Svanstedt doubles up as My Philomene extends streak

WILKES-BARRE PA – The last two stakes in the 2026 John Simpson Sr. Memorial series, for sophomore females on both gaits, were conducted in three $30,000 divisions per gait on Monday afternoon at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.

All three favorites won in the trotting ranks. The most impressive of the winners was the Chapter Seven filly My Philomene, who after winning in stakes company at Yonkers (twice), Monticello, Philly, and Tioga, added a sixth straight victory to her tally in a new mark of 1:51.4, missing the local divisional track record of Yo Tillie by only two ticks. Trainer-driver Trond Smedshammer moved the filly to command past the :26.4 quarter, maintained a 1¼ length advantage over pocketsitting Sparks past the half (:55.2) and three-quarters (1:24),  then at the stretch call and the finish. The streaking winner is owned by Melady Enterprises LLC.

MY PHILOMENE REPLAY

The Tactical Landing distaff Isabella Bi captured another division in 1:53.1, leading at every position and notching a winning margin of 5¼ lengths. Driver – trainer Åke Svanstedt, through his Åke Svanstedt LLC, co-owns the winner with Joe Sbrocco & JAF Racing, Little E LLC, and Mr Lars Olsson.

Team Svanstedt went 1-2-4 in the other Simpson trot division, as Åke guided Maya Patel Hanover to a wire-to-wire win in 1:54.4, three parts of a length ahead of barnmate Whatarace Hanover. Brittany Farms LLC and Åke Svanstedt LLC own the daughter of Captain Corey.

Only one of the three chalks prevailed in the pacing divisions, and that one, the Always B Miki filly Sandyboots Yankee, tied for fastest Simpson winner of the day at 1:51.3. Pocono’s leading driver Tyler Buter gave a well-judged drive, sitting last in a field of five behind a hot pace, then outfinishing the horse who backed off the rail to follow her, Existential, by a head. Pocono’s top trainer Ron Burke conditions the winner, owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Lawrence Karr, and Phillip Collura.

SANDYBOOTS YANKEE REPLAY

The 1:51.3 clocking was also posted by the American Ideal filly Lenna, controlling the pace and stepping home in :54.4 – :27.1. Anthony Napolitano sulkysat for trainer Deborah Daguet and owner Forrest Bartlett, who 40 years ago campaigned Horse of the Year Forrest Skipper.

Just a tick off the other two Simpson pacing winners was the Papi Rob Hanover filly Make It Right, who used the famed Pocono Pike to catch frontstepper Vanna By The River by a half length. Jason Bartlett had the sulky seat for trainer Jim King Jr. and owners Gary McCandless, Jo Ann Looney-King, and Larry Rathbone.

MAKE IT RIGHT REPLAY

Tyler Buter guided three winners on the card; driving doubles were rung up by both Anthony Napolitano and brother George Jr., along with Åke Svanstedt (as described above) and Ridge Warren. Svanstedt also trained both his sulky successes; Dean Eckley also had a pair of conditioning wins.

Trotters up and down the classification ladder will be featured as Pocono closes out its racing week Tuesday at 1 p.m. The next racing after that is Saturday (also 1 p.m.), which is full of highlights: Ruthless Hanover going for his third straight top-class pace victory; the first preliminary of the Game Of Claiming Pacing Series for horses with a base tag of $10,000; and simulcasting of the second day of the Breeders Cup Thoroughbred competition. Free Pocono program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

From the PHHA / Pocono Downs