Undefeated since making the move to Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, Chapolier secured his seventh straight victory on the season as he jumped into the Game of Claims Series on Tuesday (April 22). Meanwhile, Trainer Lou Pena and the Todd’s Auto stable of Todd Cerenza came into the afternoon with newly-acquired trotters Altus Hanover and Golden Compass, each horse looking to complete a sweep of the Game Of Claims Series’ three preliminary rounds.

Chapolier picked up a 1:54.3 win Tuesday by a half-length over Cantkeepmiasecret, with George Napolitano Jr. matching the two series wins on the day of his brother Anthony (who drove Cantkeepmiasecret, and who topped all drivers Monday with four total successes). And Chapolier was claimed as well – for the fifth time at the meet, with $138,000 USD in checks exchanged on him alone. 

Chapolier is ineligible for the Game of Claims Final because he did not compete in all three preliminary legs.

The Pena trainees accomplished their mission of sweeping the preliminary legs – but Pena and Cerenza left Pocono without either horse, as both were claimed out of their $23,611 races for a $30,000 USD claiming price.

Altus Hanover (pictured above), driven by Anthony Napolitano won the fastest GOC split – indeed, he posted the fastest trotting mile of the year at Pocono, 1:52.3, in edging out Macmorris Hanover, driven by his brother George, by a neck. Macmorris Hanover (who was claimed out of all three legs, where he had a win and two seconds) drew just inside “Altus” and forced his main rival in behind him through splits of :27, :56.3, and 1:24.2, but Altus Hanover came out of the hole a little bit fresher and won the photo decision while also setting a lifetime mark.

“Anthony Nap” also had the seat behind Golden Compass, another horse claimed out of all three legs, and they surmounted post seven on the engine to win by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:54.  

In My Dreams, who was unclaimed in all three legs, had a chance to join in the Prelim Sweepers Club, but after going first-over and providing good cover to 2025 debutant Max, he could not hold that one safe in a 1:54.3 battle to the wire. Max, who won by a length, was driven by George Napolitano Jr. for red-hot trainer Nicholas Devita and the Queen Of Hearts Stable.

Winning his second straight start in GOC competition was Do It Again IT, an Italian-bred who went uncovered and then bettered 85-1 shot Beach Dreamzzz by a neck to take a new mark of 1:54.2 for driver Tyler Buter, trainer Hunter Oakes, and the partnership of Flying A Racing Stable and H O Racing Inc. Do It Again IT won’t be in the final because GOC rules require starting in all three prelims, and the foreign-bred did not go in the first leg.

The final GOC winner was Wabanaki, who greatly helped his chances of making the final (after 5-2 finishes) by quarter-moving then holding off Gabby’s Wild Child by a neck while lowering his mark to 1:55 for driver Braxten Boyd, trainer Per Engblom, and VIP Internet Stable LLC.

Racing resumes at 1 p.m. at Pocono on Saturday (April 26), with four $20,000 USD divisions of the third and final prelim of the Bobby Weiss Series for sophomore pacing fillies, containing three double winners in the Weiss to date. A solid $25,000 USD fast-class pace also adds to the Saturday Pocono program.

 (With files from PHHA / Pocono Downs)