Another C Note remained undefeated in his 2026 campaign with a 1:50.4 victory in the second leg of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes (PASS) for three-year-old pacing males, leading a six-win afternoon for driver Tyler Buter on Saturday, May 16 at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
Another C Note started his season paying $60.40 in conditioned company, but he is now six-for-six on the year after equalling his lifetime mark Saturday. He controlled most of the pace and defeated stablemate Melillo (Tim Tetrick) by a length for the partnership of Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Let It Ride Stable Inc, and Scott Dillon. Papi Rick (Anthony Napolitano) was third. The winning son of Captaintreacherous-Kate Cant Wait, the only entire to win in the nine stakes events, is now nine-for-18 lifetime for trainer Ron Burke. He paid $2.80 to win.
Bongiorno trains and drove the winners of the other two PASS divisions, both of which resulted in a victory margin of only a nose. Sneaky Squeaky, who now matches Another C Note not only with two PASS wins but with an unbeaten record in six starts this season, showed great gameness in again winning a series contest by the smallest possible margin, here over Captain Apple (Patrick Ryder) in 1:51.1 after a pacesetter versus pocket-sitter stretch duel. Silent Investor (Braxten Boyd) was third. Morrison Racing Stable owns the developing son of Heston Blue Chip-Squeaky, who is now seven-for-10 lifetime. He paid $3.60 to win.
The other PASS nose winner was $58.40 proposition Apocalypsebluechip, who in fact was a nose ahead of both second-place finisher Superchamp Hanover (Matt Kakaley) and third-placed Southwind Spencer (Tyler Buter) after utilizing a pocket trip. Apocalypsebluechip, despite this being only his second lifetime win in 12 starts, had the day’s fastest stakes clocking of 1:50.3, a new mark. The son of Papi Rob Hanover-Queen Of Darkness triumphed for Joseph Bongiorno LLC, Country Club Acres Inc., Joe Sbrocco & JAF Racing and Don Latore.
In six Stallion Series (StS) divisions for three-year-old male pacers, Buter and Bongiorno drove the two winners who won for the second time in their grouping’s prelims. Buter, who had three Stallion Series wins in addition to his Sire Stakes success, guided the faster one, Really Bright, who was one of four StS winners in 1:51, all of whom took a new lifetime speed badge. Hunter Oakes trains the son of Tall Dark Stranger-Economy Terror for owners Howard Taylor and Chuck Pompey.
The other StS doubler was the Papi Rob Hanover-Discoforadollar gelding Ballroom Affair in 1:51.4 for Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Odds On Racing. This horse completed the Bongiorno training triple; the horseman's win rate and UTR at the mountain oval are 27 per cent and .394, respectively, which are great but still lag a bit behind his incredible success stats at Philly, which are 52 per cent and .693.
Buter had a pair of the other 1:51 winners for trainer Nancy Takter. He won with the Always B Miki-My Little Delight gelding Always B Charlie, who reduced his mark in his third lifetime start for Upstart Racing, and the Sweet Lou-American Cheer gelding Louaville for owners Lemon Drop Racing, R A W Equine Inc., Christina Takter, and Joe Sbrocco & JAF Racing. Buter also steered overnight winners Honolulu Hanover and Moneyhill Gb, completing his six-pack. He leads the Pocono standings with 79 victories at the meet.
The fourth 1:51 win in the Stallion Series was from the Stay Hungry-Spells Well gelding Spunky Hanover, who was driven by Braxten Boyd for trainer Timothy Lancaster, co-owner with Mark and Joy Lancaster. Completing the StS winners was the Captaintreacherous-Im Trigger Happy gelding Barrow, who lowered his mark to 1:51.1 for driver Brad Chisholm, trainer Brett Pelling, and owners Let It Ride Stables Inc. (three stakes winners including two in the Stallion Series), Morrison Racing Stables (a win in both sections) and Jesmeral Stable.
In addition to all the stakes action, a crack field of fast-class horses were gathered for the $37,671 Winners Over Pace. That event was captured the five-year-old Sweet Lou-Luvthebeachlife gelding Lou Grant ($4.80), who was three-wide from just past mid-backstretch but still able to grind to a mark-equalling 1:50 time in a race where five entrants were within a length at the wire. He won by a nose over Soho Santorini A (Tyler Buter), with Voukefalas (Jordan Stratton) beaten a head in third. Simon Allard handled the sulky assignment on the winner, now 13-for-42 lifetime, for trainer Rick Hercules and owners Jack Piatt III and Howard Alexander.
And with all that great racing and all those great horses, the fastest time of the day is still yet to be mentioned. That honour belonged to the Captaintreacherous-Ramalama gelding Vengeance Blue Chip ($3), who used the Pocono Pike to overhaul game pacesetter Congressional (Kevin Wallis) by a head in 1:49.3 in an overnight for driver Matt Kakaley, trainer Joe Pavia Jr. and owners Vincent Ferriero Jr., John Whitig, Donald Kayser and Pint Size Racing LLC.
After all catch their breath, Pocono will be back in action on Monday at 1 p.m., featuring three $30,000 USD divisions of Pennsylvania All-Stars racing for three-year-old trotting colts.
(With files from PHHA/Pocono)