Wilkes-Barre, PA — Ruthless Hanover, the fastest horse ever on a five-eighth mile track (1:46.3), won for the second week in a row and for the 12th time in his career (including his maiden race) at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, taking Saturday (Oct. 24) afternoon’s $27,500 fast-class handicap pacing feature in 1:49.4.
George Napolitano Jr., who handled the Somebeachsomewhere gelding in his first three wins, his world record mile, and last week, looked at a three-hole tuck on the first turn, disdained it near the :26.4 opener and went on to command before the :55.2 half. Ruthless Hanover had nobody beside him passing the 1:22.2 three quarters and was still clear at headstretch, then withstood Fifth And Five’s late rush by a half length. Team Cancelliere – trainer Tom and owner-brother John – saw their 9-year-old evergreen pacer boost his earnings to $1,065,614 with his 34th victory in 94 career starts.
Favored Goliath Hanover grinded first-over, made the lead, then kept his advantage to the wire to win the $18,500 second-level fast-class pace in 1:51.1. Stag Party, right on the back of the victorious Betting Line gelding, got within a neck of him at the finish, but Goliath Hanover prevailed for driver Brett Beckwith, trainer Darren Taneyhill, and P T Stable.
Top trot on the card was for developing horses with a $17,500 purse, and the Fiftydallarbill gelding Fiftyshadesofblu certainly didn’t race like your usual 27-1 shot in taking a new mark of 1:54.1. Braxten Boyd had to make two moves with the winner, yet Fifthshadesofblu could still beat out Jog On Col coming up the Pocono Pike by a nose for trainer Britney Dillon and the Joseph Musser Trust.
Pocono dedicated a race to the memory of Scott Knight, the British Columbia horseman who lost his life in a racing accident at Desert Park BC last week. When Big Ego matched the fastest time of the day, 1:49.4, in winning that race, there was no one more thrilled than trainer Sabrina Shaw – who had worked with Knight earlier in her career.
Trainer Darren Taneyhill narrowed Ron Burke’s lead in the training title chase by sending out three winners to put the current tally at 75-68. Doubling on the card were trainer Brandon Presto and drivers Simon Allard, Matt Kakaley, George Napolitano Jr., and Jim Pantaleano.
Racing at Pocono resumes Monday (Oct. 26) at 1 p.m. with three $30,000 divisions in each of two Simpson Stakes for 3-year-old fillies: the Elma Trot and the Hardie Hanover Pace. There will also be a carryover into the fifth race Pick 5 wager. Free Pocono program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.