Arbitrage Hanover was in peak form as he powered to a 1:51 victory over “sloppy” going in the $23,611 featured pace at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on a Tuesday (Aug. 6) afternoon that saw rain move in midcard.
Arbitrage Hanover won the New Jersey Sire Stakes Championship in late May, then had some time off before coming to Pocono. The winning Bettors Wish gelding broke in his first start here and didn’t look comfortable on the turns in his next race, but today he looked the picture of ability.
Jack Pelling settled the winner in fourth early as Vengeance Blue Chip had the lead near the :27.2 quarter, then yielded to Captain Hansen well before the :55.3 half. Arbitrage Hanover went up and raced raw head-to-head with the pacesetter before and past a 1:23.3 three-quarters, took the lead in the stretch, then defeated closing favourite Number Cruncher by three parts of a length, with Vengeance Blue Chip third, another neck behind the winning Brett Pelling trainee, owned by Pelling Racing LLC, Rojan Stables, and Bridle Path Stables LTD.
The firm of Pelling and Pelling also took the $20,833 co-featured pace with the Stay Hungry gelding Armada Hanover, who went even faster than his stablemate in setting a new mark of 1:50.4. Armada Hanover sailed along on the lead with fractions of :26.4, :55.3, and 1:23.1, then held off pocketsitting Drinkin Doubles by a half length. Pelling Racing and Rojan also own a piece of Armada Hanover, along with David McDuffee.
After visiting Victory Lane four times during Monday’s card, driver Anthony Napolitano came right back to post a five-bagger on Tuesday.
Racing resumes on Saturday (Aug. 10) with a 1 p.m. card; a week after that date, North America’s finest horses will be coming to Pocono for the $2 million+ USD Sun Stakes Saturday (Aug. 10) supercard, which will have a special post time of 2:30 p.m.
(PHHA / Pocono)