Wilkes-Barre, PA – The evergreen pacer Ruthless Hanover, still a world champion on the basis of his 1:46.3f mile just over three years ago, worked very hard to make the lead in the $29,500 fast-class pacing feature on Saturday afternoon (July 25) at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, yet still dug in gamely to defeat an unlucky Ken Hanover in 1:48, capping a great day for driver George Napolitano Jr. and Team Cancelliere, trainer Tom and owner-brother John.
Leaving from post 5 in the six-horse feature field, Ruthless Hanover found Congressional and then Captinhammerhead A, both drawing inside him, making the early lead. “George Nap” bypassed a three-tuck with the 9-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding despite the :25.3 early price of pacing and forged onwards, not clearing to the top until a bit past the three-eighths. It was at that point that Oakwood Ardan IR pulled raw from last, catching favored Ken Hanover inside as the field passed the half in :53.2 and the three-quarters in 1:20.2.
The outer tier stalled late on the backstretch and the inner tier was all-out to stay with the leader, so Ken Hanover couldn’t angle out until midturn, and despite charging home in :26.4 he could only get to with a neck of the winner at the wire. Ruthless Hanover now has 32 career wins and a bankroll of $1.03 million.
A race earlier, Napolitano and the Cancellieres clicked in the $18,500 co-featured pace, as the Always B Miki gelding Maximus Miki enjoyed a drop in company to post a 1:49.3 triumph. Maximus Miki, like his stablemate a member of the Millionaires Club (he now has earned $1.10 million, with 29 victories) made every pole a winning one as the timer put up splits of :26.3, :55.4, and 1:22.2 before Maximus Miki passed under the wire with a 2-1/2-length advantage.
Napolitano in all had four winners on the day, three of them for Team Cancelliere. Two races were won by George’s brother Anthony and also by each of the last two winners of the Dan Patch Rising Star Award, Brett Beckwith and Braxten Boyd.
Sunday’s 5 p.m. (EDT) card at Pocono will be the last Sunday program for 2026. The feature will be the inaugural edition of the $75,000 Mohegan Cup for free-for-all pacing mares; likely to be vying for favoritism are Unreasonable, starting from post 5 with Todd McCarthy up, and Louies Girl A, whom Jason Bartlett will handle from post 3.
Free Pocono program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.