from the PHHA/Pocono

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Pounce Hanover trotted to his sixth straight victory in one $14,000 division of the featured claiming handicap trot Monday night (July 31) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, while Queens Lonely Earl was victorious in the other.

Pounce Hanover, an altered son of Majestic Son who went over $250,000 in career earnings with his Monday win, posted his fourth picket fence (ones at every chart call) in his last six starts, though driver George Napolitano Jr. had to keep his charge alert late, as George’s brother Anthony narrowed in late with Sarcastic Man, only to come up a neck shy.

Pounce Hanover was trained by Hunter Oakes and owned by Susan Oakes — and yes, we use the past tense because Pounce Hanover was claimed for the $20,000 tag. He rejoins Team Allard, from whom the Oakes clan took him for $12,500 on June 26; since then he’s earned $28,000 in 35 days, plus a $7,500 selling profit.

The winner of the other division, the Earl Of Stormont gelding Queens Lonely Earl, will be staying with trainer Bruce Clarke, co-owner with Patricia Waldeck; they took the winner of $276,230 for $10,000 on May 12, and have now won two of his last four starts with him for a $15,000 price. On Monday, driver Matt Kakaley rallied the winner off of cover to score in 1:55.4 to take a blanket finish as the five check-getters were separated by a length on the money.

With UF Larry Alltheway shattering a 38-year-old track record for five-eighths-mile on the pace when he won in 1:09.3 Sunday night, another Pocono mark looks to be in serious jeopardy Tuesday as a field of ten sets its sights on both victory and the 25-year-old track record of 2:29.2 for 1-1/4 miles on the trot, set by Sweet Talkin’ Guy. With six in the field already winners in 1:56 or less this season, it seems likely that somebody will be able to carry that kind of speed fairly well over the added distance.