Ruthless Hanover equals seasonal Pocono mark

Wilkes-Barre, PA — For the third time in July, the Saturday afternoon pacing feature at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono has resulted in a 1:47.4 mile, the fastest time of the year locally, with this Saturday’s (July 30) triumph going to the Somebeachsomewhere gelding Ruthless Hanover.

Perennial Pocono leading driver George Napolitano Jr. was determined to get his pacer to the top, and though three-wide early and then two-wide past a :26.4 opener, the mission was accomplished. There was no letup for – and from – Ruthless Hanover as he blazed through middle splits of :53.3 and 1:20.4 before the end of the 1:47.4 victory, which saw him turn back pocket sitter Casual Cool by 2-3/4 lengths. Team Cancelliere — trainer Tom and owner John — saw their fast pacer win his second straight.

Ruthless Hanover was all business in a 1:47.4 win Saturday afternoon at Pocono. Curtis Salonick photo.

There were three $17,000 contests for developing horses in the co-starring races, two for trotters and one for pacing males. One of the trots went to the strong-closing 3-year-old Dandy, a three-time Pennsylvania Sire Stakes winner this season, who used his usual late kick off a second-over journey to defeat a field of older opponents, eclipsing One After by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:54.2.

A six-time winner in 10 trips to the starting gate this season, Dandy, a Cantab Hall colt, was driven by owner Jacqueline Ingrassia and trained by her husband, Frank.

The other co-featured trot saw 12-1 shot Dicentra use the Pocono Pike to beat AP Hall Of Trix by a nose in 1:56. The Muscle Mass mare followed cover, ducked inside on the far turn, and then rallied up the inside for the narrow victory for driver Simon Allard, trainer Sabrina Shaw, and owner Nicholas Malcolm.

The pacing co-feature went to the Sweet Lou gelding Good Deal, who, like Dandy, was also the only 3-year-old in his field. Good Deal won in a new mark of 1:52.1 rallying from far back at 27-1 to just nab High Baller. Jim Pantaleano, who had four wins on the Saturday afternoon card, handled the driving for trainer Ron Burke and the ownership of Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby, and Lawrence Karr.

A talented group of pacing mares has been gathered for the $25,000 featured event at Pocono on Sunday night (July 31), with the card beginning at 5 p.m. Program pages are available on the PHHA website.

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