By A Hoff Hanover trots to lifetime mark

WILKES-BARRE, PA – By A Hoff Hanover (Donato Hanover) made one strong uncovered move down the backstretch to sweep to the lead, then drew off to an easy victory in a lifetime-best 1:55.2 while winning the $15,000 trotting harness racing feature on a hot Tuesday afternoon at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

George Napolitano Jr. kept By A Hoff Hanover just off the pace in third through early fractions of :28 and :57.1, then got a high-energy brush out of him, carrying the pair to the lead by the 1:26.2 three-quarters. Favored Kaseville could not make much late impact though getting to second as By A Hoff Hanover won by 4¼ lengths for trainer Mark Ford and owners George and Rose Bonomo.

BY A HOFF HANOVER REPLAY

The veteran Kadabra gelding Magical Journey put up quick numbers of :26.4, :56.1, and 1:24.2 in the $12,500 trotting co-feature, with only pocketsitter Papi Hanover staying close as they entered the stretch, and when that one tried to catch him up the Pocono Pike, Magical Journey held on for a head victory in a lifetime best 1:53.3.

Tom Jackson is two-for-two with the winner of $291,546 since he came to the mountains from Yonkers for trainer Deborah Daguet and owners D Racing Stable Inc. and Earl Hill Jr.

MAGICAL JOURNEY REPLAY

Matt Kakaley and George Napolitano Jr. both had big days to retain their 1-2 positions atop the Pocono driving colony. Kakaley had four victories to bring his seasonal total to 98, but he’s feeling pressure from perennial Pocono king Napolitano, whose three Tuesday triumphs bring his 2022 number to 95.

Racing resumes at Pocono on Saturday at 1:30 p.m., with the usual strong card of overnight horses plus a carryover of $2961.86 for the last race High-5; Sunday’s 5 p.m. card will feature three $30,000 divisions of a Pennsylvania All-Stars contest for three-year-old trotting fillies. Program pages will be available by clicking here. 

For complete race results, click here.

From the PHHA/The Downs