Pacer Big Top Hanover and trotter New Jersey Viking both took lifetime marks over a 'good' track while recording their initial victories in 2017 in the $18,000 features at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Sunday night (September 3).
Big Top Hanover, who earned over $700,000 at two and three against the top stakes colts, showed sharp form in only his third start at four, using the famed Pocono Pike to take a new mark of 1:51 over the 'good' track. The Western Ideal gelding, driven by Anthony Napolitano for trainer Daniel Renaud, defeated the first-over Independent One by a neck, with the speedy pacesetter Beach Boogie another half-length back behind the winner, who is owned by Brian & Ira Wallach Racing, Leonard Sorge, and Maria Reid.
Trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt made a big backstretch move with the Muscle Hill sophomore colt New Jersey Viking, opened up an insurmountable advantage on the far turn, and went under the wire two lengths to the good while reducing his personal best to 1:54.3. The youngster was a multi-stakes winner at two, and now offers the prospect of better things ahead for the ownership of Knutsson Trotting Inc. and Little E LLC.
Monday marks the switch over of that day's post time to 4:30 p.m. for the rest of the year, and the change starts with a bang -- Pocono will be hosting the $1.2 milion+ Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championships for two-year-olds. The state freshman fillies have been the stars so far, as undefeated Manchego heads the distaff trot, and superbly-bred pacers Come See The Show and Rainbow Room show down again in their Championship event.
(PHHA/Pocono)