Wilkes-Barre, PA — The favorites had a rough time of it in each of the two $47,550 divisions of the Davidia Hanover, the John Simpson Sr. Stakes for 2-year-old trotting fillies, on Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 20) at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, with photo finishes going to a 11-1 shot (the second choice) over a 21-1 proposition in one cut and a horse sent off at 7-1 just ahead of a 12-1 shot in the other section.
The Captain Corey-Angel Eyes Hanover filly Andersson Hanover stayed undefeated in her four lifetime starts at Pocono while taking a new mark of 1:56.2 in the quicker division. Patrick Ryder, driving for his father, trainer Chris Ryder, and owner John McKeon Jr., moved the victorious filly to the lead past the quarter, but her retaining supremacy looked to be in trouble as 1-20 favorite Patty’s Girl came uncovered early in the backstretch and got fractionally ahead. But the first-up freshman soon lapsed from gait, leaving Andersson Hanover a clear path to the finish, which she maintained by a half length over the hard late charge of Declan Shea.
The Tactical Landing-Made it Happen miss I’m A Hugger left, yielded, then came uncovered past the half against favored pacesetter Daringly. The duo battled through the turn, and in the lane I’m A Hugger forged to command then withstood Eternal Light, still fifth in mid-stretch, by a neck in 1:56.3, a lifetime record. Braxten Boyd guided the freshman filly for trainer Ray Schnittker and owners Daisy Acres and Vincent Ali Jr.
The freshman trotting misses’ male counterparts competed in a $16,000 overnight event, with the Greenshoe-Fashion Spooner colt Black Tesla rewarding the bettors’ faith in him with an authoritative victory in 1:56.3, the clocking a lifetime best as he won his second straight start. A :28.2 last quarter saw the winner extend his lead from a half length at the stretch call to 8-1/2 lengths at the finish for driver Ridge Warren, trainer Nicklas Andersen, and owner Wayne Stoltzfus.
Meet driving leader Tyler Buter notched three victories on the afternoon, including one for top trainer Ron Burke, but he was one behind Pocono’s second-leading driver for the meet, Anthony Napolitano.
Racing at Pocono resumes on Saturday (Oct. 24) at 1 p.m.; featured will be a $27,500 fast-class handicap pace which will contain the winners of this class for the last four weeks: Always A Thrill, Ruthless Hanover, Jolimont N and Splash Brother. Bettors will find a superfecta carryover in the first race of the day, and a double carryover of over $4,000 in the Hi-5 in the last race of the day. Free Pocono program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.