Miss Helen Hanover had to overcome involvement in wild early fractions, a three-wide move for most of the last three-eighths, a tough stretch charge from Village Jade, and broken equipment, but she got the job done in the $17,000 featured pace for distaffs on Monday afternoon at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
Simon Allard and the sophomore daughter of Captaintreacherous found themselves between Fast Machine to their left and Abby Rose to their right, and tucked in before a vicious :26.3 quarter. Fast Machine would not yield to Abby Rose, and they fought through a wicked :53.4 half, with Miss Helen Hanover pocketed but then being moved two- then three-wide to protect against being left behind by a sweeper.
There was such a candidate in Village Jade, who had gapped early but then got tight on the winner’s cover, right behind the front threesome to and past the 1:22.2 three-quarters. Miss Helen Hanover finally made the lead mid stretch, and then held off the closing Village Jade by a head. Miss Helen Hanover, owned by Howard Taylor and Falcon Racing LLC, took her mark of 1:51.3 in her Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Consolation at The Meadows, and this win with his only local entrant of the day continued a hot streak for trainer Tom Fanning, who had two wins and a second the previous day at Philly.
Driver Marcus Miller continued his own high win accumulation rate with four victories on the day, following two at Philly on Sunday and two during Saturday’s racing here.
The racing week closes out at Pocono on Tuesday afternoon, with a card starting at 1:30 p.m. and featuring a $15,000 trot matching together some on-the-rise diamond gaiters.
(PHHA / Pocono)