A quartet of $20,270 races topped the Tuesday (Oct. 1) afternoon program at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, two for conditioned pacers and two for claiming trotters.
The Captaintreacherous colt Maxim Hanover, who won a Governor’s Cup elimination last year and was third in the final but had had only one start in 2024, showed he was ready to go four months after that last race. He overcame post eight and posted a race mark of 1:51.4 in the feature for male pacers. Tyler Buter, the top pilot at Pocono on Tuesday with four victories, got a midpack early spot with the sophomore, then worked out a second-over trip, wearing down the stubborn first-over Trumpster Blues by three parts of a length for trainer Robert Cleary and Royal Wire Products Inc. He raised his bankroll to $207,447.
Madam X has now won four of her last six starts, overcoming a tough first-over move from midfield in the last half and digging in to win the distaff pace headliner, equalling her fastest mile ever with a 1:52.1 clocking. The Bettors Wish sophomore responded to driver Braxten Boyd’s stretch coaxing to down potential Pocono Piker Shes Got It a neck for trainer Jeff Cullipher and Pollack Racing LLC.
The quicker of the trots was won by the Andover Hall gelding Jive Ninety Five, not quite able to hold on after setting the pace last time but here able to brush at the half to clear before the end of the backstretch en route to a 1:55.1 victory for driver Anthony Napolitano. Owner/trainer Pete Pellegrino saw his horse, who boosted his career bankroll to $221,842, claimed out of the winning effort for $20,270.
Burn Notice set the pace in the other topline trot and got a slow half, which left him with plenty to maintain his advantage to the wire in 1:56.2. The Tioga shipper, a Cayenne Turbo gelding, was driven by meet leader Matt Kakaley for trainer Mike Deters, co-owner with Joel Warner and John Manning.
Racing resumes at Pocono on Saturday (Oct. 5) with a 1 p.m. card, an outstanding card with $18,500 USD fast-class features on both gaits and several other top-notch events; there will also be a carryover into the last race High 5 wager.
(PHHA / Pocono)