Wilkes-Barre, PA – More than three years on from writing “p, 1:46.3f” to his name, 9-year-old Ruthless Hanover is still posting fast miles against a high level of competition, as he did in Saturday afternoon’s (Oct. 10) $27,500 fast-class pace at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania when he won in 1:48.3.
Driver George Napolitano Jr., who drove the altered son of Somebeachsomewhere in his record mile, also had the seat behind him on Saturday, as he was outside just past a :25.4 quarter to wrest the lead from the sharp Splash Brother (6-4-2-0 in recent starts). Always A Thrill, favored after a 1:48.3 win at Pocono last week, started the uncovered chase just past a :53.1 half, and battled outside the winner the rest of the way. Ruthless Hanover held off the pesky challenger by a neck.
Team Cancelliere – trainer Tom Cancelliere and owner John – saw their horse win for the 33rd time in 93 career starts (5-for-11 this year), with a lifetime bankroll of $1.05 million.
There were two $18,500 divisions of the sub-feature fast-class pace, and the Lazarus N gelding Endofstory, taking advantage of class relief after a third at the top level last time, was the faster winner in 1:49.3 with “George Nap” again in the sulky, here for trainer Doug Dilloian Jr. and owners David Linker, Brian Loman, Robert Venable, and Kyle Warren. The winner of $386,190 made the lead past a :26.4 first quarter and continued on with splits of :55.1, and 1:21.3 in defeating Stag Party by a length.
The other winner in this class was stepping up a bit from high-priced claimers, but the Alta Christiano gelding Alta Blues A got closer as the mile got longer and had sufficient rally to defeat up-the-rail Up The Creek by a neck in 1:50.4. Anthony Napolitano had the sulky duty behind the $327,884 career winner for trainer Marta Piotrow and owner Melvin Fink.
There was also a $17,500 trot for horses looking to move up the class ladder; it was taken by the Bar Hopping gelding Onemore Volo in 1:54.2. Parked three-eighths before getting the top for Tyler Buter, Onemore Volo then had to be good to ward off potential pocket rocket Captain Vodka by half a length for trainer John Butenschoen, also co-owner with Andray Farm and David J. Miller.
Anthony and George Napolitano combined to win half of Pocono’s 14 races, with George having one more than his brother. Doubles were posted by driver Braxten Boyd and trainer Pete Pellegrino.
Trotters will take the spotlight for the next two cards at Pocono, both starting at 1 p.m.: Monday (Oct. 12) will find the top overnight diamond-gaiters on display, while on Tuesday the John Simpson Sr. stakes series returns with the Super Bowl in three $30,000 divisions of 2-year-old males.
Free Pocono program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.