Pocono: Favorites clean up in Weiss Series for 3-year-old male trotters

Confident Volo will be the only male Weiss Series performer to enter his Championship race next week after going unbeaten in all three preliminaries, a feat he completed in his $17,500 division of the third Weiss prelim for trotting males at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania Tuesday afternoon.

On a windy and brisk day where the temperature barely cracked 40, the Bar Hopping gelding Confident Volo moved to the lead in front of the stands and held the front position to the wire. His backers may have had their confidence shaken a little as Bee Positive (Walner-Bee A Magician) closed well, but the three-time Weiss winner went on to win by a neck in 1:56 3/5 for driver Tyler Buter, Pocono's top pilot, trainer Todd Buter and Oldfield Racing LLC. as he remained unbeaten in four seasonal starts.

The other two Weiss winners in this group notched their second series success. The International Moni gelding Dilly Hanover, who started his career with two wins before finishing a moderate third last week, rebounded to take the fastest section of the series and a new mark with a time of 1:55 3/5. Braxten Boyd also guided his trotter to the lead in the second quarter then came home in 57 1/5 to win by a length over stalker Captain Micah for trainer Emily Bost, also co-owner with R K 4 Racing and Bruce James Potter.

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The win of the Captain Corey gelding Captain Vodka was part of a successful day for all three Weiss favorites. His 1:56 1/5 win saw every pole a winning one for Captain Vodka as he absolutely dominated his field, winning by 3 1/2 lengths for his second straight success and fourth win in five 2026 outings for trainer Robert Baggitt Jr., co-owner with J L Sadowsky LLC. and Christine Baggitt.

Captain Vodka was driven by Ridge Warren, who had six visits to the winner's circle on Monday to tie the Pocono seasonal high previously established by Brett Beckwith and Tyler Buter. The 37-year-old boosted himself into the top five of the Pocono driver standings with the outstanding day. Jason Bartlett had three victories and Tyler Buter two; the only two-time training winner was Kevin Reynolds Jr., both of his horses driven by Warren.

Weiss preliminary action concludes on Tuesday with third-round races for fillies on both gaits, with the trotter Concise the only entrant who could post a third Weiss prelim victory during the 1 p.m. (EDT) card. $50,000 Championships, plus $20,000 consolations if filling, will start this coming Saturday (April 25) for the top preliminary performers.

--press release (PHHA/Pocono)--