A trio of $20,833 contests for up-and-coming horses fitting the basic condition of “non-winners of four races life” topped the Monday (Aug. 25) afternoon racing at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.

The Always B Miki gelding Laugh Shop has now won four of his last six races as he won the section of the top class for pacing males with a mile in 1:51.2. Laugh Shop was extended between horses to get the lead near the :26.4, then had hounding pressure through midfractions of :55 and 1:22.3 for driver Braxten Boyd. But Laugh Shop showed no ill effects from the strenuous front-end trip, easily withstanding Chief Bogo for trainer Jill Wine and the ownership of Samuel Abdoo and Wine Stable.

In the tri-featured event for distaff pacers, the Papi Rob Hanover sophomore filly Intricacy fought hard for the lead to a :27 quarter, went on to middle fractions of :56.2 and 1:24.1, then stayed clear to get the big part of the purse in 1:53. George Napolitano Jr. got the filly back on the winning beam for trainer Nik Drennan, whose Drennan Stable LLC shares ownership with Joseph Davino, Brad Shackman, and Patrick O’Brien.

There was constant early activity in the top trot, with Bo Silas yielding to Robert Michael just past a :27.4 quarter, only for that one in turn to give up the lead to heavily-favoured Honolulu Hanover, who moved from midpack nearing the quarter, was left raw, and went up to get the front nearing the second turn, before the :57.2 half. Honolulu Hanover was not threatened after that, reaching the three quarters in 1:26.4 and stopping the clock in 1:56.2, with Bo Silas claiming second from Robert Michael late. Mark Herschberger drove the three-year-old Bar Hopping colt to victory for the ubiquitous Burke Brigade, trainer Ron Burke and the partnership of Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, William Switala and James Martin.

Honolulu Hanover’s win gave Burke, the leading trainer at Pocono, the late Double and the only two-bagger among conditioners; on the driving side, Braxten Boyd, Mark Herschberger, Anthony Napolitano, Jim Pantaleano and Ridge Warren each succeeded twice.

The racing week concludes at Pocono Downs on Tuesday (Aug. 26) with a 1 p.m. card, with both developing and fast-class trotters featured.

(PHHA / Pocono)