Arbitrage Hanover showcased top form with a commanding 1:51 victory over "sloppy" conditions in the $23,611 featured pace at Pocono Downs on Tuesday afternoon, August 6. The race was impacted by rain that moved in midcard.
Previously, Arbitrage Hanover had won the New Jersey Sire Stakes Championship in late May but faced some setbacks in his initial starts at Pocono. However, on this occasion, the Bettors Wish gelding delivered a stellar performance.
Jack Pelling positioned Arbitrage Hanover in fourth early as Vengeance Blue Chip led through a :27.2 quarter. Captain Hansen took over before the half, timed in :55.3. Arbitrage Hanover advanced to challenge the leader head-to-head through a 1:23.3 three-quarters, took the lead in the stretch, and held off the favourite, Number Cruncher, by three-quarters of a length. Vengeance Blue Chip finished third, just a neck behind the winner. Arbitrage Hanover is trained by Brett Pelling and owned by Pelling Racing LLC, Rojan Stables, and Bridle Path Stables LTD.
In the $20,833 co-featured pace, the Pelling team also secured victory with Armada Hanover, a Stay Hungry gelding who set a new mark of 1:50.4. Armada Hanover led from the start with splits of :26.4, :55.3, and 1:23.1, and narrowly defeated Drinkin Doubles by a half-length. Armada Hanover is owned by Pelling Racing, Rojan Stables, and David McDuffee.
Driver Anthony Napolitano, who had four wins on Monday, continued his winning streak with five victories on Tuesday.
Racing will resume on Saturday, August 10, at 1 p.m., with the USD 2 million Sun Stakes Saturday supercard scheduled for the following week on August 10, featuring a special post time of 2:30 p.m.