Wilkes-Barre, PA – George Napolitano Jr., the all-time winningest driver at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, won six races over an off track Monday (Aug. 31) afternoon, including both $27,500 feature races with the front end of a stable 1-2 sweep in the headliners.
In the $27,500 fast-class trot, Napolitano guided the Resolve gelding Resolve To Win, a 97-1 second to Nordic Catcher S in the Sebastian K S Free-for-All on Sun Stakes Saturday, to victory in 1:52.2, which despite the slop equaled the lifetime mark of the winner of $522,483. Resolve To Win settled midpack from his outside post in the field of seven, then came first-over after early splits of :27 and :55.3. The “Win”-ner made one decisive move to the lead by the 1:23.4 three-quarters, towing up his stablemate for trainer Enrico Robinson and Pollack Racing LLC, Hey Porter (Matt Kakaley); the latter continued well but was defeated by two lengths by the heavy favorite.
The $27,500 pacing distaff feature saw 2-5 favorite Sweetnikkilou A cause a recall, then refused a second time and was declared a non-starter. The second episode did not cause another recall, and Jensville A (Kalaley) went to the front for trainer Chris Height and owner Michael Casilino Jr. and put up fractions of :27. :56, and 1:23. But lurking in the two-hole was Napolitano and the pacesetter’s Height/Casalino barnmate Tick A Loch A, a daughter of Always B Miki who came through in the Pocono Pike, finishing a half length the best in 1:50.3 in the off going for her second straight triumph.
Besides the six-bagger for “George Nap,” meet leader Tyler Buter won the first three races on the card, and Braxten Boyd succeeded twice. The lone doubling trainer, Dean Eckley, had his winners driven by Napolitano and Buter.
Even before Tuesday’s 1 p.m. live card, there will be plenty of excitement at Pocono, as it will be draw day for the $1.4M Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championships for 2-year-olds, with four $300,000 Championships and $50,000 consolations for those divisions with overflow entries. The long-awaited showdown between undefeated pacing colts Starstruck Dreamer and Shalom Hanover will be watched for with great interest.
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