from the PHHA/Pocono

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Some nifty steering by the track’s leading driver George Napolitano Jr. put Ginger Tree Cash in position to take a three-quarter length victory over Geez Joe in an $18,000 pacing feature Sunday night (July 16) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

Napolitano got away third with the altered son of Yankee Cruiser, sitting behind Voracity’s posting of big first half numbers of :26.1 and :54. When pocket-sitter OK Icon gave way down the backstretch, Napolitano guided his horse into the two-hole, quickly made up ground on Voracity past the 1:21.2 three-quarter pole and passed him by the stretch call, then held off the late burst of Geez Joe, who had tailed him throughout, in 1:49.3, a new personal record. Ginger Tree Crash is trained by frequent Pennsylvania-Ohio commuter Mike Dowdall for owner Keith Pippi.

In the $18,000 trotting co-feature, Honor And Serve showed he seems to be approaching fine form as he made the lead past the quarter, then came home in :56.2 to be a three length winner in 1:53.2 for driver Jim Marohn Jr. The son of Donato Hanover had won almost $290,000 by the end of his 3-year-old season, but he has been lightly raced the last two campaigns, and this was his first win of 2017 — but off his strong performance for trainer Åke Svanstedt and owners Howard and Judith Taylor and the Order By Stable, it is likely there will be more victories in the near future.

Two-year-old trotting fillies will be in full effect in Pennsylvania stakes action the next two nights at Pocono: Monday brings seven divisions of the Stallion Series, while five divisions of the Sire Stakes will close out the week at The Downs Tuesday.