Milieu Hanover Wins Battle At Pocono

Milieu Hanover had to battle a combination of a sloppy track, a first-over journey, and favoured pacesetter Scarlett Hanover, but she proved herself much the best in the $17,500 featured distaff pace on Monday afternoon at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, winning by three lengths in 1:52.2.

Jim Pantaleano kept the winning daughter of Betting Line off the early battle, which saw Scarlett Hanover emerge on top past a :26.4 quarter. Going onto a strong headwind, Scarlett Hanover took a breather to the :55.3 half, but then had to sharpen the speed as Milieu Hanover steadily made up ground on her to the 1:23.2 three-quarters.

Instead of a classic far turn duel between two favourites, the battle the rest of the way was all Milieu Hanover as she drew away, with Audra Day clearing from the pocket to get second ahead of Major Battle, with the favourite fading to fourth.

For Milieu Hanover, it was her second win in a row, both over off tracks at Pocono, and she increased her earnings to $251,128 for trainer Nicholas Devita and the ownership of Devita Racing Stable Inc, David Hamm and Christopher Giaccio.

Anthony Napolitano, who steered five winners on the Saturday Pocono card, kept the hot hands on Monday by bringing five more horses back to Victory Lane.

The Pocono racing week wraps up on Tuesday with a 1:30 p.m. post time.

(PHHA / Pocono)