Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen's Association

10/19/2026

The PHHA Board of Directors, staff, and members are keeping Scott's family & friends in our thoughts, hearts and prayers.

Our hearts are broken as we mourn the tragic loss of our friend and driver, Scott Knight, following an accident at Desert Park Raceway today.

09/27/2026

Philly Live Racing for tomorrow (Sunday) is cancelled due to the weather - see everyone on October 8th

08/23/2026

Nordic Catcher S equals world record in G3 Sebastian K Trot

by Ken Weingartner
(Curtis Salonick photo)

Wilkes-Barre, PA – Nordic Catcher S won Saturday’s (Aug. 22) $100,000 Grade 3 Sebastian K Trot, for older trotters, by 2-3/4 lengths over Resolve To Win in 1:50.3 at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, equaling both the world record for a 4-year-old trotting stallion on a five-eighths-mile oval as well as the track record. Hillexotic finished third.

Uncle Peter first set both the world record for a 4-year-old trotting stallion and the Pocono mark in 2013.

Nordic Catcher S and trainer/driver Åke Svanstedt stormed to the front from post 2 in a :25.4 opening quarter before 3-5 favorite Lexus Kody pushed forward from fourth to take the lead passing the grandstand for the first time on the way to a :54.1 half. Nordic Catcher S followed Lexus Kody from the pocket before being flushed to the outside nearing three-quarters by a charging Resolve To Win from the rear of the seven-horse field.

Lexus Kody remained on top to three-quarters, in 1:23.1, but Nordic Catcher S took over from there and opened up daylight on the field en route to his second victory in three races this season since returning from an injury that sidelined him after winning last year’s Hambletonian.

“It’s just great to have him back,” assistant trainer Sarah Svanstedt said. “It was heartbreaking that he got injured in the Hambletonian last year. The process to bring him back, and the rehab he had to do, and making it back, there are no words for it. I’m very happy and proud of him.”

Nordic Catcher S is a son of Six Pack out of the pacing mare That Woman Hanover.

Nordic Catcher S is owned by Åke Svanstedt Inc. and Little E LLC. He was bred by Nordic Horse Farm AB and Joie De Vie Farm. For his career, he has hit the board in 12 of 13 career races, winning seven and earning $880,335.

Sent off as the 6-5 second choice in the race named after former Svanstedt Stable star Sebastian K S, Nordic Catcher S paid $4.60 to win.

08/23/2026

VICTORIANA'S SECRET PREVAILS IN DELMONICA HANOVER

by Jerry Connors, for the PHHA-Pocono
(Curtis Salonick photo)

WILKES-BARRE PA – Victoriana’s Secret, despite having to come first-over in the lane, used superior talent to power off to victory in the $250,000 Delmonica Hanover Stake at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Saturday afternoon, with the time of 1:51.2 equaling the stake and track record set by Yo Tillie in the same race a year ago.

Ronnie Wrenn Jr. got the Tactical Landing filly away in fourth from the rail as Pennsylvania-based Little Road, sent off as the favorite, went right to the top and forced opponents to take seats behind her to the :27 quarter. Setyoursightshigh, last year’s divisional champion, was rushed to the lead in front of the stands and reached the half in :55.2, just as the winner began her outside move.

Victorianas Secret inexorably gained ground the length of the backstretch and was battling with the pacesetter at the 1:23.3 three-quarters; nearing the middle of the turn she had taken a short lead. Custom was on her back and tipped wide to mount a stretch challenge; she did well, but Victorianas Secretstayed sturdy and won by half a length. Longshot Crossover claimed third; Little Road was shuffled when the leader tired and was not a late factor.

Largely unheralded until late spring, Victorianas Secret has put herself squarely in contention for divisional recognition, winning five of her last six starts, including a 1:50 at Lexington two weeks ago. The Vernon Brachy trainee has now boosted her earnings to $410,531 for owner Ryan Smith.

08/23/2026

Sangria Summer delights in Lynch Memorial

By Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager
(Curtis Salonick photo)

Wilkes-Barre, PA – Sangria Summer sat behind dueling leaders Darlin’s Angel and Be Perfect BG around the final turn, then ducked to the inside in the stretch to rally for a one-length win in Saturday’s (Aug. 22) $250,000 Grade 1 James M. Lynch Memorial, for 3-year-old female pacers, in a stakes-record 1:48.4 at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.

Pacesetter Darlin’s Angel finished second and Be Perfect BG was third. The previous Lynch Memorial stakes record was 1:49, set by Grace Hill in 2021.

Darlin’s Angel and driver Lauren Tritton took the lead in a :26.3 opening quarter, with Sangria Summer settling into second and Be Perfect BG third. The order remained unchanged through the :55.2 half before Dexter Dunn launched a first-over bid with Be Perfect BG on the way to three-quarters in 1:22.1.

Be Perfect BG got within a half-length of Darlin’s Angel heading to the stretch, but Sangria Summer and driver James MacDonald ducked into the Pocono Pike to find open road and surge to victory with a :26.2 last quarter.

The win was Sangria Summer’s third in a row and fourth in her last five races for trainer Luc Blais and owner Determination. In her previous start, she won the Grade 3 Shady Daisy at the Meadowlands, where Darlin’s Angel and Be Perfect BG were second and third, respectively.

Sangria Summer, who was trained by co-owner Kevin Benn before being purchased by Determination on May 1, has won six of 21 career races, hit the board another six times, and earned $353,159. She was bred by Tara Hills Stud, Rene Dion, Susanne Kerwood, and Martin Leveillee.

“She’s just a gem,” MacDonald said. “Kevin Benn does such a great job bring these things along as young horses and she just keeps getting better and better. Luc bought her, and I know she’s progressed every week.

“She’s a filly that seems to be peaking right now and hopefully we can keep her good for a long time.”

Sent off as the 2-1 second choice, Sangria Summer paid $6.80 to win.

08/23/2026

INEXPRESSABLE HAS ENOUGH TO TAKE BEAL AT POCONO

by Jerry Connors, for the PHHA-Pocono
(Curtis Salonick photo)

WILKES-BARRE PA – The Walner c**t Inexpressable seems to be peaking at an opportune time of the 2026 harness racing season, adding to his resume by winning the $300,000 Earl Beal Memorial Trot for three-year-old males on Saturday afternoon at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania. He lowered his mark to 1:51.1 in the game neck victory over favorite Diabolic Hill.

Diabolic Hill was sent away wide at the start and kept on going to reach the lead by a :26.4 quarter. Inexpressable came out from third and made a sharp move to the lead, then got a much-needed breather to a :56 half. The next challenge came from Minoan, who gradually came up into contention, with Magic Punk on his back and Diabolic Hill waiting in the pocket as the field sent by the three quarters in 1:23.2 and raced along to the stretch.

The outside horses had a little bit too much difficulty making up ground quickly enough, but Diabolic Hill, perched in the pocket behind the pacesetter, went to the Pocono Pike to try to catch the leader up the rail. But Inexpressable dipped own deep into the solid foundation that Lucas Wallin had established, and he was able to ward off the potential pocket rocket by a neck, with Magic Punk rushing up late but settling for third.

Inexpressable, the winner of the Yonkers Trot, was sent off at 4-1 on a Pocono card where favorites did not have the easiest of times. Inexpressable was a $325,000 yearling purchase, and with this win he raised his lifetime earnings to $408,270 for Wallin Racing Stable Inc. and Karin Walter-Mommert.

08/23/2026

Brandon Blvd the best in Hempt

by Ken Weingartner
(Curtis Salonick photo)

Wilkes-Barre, PA – Driver Dexter Dunn worked out a pocket trip with Brandon Blvd behind Al Papi, angled to the inside in the stretch to find open space, and rushed home from there to post a 1-1/2-length win over Melillo in 1:48.2 in the $300,000 Grade 2 Max C. Hempt Memorial, for 3-year-old pacers, at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania. Al Papi finished third.

Melillo, Brandon Blvd and Al Papi all left the gate quickly at the start, with Melillo being first to the front, but Dunn continued forward with Brandon Blvd to be a parked-out leader in a :27 opening quarter. Al Papi and driver Yannick Gingras immediately made their move to the top, leaving Brandon Blvd second and Melillo third on the way to the :54.3 half, with Gentleman’s Club charging on the outside first-over.

Gentleman’s Club continued to press Al Papi through three-quarters in 1:21.3 but was turned away heading into the stretch. Once in the stretch, Dunn took the inside route to overtake Al Papi and then rebuffed a late rally from Melillo, who was sixth at three-quarters, to get his fourth win in his last five starts.

“I sort of thought there would be more leavers there, but we had (post 2) and we were able to use it,” Dunn said. “But then I was happy to follow Yannick … and once I got down to the inside, (Brandon Blvd) did it pretty easy, actually. He raced great.”

“(Dunn) was worried about the Burke duo, so he tried to be the first one to the front,” said winning trainer Andrew Harris, referring to the Ron Burke-trained Melillo and Al Papi. “When Yannick came around him, it was a perfect trip. Yannick’s horse was so tough to get us all the way where we needed to get to. Everybody else was coming at the end, so it was just a great race.

“He’s a great horse and when you put him in the right spot, he’s going to show up. Dex does a great job with him. That was a masterful drive today.”

Brandon Blvd, who finished third in his previous start in the Cane Pace on Aug. 8, has won six of nine races this year and earned $895,695 for the Punisher 11 Stable ownership group. The son of Downbytheseaside-Alexis Faith has hit the board in 18 of 19 career races, winning 13 and earning $1.28 million. He was bred by Crawford Farms.

“It’s one of those things where you’re always so worried about the next race that you don’t get to enjoy it until it’s done,” Harris said. “Right now, it’s great, though. It’s great to have a horse like this, he’s an amazing animal. I’m thrilled with the horse and it’s just a great ride.”

Sent off the 2-1 favorite, Brandon Blvd paid $6.20 to win.

$200,000 HEMPT CONSOLATION I – Thai Hanover showed in his last line a 1:57.4 win at the Washington (PA) Fair on Monday, almost three seconds faster than any other winner at the former Arden Downs, but the crowd was not impressed and dismissed him at 44-1. Their minds were changed in 1:50.1 when Dexter Dunn gave him a second-over trip and the altered son of Stay Hungry-Tempest Blue Chip paced past everybody in the later stages, winning by 1-3/4 lengths. Trainer Mitchell York shares ownership with wife Erin. The gelding was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms.

$100,000 HEMPT CONSOLATION II – Favored Toast Of The Town looked like he might be in a spot of trouble when he was parked well past a :25.3 opening number, but the Sweet Lou-New Year gelding and driver Jason Bartlett were not bothered at all, drawing clear through the latter stages of the mile to win by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:48.4, just a tick off the lifetime mark he set when last at Pocono. Noel Daley recorded a second consecutive consolation II win with the fast pacer, owned by Let It Ride Stables, Morrison Racing Stables, Jesmeral Stable, and Alberg Racing. He was bred by Let It Ride Stables and Bottom Line Racing.

--The PHHA-Pocono contributed to this report.

08/22/2026

FOR ONCE INMY LIFE (1) held on to take the (Grade 3) $100,000 Always B Miki Free-For-All Pace over the pylon-skimming 1-5 favorite SURREAL IDEAL (2) to win in a lifetime best-equaling 1:48.4f.

Driven by Jordan Stratton for his brother, trainer Cory Stratton and owner Winters Racing Stable, the 6-year-old son of DOWNBYTHESEASIDE now has nine wins in 20 seasonal outings. He was bred by Joe Sbrocco and paid a handsome $39.80 in the 18-1 upset.

DANDY IDEAL hung on for third.

08/22/2026

INEXPRESSABLE held off the passing lane charge of 8-5 favorite DIABOLIC HILL (6) to take the $300,000 (Grade 2) Earl Beal Jr. Memorial for 3-year-old trotting c**ts and geldings in a lifetime best 1:51.1f.

Driven by Scott Zeron for trainer Lucas Wallin who co-owns with Karin-Walter Mommert, the Yonkers Trot-winning son of WALNER returned $10.40. Bred by Menhammar Stuteri and S R F Stable, he picked up his fourth win in seven seasonal outings.

MAGIC PUNK finished third.

08/22/2026

BRANDON BLVD went down the road in the $300,000 (Grade 2) Max C. Hempt Memorial for 3-year-old pacing c**ts and geldings, scoring in 1:48.2.

Driven by Dexter Dunn for trainer Andrew Harris and owners Punisher 11 Stable, the son of DOWNBYTHESEASIDE is now six for nine on the year, with seasonal earnings approaching $1 million dollars. Bred by Crawford Farms LLC, he returned $6.20.

MELILLO was a close second and AL PAPI finished third with both hailing from the Burke Brigade.