On a cool fall afternoon at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania where the spotlight races were very competitive (four of the five features were decided by a length or less), De La Hoya Hanover took a 1:51 decision over Seen Here in the pacing section of three $23,944 top-purse contests on Saturday, Nov. 16.

The crowd’s wagering was probably based on how each horse had done against a recent common rival named Southwind Celsius: Seen Here had gone-to-wire against Southwind Celsius last week, while a week before De La Hoya Hanover had to settle for a not-close second, so Seen Here was made the odds-on favourite and De La Hoya Hanover, who also had to contend with the outside post six, was the second choice.

De La Hoya Hanover was sent right to the lead by driver Matt Kakaley and put up fractions of :27.3 and :55.4, then stepped up his game when Seen Here ranged up uncovered from midpack to challenge by the 1:23.1 three quarters. Seen Here had gone his own third split in :26.4 into some wind to gain contention and kept the heat on his rival to the line, but De La Hoya Hanover had a bit more punch coming to the finish and won by three-quarters of a length for trainer Joe Bongiorno and the ownership of Jennifer Bongiorno Stable LLC, Robert Weinstein, and Barbara Bongiorno Stable LLC.

In one of the two $23,944 trots, the Walner three-year-old filly Sapphinerainstar, winless in six starts when coming to Pocono in mid-October, ran her local record to five-for-five by holding back two-holer Hankins Hanover by three-quarters of a length in 1:55.1. Simon Allard steered the streaking sophomore for trainer Mark Akins and A 1 Racing.

In the other top trot, Dark Mind launched first-over down the backstretch, went up to the lead in the lane, then kept Tuis Angel at bay by 1-1/2 lengths in a lifetime best 1:54.4. The gelded son of International Moni drifted out a little in the lane and had an objection put in against him, but the judges ruled that no action should be taken against the Noel Daley trainee, who was driven by Anthony Napolitano for owner Sonja Booth.

There were also a pair of $20,423 fast-class events, one on each gait. In the pace, the Art Major gelding Mirragon A sat in the pocket behind a pedestrian half of :57, then paced his own back half in :54 to catch pacesetting Oakwood Paddy IR by a head in 1:51.1. Jim Pantaleano drove the swift-closing winner for trainer Michael Deters, co-owner with Joel Warner and John Manning.

On the trotting side, Bee Forever, an altered son of Muscle Hill out of the champion mare Bee A Magician, was moved three-wide by driver Anthony Napolitano near the far turn, went up to take command in the lane, then held off slow-to-clear favourite Yo Beth D by a head in 1:54. Now six, Bee Forever has had only 26 career starts, but 11 of them have been wins, and his gameness was again proven for trainer Peter Pellegrino and owner Erv Peachey.

The Napolitano brothers, Anthony and George Jr., each had three wins on the card; George gained a win over meet leader Matt Kakaley, but Kakaley has a 271-263 advantage with but three cards left in the season as he shoots for his third straight Pocono dash championship.

A plethora of longshots beginning before midcard caused carryovers for Monday’s first Pick 3, which begins in the fourth race; the Pick 5, which starts in the fifth; and Hi 5, in the last race on the 1 p.m. card. There will then be racing at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, preceding the final card of the 2024 season at Pocono, on Saturday, November 23, also at 1 p.m.

(PHHA / Pocono)