Wilkes-Barre, PA — By A Hoff Hanover made a strong uncovered move up the backstretch and drew off easily in a lifetime best 1:55.2 in Tuesday’s (May 31) $15,000 trotting feature at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

George Napolitano Jr. kept the son of Donato Hanover in third through early fractions of :28 and :57.1, before making a high-energy brush to the lead by the 1:26.2 three-quarters. Favorite Kaseville could not make much late impact, only reaching second as By A Hoff Hanover won by 4-1/4 lengths for trainer Mark Ford and owners George and Rose Bonomo.

By A Hoff Hanover was all alone at the end of Tuesday afternoon’s featured trot at Pocono. Curtis Salonick photo.

The veteran Kadabra gelding Magical Journey put up quick numbers of :26.4, :56.1 and 1:24.2 in the $12,500 trotting co-feature before holding on for a head victory over pocket sitter Papi Hanover in a lifetime best 1:53.3. Driver Tom Jackson is now two-for-two at Pocono with the winner of $291,546 for trainer Deborah Daguet and owners D Racing Stable Inc. and Earl Hill Jr.

Matt Kakaley and George Napolitano Jr. both had big days to retain their top two positions atop the Pocono driving colony. Kakaley had four victories to bring his seasonal total to 98, while Napolitano’s three Tuesday triumphs bring his 2022 number to 95.

Racing at Pocono resumes on Saturday (June 4) at 1:30 p.m., with the usual strong card of overnight horses plus a carryover of $2,961.86 for the last race High-5. Sunday’s (June 5) 5 p.m. card will feature three $30,000 divisions of a Pennsylvania All-Stars contest for 3-year-old trotting fillies. Program pages will be available on the PHHA website.