Wilkes-Barre, PA – The last two stakes in the 2026 John Simpson Sr. Memorial series, for sophomore females on both gaits, were conducted in three $30,000 divisions per gait on Monday afternoon (Oct. 26) at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
All three favorites won in the trotting ranks. The most impressive of the winners was the Chapter Seven filly My Philomene, who after winning in stakes company at Yonkers (twice), Monticello, Philly, and Tioga, added a sixth straight victory to her tally in a new mark of 1:51.4, missing the local divisional track record of Yo Tillie by only two ticks. Trainer-driver Trond Smedshammer moved the filly to command past the :26.4 quarter, maintained a 1-1/4-length advantage over pocket-sitting Sparks past the half (:55.2) and three-quarters (1:24), then at the stretch call and the finish. The streaking winner is owned by Melady Enterprises LLC.
The Tactical Landing distaff Isabella Bi captured another division in 1:53.1, leading at every position and notching a winning margin of 5-1/4 lengths. Driver-trainer Åke Svanstedt, through his Åke Svanstedt Inc., co-owns the winner with Joe Sbrocco & JAF Racing, Little E LLC, and Lars Olsson.
Team Svanstedt went 1-2-4 in the other Simpson trot division, as Åke guided Maya Patel Hanover to a wire-to-wire win in 1:54.4, three parts of a length ahead of barnmate Whatarace Hanover. Brittany Farms and Åke Svanstedt Inc. own the daughter of Captain Corey.
Only one of the three chalks prevailed in the pacing divisions, and that one, the Always B Miki filly Sandyboots Hanover, tied for fastest Simpson winner of the day at 1:51.3. Pocono’s leading driver Tyler Buter gave a well-judged drive, sitting last in a field of five behind a hot pace, then out-finishing the horse who backed off the rail to follow her, Existential, by a head. Pocono’s top trainer Ron Burke conditions the winner, owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Lawrence Karr, and Phillip Collura.
The 1:51.3 clocking was also posted by the American Ideal filly Lenna, controlling the pace and stepping home in :54.4 – :27.1. Anthony Napolitano sulky sat for trainer Deborah Daguet and owner Forrest Bartlett, who 40 years ago campaigned Horse of the Year Forrest Skipper.
Just a tick off the other two Simpson pacing winners was the Papi Rob Hanover filly Make It Right, who used the famed Pocono Pike to catch front-stepper Vanna By The River by a half-length. Jason Bartlett had the sulky seat for trainer Jim King Jr. and owners Gary McCandless, Jo Ann Looney-King, and Larry Rathbone.
Tyler Buter guided three winners on the card; driving doubles were rung up by both Anthony Napolitano and brother George Jr., along with Svanstedt (as described above) and Ridge Warren. Svanstedt also trained both his sulky successes; Dean Eckley also had a pair of conditioning wins.
Trotters up and down the classification ladder will be featured as Pocono closes out its racing week Tuesday (Oct. 27) at 1 p.m. (EDT). The next racing after that is Saturday (also 1 p.m.), which is full of highlights: Ruthless Hanover going for his third straight top-class pace victory; the first preliminary of the Game of Claims Pacing Series for horses with a base tag of $10,000; and simulcasting of the second day of the Breeders Cup Thoroughbred competition.
Free Pocono program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.