The Explosive Matter gelding Papi Hanover enjoyed a downturn in company on Tuesday afternoon (April 26) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, taking the $12,500 featured fast-class trot in 1:56 over “sloppy” going.
Driver Ridge Warren sent the winner of $163,421 to the lead nearing the quarter while passing the original front-stepper Darty, controlled the pace, then kept away the resurgent pocket-sitter by three parts of a length. Karen Fread trains Papi Hanover, and she is also co-owner with Randy and Michael Toth along with James Mims Jr.
The Dontyouforgetit mare Ladys Image is a consistent trotter – she has now been one-two in 11 of 12 starts in 2022, she now has three victories in a row, and she now will be competing for her fourth-straight different barn next time after winning the $12,000 Claiming Handicap Trot in a lifetime-best 1:54.4 and being claimed. George Napolitano Jr. put the 1-5 favourite on the lead and left her foes well behind; though she had only a one week stay with trainer Chuck Crissman Jr. and owner Rodney Long, they made a $6,000 profit on her minus expenses.
The Napolitano brothers, Anthony and George Jr., each visited Victory Lane three times during the Tuesday racing.
Racing resumes at Pocono on Saturday (April 30) at 1:30 p.m. (EDT), featuring probably the best card so far in 2022 at the mountain oval. The top event is the $50,000 Weiss Series Championship for sophomore pacing males, featuring the very promising Lanjo Lee and All Or Nothing; there are also a pair of $25,000 fast-class features, one on each gait. Program pages will be available on the PHHA website.
(PHHA / Pocono)