On an unprecedented Saturday for Standardbred speed in northeast Pennsylvania, the four-year-old gelding Dandy Ideal equalled the world record for his age, sex and gait on a five-eighths-mile track by winning in 1:47.2 in the $38,732 Winners Over Pace at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on July 11.

The victory took a strong effort from Dandy Ideal, though, as the all-time record holder for a five-eighths oval, Ruthless Hanover (1:46.3 at Harrah's Philadelphia in 2023), went right after the fast-leaving gelding and made the top at the :25.4 quarter. Ruthless Hanover (George Napolitano Jr.) rolled right along and posted middle splits of :53 and 1:20, with Dandy Ideal snug on him and no one else really looming. Come the Pocono Pike, driver Jason Bartlett took Dandy Ideal to the inside, and the winner of $1,561,714 gradually wore down the stubborn pacesetter. The final margin was a hard-fought half length for the Hunter Oakes trainee, owned by Susan Oakes and Alan Johnston. Goliath Hanover (Matt Kakaley) finished third.

Always At My Place first set the standard for a four-year-old gelded pacer on a five-eighths track in 2015; Allywag Hanover equalled that clocking in 2021. This record stays “all in the Pocono family,” as all three iterations of the record time have taken place at the mountain oval.

Dandy Ideal, a son of American Ideal-Ok Heavenly, is now three-for-four on the campaign after an 11-win three-year-old season in which he won the Hempt Memorial at Pocono and finished second in the Breeders Crown. Saturday's victory was his 19th lifetime in 33 appearances. The gelding paid $2.40 to win.

In the $29,577 second-level fast-class conditioned feature, the ultra-game six-year-old Always B Miki-Betterluck Hanover gelding Congressional ($16) won for the third time in five starts. He paced his own back numbers from the pocket in :53:3-:26.3 to go by Smooth Dream (Jason Bartlett) by a head in 1:49.2. Smooth Dream quarter moved after a :26 first stanza, rated the half in :55.3 and got to the three quarters in 1:22.3, but Congressional stayed tight and burst through up the Pocono Pike to be along for driver-trainer-owner Kevin Wallis. American Fling (Anthony Napolitano) was third. The sophomore Another C Note (Tyler Buter), who was undefeated in eight seasonal starts but to the races only once in the last seven weeks, finished out of the money. Congressional is now 23-for-104 lifetime.

The third-line fast-class pace, for $26,056, carried an also-eligible condition for $56,338 claimers – just right for the seven-year-old Art Official-Marthas Revenge gelding Art Of Revenge ($4.20), who was coming off four wins in six starts against the track’s top claimers. He handled the class jump very easily, chasing fractions of :26.1 and :54.3, then moving uncovered before the 1:21.4 three quarters and drawing clear by 1-1/4 lengths late to lower his mark to 1:48.4. Tyler Buter was in the sulky for trainer Darren Taneyhill and owner Carmen Iannacone. Imtheblackflash N (Jason Bartlett) came on for second over Statesidelckdwn Gb (Anthony Napolitano). Art Of Revenge took his 21st career victory from 91 outings.

Another pacer equalled the fastest mile of the day, the 1:47.2 world-record-tying clocking of Dandy Ideal, and the win came outside of the top three events. The Papi Rob Hanover-Sweet As Sugar four-year-old stallion Sugar Man ($3.60) sat third behind fractions of :25.4, :53.3 and 1:21 before pouncing to overhaul the leader quickly and finish out powerfully to win by 1-3/4 lengths. He missed the 10-year-old divisional track and world record of Freaky Feet Pete by a single tick. Heaven Needs Me (Simon Allard) took the place spot, followed by Frantic Hanover (Tyler Buter). Brett Beckwith had the lines behind the winner, who took a new mark for trainer Enrico Robinson and Pollack Racing LLC while winning his $24,648 contest.

Santafes Coach, who won a Hempt elimination at Pocono nine years ago, here at age 12 reduced his career best to 1:49.4. The day’s quickest trotter, Night Phantom, who is now 6-3-3-0 during his recent hot streak, took a 1:51.4 victory for a new mark.

The list of multiple-win drivers and trainers was headed by Jason Bartlett, who piloted three winners. Doublers included drivers Simon Allard, Brett Beckwith and Matt Kakaley, along with trainers Hunter Oakes and Darren Taneyhill.

Pennsylvania All-Stars action will headline the Sunday 5 p.m. twilight card at The Downs, with three $30,000 USD divisions for two-year-old pacing fillies on the bill of fare.

(PHHA/Pocono)