Wilkes-Barre, PA — A quartet of $15,000 races — two for conditioned pacers and two for claiming trotters — topped the Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 1) program at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
Maxim Hanover, who won a Governor’s Cup elimination last year and was third in the final but had only one previous start in 2024, showed he was ready to go four months after that last race, overcoming post eight and posting a race mark of 1:51.4 in the feature for male pacers. Tyler Buter, the top pilot at Pocono on Tuesday with four victories, got a midpack spot with the 3-year-old Captaintreacherous colt, then worked out a second-over trip before wearing down the stubborn first-over Trumpster Blues by three parts of a length for trainer Robert Cleary and Royal Wire Products Inc. while raising his bankroll to $200,478.
Madam X has now won four of her last six starts, overcoming a tough first-over move from midfield in the last half and digging in to win the distaff pacing headliner, equaling her fastest mile ever with a 1:52.1 clocking. The Bettor’s Wish sophomore responded to driver Braxten Boyd’s stretch coaxing to down She’s Got It a neck for trainer Jeff Cullipher and Pollack Racing LLC.
The quicker of the trots was won by the Andover Hall gelding Jive Ninety Five, brushing at the half to clear before the end of the backstretch en route to a 1:55.1 victory for driver Anthony Napolitano. Owner-trainer Pete Pellegrino saw his horse, who boosted his career bankroll to $200,669, claimed out of the winning effort for $15,000.
Burn Notice set the pace in the other top-line trot and got a slow half, which left him with plenty to maintain his advantage to the wire in 1:56.2. The Tioga shipper, a Cayenne Turbo gelding, was driven by meet leader Matt Kakaley for trainer Mike Deters, who shares ownership with Joel Warner and John Manning.
Racing at Pocono resumes on Saturday (Oct. 5) with a 1 p.m. card, which features $18,500 fast-class features on both gaits and several other top-notch events. There will also be a $691.88 carryover into the Hi-5, which is offered in the last race. Free Pocono program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.