Mighty Surf too strong to catch in Pocono feature

Wilkes-Barre, PA — With a strong uncovered move down the backstretch, the Prayer I Am mare Mighty Surf went to the lead at the three-quarter pole and went on to an easy 1:56.2 victory in the $11,200 claiming trotting feature at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 13).

The favored winner came home in :28.3 over a “good” track on a day with the temperature in the mid-50s. Mighty Surf is now two for four since being claimed by trainer Jake Huff and the Beauty Bridle Racing Stable Inc.; Pocono’s “Trot Man,” diagonally-gaited sulky specialist Mike Simons drove the winner.

The well-respected trainer Jenny Melander scored her first career sulky success with the Lionhunter sophomore gelding Hunting AS in a $10,400 contest, rallying from far back to nose out S Class in 1:58. Melander, who has trained the winners of more than $5 million, had achieved victories in Racing Under Saddle competition, but this is her first winner to sulky in infrequent career outings. Melander Racing Inc. co-owns the winner with Robert Bernaski.

The Napolitano brothers, George Jr. (the track’s leading driver) and Anthony, accounted for half of the 14 winners on the Tuesday card, with George first four times and Anthony three. The triple gave Anthony 13 winners for the second straight three-card Pocono racing week. And on a day where eight of 14 favorites were successful, both brothers brought home two of the non-chalk, with winners for George including $7.20 and $37.80 successes, and Anthony piloting horses who paid $13.20 and $35.80.

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