Stone Hanover made perfect use of the famed Pocono Pike on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 21 to take the $25,000 fast-class pacing feature in a lifetime best 1:49.2 at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.

Stone Hanover, a son of Art Major trained by Joe Pavia Jr. for Steven Held, John Whitig, Joe Pavia Jr. Stable Inc., and Bridgette Jablonsky, stepped around Big Skewy N leaving, but yielded command to that retaking rival, the slight 2-1 favourite, nearing a :27 quarter, with the Enzed pacer going to the lead with his head skewed slightly to the right. Big Skewy N continued past a :54.4 half, then encountered pressure from fellow 2-1 shot Soaring Now before going to the 1:22.2 three-quarters.

Big Skewy N turned for home with the lead, with his head still slightly to the right – and with the last pylon before the Pocono Pike, dislodged by someone in the backfield the first time around, directly in front of him. The leader went over the fallen stanchion and paced on (no interference mark was given), with Stone Hanover (third choice at 5-2) ducking inside him to the passing lane, and gradually forging a half-length lead in the late "Nap-Nap" battle: Anthony Napolitano driving the winner, and George Napolitano behind Big Skewy N. Stone Hanover’s career bankroll went over $400,000.

There were a trio of $22,973 events for developing horses supporting the feature class. In the one of the three on the pace, De La Hoya Hanover, winner of the Pennsylvania Stallion Series final at 5-2, battled with Rush In, second at 84-1 in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final (after Captain Albano, the Little Brown Jug winner, made a break). This contest went to the Stay Hungry gelding De La Hoya Hanover (9-1 off the win), coming from the pocket after stinging an onrushing Rush In (8-5) most of the second quarter, then catching the pacesetter by a nose in a lifetime mark of 1:49.4. Simon Allard sulkysat behind the Joe Bongiorno trainee for Jennifer Bongiorno Stable, Robert Weinstein and Barbara Bongiorno Stable.

The International Moni sophomore gelding Dejerate Hanover boosted his winning streak to six while taking a new mark of 1:53.1 in the faster of the two trotting divisions. The track’s leading driver, Matt Kakaley, and trainer, Ron Burke, collaborated on this success for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, FAC Racing and Yannick Gingras. The other section went to the Father Patrick gelding Missile, whose win credentials might not have been quite as lofty (two wins and 14 seconds in 2023-2024), but who also gave an effort that sent him home with a new speed standard, 1:54.2, for driver Ridge Warren, trainer Bruce Lauer and Its All Good Racing.

Faster yet on the trot was Kinnder Thinktwice, who took a new mark of 1:52.2 in a supporting race. The fastest miles of the day were a pair of 1:48.3 pacing scores by $500,000+ earners Nicholas Beach and South Beach Star.

All the honours for the day’s horsemen went to those connected with feature race winners: Matt Kakaley succeeded in the sulky four times, while a pair of Joes, Bongiorno and Pavia Jr., each sent out three victorious charges.

Racing resumes at Pocono at 1 p.m. on Monday, with a carryover into the fifth race Pick 5 pool.

(With files from PHHA / Pocono)