Wilkes-Barre, PA – With the number of days left in the 2025 racing season at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania down to single numbers, Director of Racing Rick Kane has devised a two-legs-and-a-Championship series for both trotters and pacers called the “Winter Is Coming” Series to create year-end extra excitement, and on Monday the pacers contested two $12,500 opening round prelims.
Expedited Service was an easy winner in a division of the Winter Is Coming Pacing Series Monday at Pocono. Curtis Salonick photo.
The excitement factor was evident in the faster of the day’s two Winter Is Coming cuts, as the Betterthancheddar gelding Agedchedar Hanover (note that deliberate spelling) closed from third-over to win in a four-horse blanket finish in 1:52.4. The winner came home in :28.1 against the wind to defeat Points North by a head for trainer Jake Leamon and owner Dona McDonald.
The other section went to the only three-year-old to enter in the first leg prelim, the Cattlewash gelding Expedited Service, and the sophomore might turn out to be the horse to beat in the series. Though his mile was clocked in 1:54.3, Expedited Service went his third quarter in :26.4 with the wind to easily clear from first-over and drew off to a 4-1/2 length victory for driver George Napolitano Jr., trainer Richard Johnson, and owner Guy Gemore.
Top purse of the card was the $15,500 offered for developing trotters, with the stakes sophomore filly Margareta Hanover taking command in front of the stands the first time and then posting a new mark of 1:55.4 in winning by open distance. Mattias handled the Maharajah filly for trainer-brother Marcus (who was at the opening day of the Harrisburg Sale) and, appropriately given that reference, owners Hanover Shoe Farms Inc.
Anthony Napolitano led the driving colony with three…
Gap Kronos S was an easy winner in the fastest Simpson Stakes trot Saturday at Pocono. Curtis Salonick Photo. 
