from the PHHA/Pocono

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Chas Hanover became the only three-time winner in the Bobby Weiss Series for trotting males at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono Sunday (April 22), taking his $15,000 division of the fourth and final preliminary leg in 1:56.4.

Curtis Salonick photo

Chas Hanover became the only three-time winner in the Bobby Weiss Series for trotting males at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono Sunday.

Driver George Napolitano Jr. and trainer Gilbert Garcia-Herrera, who also saw their pacing male I Soar Him First get a third prelim Weiss win the previous night, had their Cantab Hall gelding win by a neck over Stormont Manpower, a Weiss winner last week, with two other Weiss victors, Presidente Zette and Perfect Chapter AS, next in line. Chas Hanover stepped home in :57.2 to complete a 1:56.4 mile. Garcia-Herrera is also the outright owner of Chas Hanover, now a four-time winner in five seasonal starts.

In the other division of this Weiss fourth round prelim, Law Of Attraction, who had been second in each of his three previous Weiss outings, headed down the road for driver Jim Marohn Jr., stopping the timer in 1:56 with his 1-3/4 length victory. Trainer Rob Harmon is in charge of the preparation of the Deweycheatumnhowe 4-year-old gelding for Harmon Racing Stable, B Kleinberg Racing and Lawrence Kittenplan. Favored Archibald, who broke in his first leg then won his next two, resorted back to his misbehaving here and finished back.

In unofficial standings (please check with the Pocono Race Office for the official list) calculated immediately after the races, the top ten point winners in the preliminaries, in order, are: Chas Hanover, (tie) Law Of Attraction and Stormont Manpower, Archibald, Presidente Zette, Meadowbranch Ricky, Photo Bomber, Tougher Than Ever, Perfect Chapter AS, and Higgs Boson.

The top horses declaring in will race for $30,000 in their Weiss championship during the evening portion of the doubleheader of racing on Kentucky Derby Day (Saturday, May 5); if enough horses declare in, there will be a $15,000 consolation event held during the afternoon racing that day.

Art Scene, who came within a nose of defeating 2017 Pacer of the Year Downbytheseaside in last year’s Messenger Pace, posted the fastest win time of the year in taking a $17,000 conditioned event in 1:49.3, a new mark, going wire-to-wire while winning by 4-1/2 lengths. Simon Allard was in the sulky behind the son of American Ideal for trainer/brother Rene and the ownership that acquired him before this campaign: B&I Stables, Allard Racing Inc. and Donald Mac Rae.