The Captain Corey-Agro Dolce gelding Captain Vodka dominated his $23,973 division of the final Bobby Weiss Series preliminary round for three-year-old male trotters on Monday, April 20 at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, putting the highlight on a six-win day for driver Ridge Warren.
On a windy and brisk day where the temperature barely cracked four degrees, Captain Vodka ($2.40) was commanding on the front-end, winning by 3-1/2 lengths in 1:56.1 for his second straight success and fourth win in five 2026 outings. Robert Baggitt Jr. trains him and shares ownership with J L Sadowsky LLC and Christine Baggitt. Nose Jammer (Todd Schadel) was second-best, followed by None Shall Pass (Tyler Buter).
Warren also won with Double Up N ($13.20), Sweet Shuney Moon ($26.60), Intense Lady ($7.60), Odds On Liquidity ($2.40) and Panic Room ($4). His six visits to the winner's circle on the 14-race card Monday tied the Pocono seasonal high previously established by Brett Beckwith and Tyler Buter. The 37-year-old boosted himself into the top five of the Pocono drivers' standings with the outstanding day.
Confident Volo ($3) will be the only male Weiss Series performer to head into his championship race next week after going unbeaten in all three preliminaries. The Bar Hopping-Context gelding moved to the lead in front of the stands in the first split and held the front position to the wire. His backers may have had their confidence shaken a little as Bee Positive (Matt Kakaley) closed well, but the three-time Weiss winner went on to score by a neck in 1:56.3 for driver Tyler Buter, Pocono’s top pilot, trainer Todd Buter, and owner Oldfield Racing LLC as he remained unbeaten in four seasonal starts. Beggars Banquet (Ridge Warren) was third.
The International Moni-Dornello gelding Dilly Hanover ($3.20), who started his career with two wins before finishing third last week, rebounded to take the fastest section of the series and a new mark with a time of 1:55.3. The trotter, piloted by Braxten Boyd, went to the lead in the second quarter then came home in :57.1 to win by a length over Captain Micah (Matt Kakaley) for trainer Emily Bost, who co-owns him with R K 4 Racing and Bruce James Potter. Liege (Warren) was third.
Jason Bartlett had three victories and Tyler Buter two. The only two-time training winner was Kevin Reynolds Jr., both of his horses driven by Warren.
Weiss preliminary action concludes on Tuesday with third-round races for fillies on both gaits, with the trotter Concise the only entrant who could post a third Weiss prelim victory during the 1 p.m. card. The $50,000 USD championships, plus $20,000 USD consolations if filling, will start this coming Saturday for the top preliminary performers.
(With files from PHHA/Pocono; photo of Captain Vodka and Ridge Warren winning on April 13)