by James Beviglia, for Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Well Read stunned heavily-favored Pancleefandarpels to win the final of the Bret Hanover-Adios Vic late closer series for pacing fillies and mares on Monday afternoon (November 5) at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. The race carried a purse of $29,900.

Racehorsephoto.com photo

Well Read gets by Pancleefandarpels to win the final of the Bret Hanover-Adios Vic series.

Pancleefandarpels had swept all three preliminary legs of the series and went off as the 1-2 favorite in the final. Well Read, a 5-1 shot with Kyle DiBenedetto in the bike, grabbed the early lead but yielded to the favorite shortly past the quarter.

That’s the way they stayed until the stretch, when Well Read fired to the outside from the pocket and zipped right by to get the win in a career-best 1:53.1. Pancleefandarpels settled for second with Wild Retreat getting the show.

Well Read, owned by Howard Schneidler of Farmingdale, N.Y. and trained by Eric Abbatiello, picked up the seventh win of her career and added to her bankroll of just over $100,000 lifetime. The 4-year-old mare is sired by Bettor’s Delight.

In the $46,800 final of the Red Sox-Yankees late closer series for horses, colts and geldings on the pace, Dark Sign cashed in as the 2-1 favorite to win in 1:52.1, a career-best for the gelding who had hit the board, but not won, in any of the three previous legs.

Dark Sign took over the lead from early pacesetter Maximum Viking shortly after the opening quarter. He was never passed from there, although Mighty Young Joe gave a very brave effort driving first-over to just miss in second. Yoee Excels A was further back in third.

Jim Taggart, Jr. did the driving for Dark Sign. The son of Life Sign is owned by Michael Deutsch, Vito Cucci and Anthony Ambrosio of New Jersey and trained by Richard Johnson. The 3-year-old gelding pushed his earnings for the year and his career over $100,000 with his ninth win in 25 starts in 2007.

Both finals at Pocono on Monday were part of the Great Rivalries late closer series. Two more finals will be held on Tuesday, November 6.