Sophomore filly trotter Duicinea Hanover added a feature overnight race victory to a resume that had triumphs in the Pennsylvania All-Stars and the Stallion Series just before it, capturing the $21,528 feature for developing diamond-gaited horses in a lifetime mark of 1:54.4 on Tuesday, June 2 at Pocono Downs.
Duicinea Hanover was wide early then tucked third before a :28.3 opener under the direction of Niko Karna, who moved her to the first-over path just before a :57.3 half. The favourite tackled second choice pacesetter Night Phantom (Matt Kakaley) from mid-backstretch, with the leader still on top at the three-quarters in 1:27 but unable to withstand a vicious :27.3 late kick that propelled Duicinea Hanover to a three-length win. Night Phantom held on for second over Mamy Wata (Ridge Warren).
Noel Daley trains the Greenshoe-Dew To Win filly, who is three-for-four this year after a winless nine-race rookie season, for the partnership of Harbor Racing Stable of Uxbridge, Ont., Joe Sbrocco And JAF Racing of Staten Island, New York, James McGovern of Port St. Lucie, Florida and Vincent Urciuoli of Old Bridge, New Jersey.
A $20,833 claiming handicap trot on the card was won by Abruzzo, who was just second in the Game Of Claims Trotting Series final after being haltered for $41,096 by trainer/owner Mark Akins in his start before the series final. The Walner-Take The Money gelding got on the winning track with a 1:53.2 victory as Simon Allard worked the favourite to the lead shortly off the first turn, and even when second choice Water Torpedo (Anthony Napolitano) posed an uncovered bid, Abruzzo appeared in charge throughout, with the three-quarter-length final margin perhaps a trifle deceiving.
Fast times were the order of the day under beautiful conditions: speedy three-year-old winners in “non-winners of two” company were trotting filly R Perfect Goo (Googoo Gaagaa-Asixpakfromperfect) in a new mark of 1:54.4 and pacing gelding Sea Bistro Hanover (Captaintreacherous-Santa Rosa) in a lifetime best 1:50.4, while the sophomore pacing gelding Callmebigpapi (Papi Rob Hanover-Dancethenightaway) broke his maiden in 1:51.1.
Mike Watson, a member of the Michigan Harness Racing Hall of Fame, has decided to retire from training at age 65 after racking up over 2,800 victories (including nine years with triple-figure triumphs), according to United States Trotting Association records going back to 1991, along with earnings of more than $20 million and 14 seasons with a UTR of .300 or better. He sent out his last horse, Vali Hanover, who was the favourite in a claiming handicap trot, and he had an arsenal of Michiganders in his corner – longtime owner Clifford Grundy and driver Braxten Boyd, from one of the Wolverine State’s most distinguished families.
Vali Hanover had to go first-over and tried very hard to write the storybook ending, but he missed by a neck catching pacesetter Perron, driven by Pocono’s leading driver, Tyler Buter – who of course is also from one of Michigan’s top harness clans, his father Todd being inducted into the Michigan Hall of Fame the same year (2019) as Watson!
Tyler Buter posted a driving triple to give him 11 victories during the four-day Pocono week; doubles were turned in by Simon Allard, Brad Chisholm, Niko Karna and Anthony Napolitano. Trainers with a pair of victories included Noel Daley (both driven by Karna) and Brett Pelling (both driven by Chisholm).
Pennsylvania-sired three-year-old trotting males come to town for Pocono’s Saturday 1 p.m. card, with more than $160,000 USD on the line in two divisions of the Sire Stakes and three sections of the Stallion Series. There will also be a carryover into the final race High 5 wager.
But first, on Wednesday morning, Nordic Catcher S, the son of Six Pack-That Woman Hanover who last raced winning the 2025 Hambletonian, is entered for the first time in 303 days, in the last of three qualifiers following nine baby races during the 10 a.m. session. Trainer Ake Svanstedt will not have a lot of time for rumination about his champion's return most of the morning, as he has 12 two-year-olds who will go out for their first racing experience.
(With files from PHHA/Pocono)