Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Tuesday, Nov. 10 had a single $21,127 second and final preliminary event in the Winter Is Coming Pacing Series, leading up to next Tuesday’s $20,000 USD championship.
For the second straight week, the pattern of the race was the same: pocket horse railles to go the stretch lead, then holds off the big closer in a photo, with the pacesetter close behind in third. And the same top three finishers from last week occupied the triactor this week. But there were different winners in the two races.
This week, Bugaboo Hanover (the first-round winner) was the pacesetter for Jim Pantaleano through fractions of :26.1, :55.4 and 1:22.4, with Lennon Hanover (third last time) in the golden chair and Deuce Hanover (Ridge Warren) second-over. And this time Lennon Hanover proved to have the most late after the good journey in 1:51.1, with Deuce Hanover storming late again for the deuce, here a head off, with Bugaboo Lou another three-parts of a length back.
Thus the major spoils went to the George Napolitano Jr.-driven Lennon Hanover ($7.40), a four-year-old son of Tall Dark Stranger-Lillysilk trained by Dean Eckley for owner William Hartt. He is now five-for-24 on the year.
Pocono also featured a pair of $20,423 conditioned contests for developing trotters. In the quicker split, the Captain Corey-Andela sophomore filly Arella Hanover ($27.60) was ahead at every call in a lifetime-best 1:55.4 for trainer-driver Jim Pantaleano and owners John Eichelberger and Stacey-Lee Day. The Greenshoe-Chezatter three-year-old gelding Chuppah Hanover ($6) was able to set a slow pace to the half and held on in a 1:59.1 mile to win the other cut, with Braxten Boyd doing the sulkysitting for trainer Linda Schadel, who is also co-owner with Tony, Elizabeth and James Schadel.
The windy day was largely a chalk players’ cemetery, with the meet’s leading driver Tyler Buter, steering the only two winning favourites on the 13-race card – and also triggering the highest win mutuel, $73.60 winner The American Eagle. Buter and Anthony Napolitano, the top two drivers in total wins for the 2026 season, were also tied on the top with five “bombers;” Buter now leads that category alone. Driving doubles were recorded by Braxten Boyd, George Napolitano Jr. and Jim Pantaleano.
The Pocono racing schedule resumes Saturday at 1 p.m., highlighted by a $27,500 USD Winners Over Handicap Pace, the Game Of Claims Pacing Series, and carryovers into the fifth-race Pick 5 and the last-race High 5.
(PHHA/Pocono)