Chapolier continues to be the winningest trotter in North America in 2025 as he posted his 10th triumph of his seven-year-old campaign on Tuesday, May 13.
The Chapter Seven-Holier Than Thou gelding added to his perfect Pocono Downs record this season, taking the $22,222 featured claiming handicap trot in 1:53.1, a new mark achieved over 'good' going.
Chapolier, entered for the top $41,667 claiming price tag and thus getting the outside post eight, was in a familiar spot early – very wide entering the first turn as many foes yet again tried to establish position with the advantage of an inner start on him. Chapolier was in behind cover for most of the first turn then went on uncovered past the :27.1 quarter to get to the top, which he achieved for driver George Napolitano Jr., paying the price of a :55.1 half. The fractions continued faster than usual as Chapolier went to the three-quarters in 1:23.4, but when several well-placed opponents took their best shot in the lane, Chapolier was ready – if anything, he slightly widened his margin from mid-stretch on.
A six-figure earner with consecutive wins in his last 10 starts at Pocono, Chapolier cannot be mentioned without telling of his record changing barns. This week, he was with trainer Brandon Presto and owner Rocco Stebbins for a second time in the streak, and again he had only a seven-day stay with that management, as he was taken for the $41,667 tag by P T Stable – the fourth time they have claimed the trotter.
George Santayana is credited with saying, “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it,” and there were amazing parallels between young trotter Ake Palema on Tuesday and young trotter Jamais Vu, who raced at Pocono two days previously. Both are Walner sophomore colts from the barn of Lucas Wallin who qualified evenly for a “Q” driver in their first line of the year, then picked up three-time Pocono defending driving leader Matt Kakaley and entered a maiden event for international ownership Jamais Vu won on Sunday in 1:53.4; Ake Palema won on Tuesday in 1:53.4 (over 'good' going, no less) for an even more far-flung group of owners: Wallin Racing Stable Inc. (New Jersey), Harbor Racing Stable LLC (Ontario), Karin Walter-Mommert (Germany), and Glenn Holland (Australia).
By the way, the Pocono bettors learned: Jamais Vu was the second choice, whereas Ake Palema was sent off as the crowd’s favourite.
The win with Ake Palema was one of three on the card for Kakaley, giving him top honours for the 13-race card.
Pocono's first Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and Stallion Series events of the season will be contested on Saturday’s 1 p.m. card, with more than $260,000 USD in purses up for grabs. The highlight should be a Sire Stakes showdown between Louprint, Dan Patch Award winner for this division last year, against Twisted Destiny, winner of six straight and a faster winner in the first Sire Stakes prelim (1:49.1 vs. 1:49.3).
(With files from PHHA/Pocono)