakaley, deserve a mention.
The 8-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven gelding Rockin Jukebox took a new mark of 1:49.4 in a lower-level conditioned pace for trainer Joe Bongiorno, and owner Robert Weinstein; and a race earlier in a non-winners of two trot, the Walner 3-year-old colt Jamais Vu was ready in his seasonal debut to win in 1:53.4 for trainer Lucas Wallin and the ownership of Wallin Racing Stable Inc., Harbor Racing Stable, Karin Walter-Mommert, and Daniel Plouffe.
Kakaley, the three-time defending champion in driving wins at Pocono, had four wins on the night to lead the colony.
A failure of part of the track lighting system forced the last race to be declared “no contest” by the judges.
Dan Patch Award winner Miki And Minnie makes her 2025 debut on Monday in one of four $30,000 divisions of a Pennsylvania All-Stars event for sophomore pacing fillies. Miki And Minnie will try to surmount the outside post eight in the 12th race on the 14-race card, which begins at 1 p.m. Free Pocono program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.