Svanstedt wins three of five Simpson divisions

Harness racing trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt picked up wins in three of the five John Simpson Sr. Memorial stakes races held on Monday (Oct. 16) afternoon at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania. Svanstedt’s trainees won two of the three $30,400 splits for three-year-old trotting fillies (The Elma) and one of two $54,750 divisions of the two-year-old pacing colts and geldings (The Bret Hanover).

Even more impressive were the facts that those were the only three starters Svanstedt had on the day and that only one of them was favored to win. Svanstedt’s winners were the three-year-old trotting filly Gigi Hanover (Chapter Seven), in a group best 1:54:2 on a track listed in good condition at Pocono.

GIGI HANOVER REPLAY

Then there was On The House (Chapter Seven) with in 1:55:3 in another filly division.

ON THE HOUSE REPLAY

Then there was the two-year-old pacing gelding Captain Skippy (Captaintreacherous) in 1:52:3 (also a group best.)

CAPTAIN SKIPPY REPLAY

Woolco (Chapter Seven), trained by Bob Krivelin and driven by Dexter Dunn, won the remaining three-year-old trotting fillies division in 1:55:4.

WOOLCO REPLAY

Cult Classic (Heston Blue Chip), trained by Noel Daley and driven by Todd McCarthy, won the other division for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings in 1:53:2.

CULT CLASSIC REPLAY

Simpson stakes action continues on Tuesday (October 17) at Pocono with four $30,000 divisions for three-year-old pacing fillies (The Hardie Hanover) and three $43,100 splits for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings (The Super Bowl). There are 14 races on the Pocono card on Tuesday, with a first post time of 1 PM Eastern.

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

by Jim Beviglia, for Pocono Downs