by Gerry Connors, for the PA Harness Racing Commission

Harrisburg PA — George Napolitano, Jr. entered his day-night racing day of driving at Harrah’s Philadelphia and Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs on Sunday (June 17) with 4,999 career wins. He had 23 drives booked — eight at Philadelphia, and in all 15 races at Pocono.

USTA photo

George Napolitano, Jr.

He must have figured, “Let’s get this over with early.”

And so Nap shot right to the lead with pacer Dragon Ahs in the first race at Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon and could not be caught, giving the 45-year-old his 5,000th career triumph.

George Napolitano, Jr. is in his 20th year of driving, which gives him an average of 250 victories a year, with obviously more to come in 2012.

During 2010, he led all of North America in sulky visits to Victory Lane, checking home first 747 times.

This season, George is second in the Pocono standings and third at Philadelphia, behind only some very impressive names — Jim Morrill, Jr. in the mountains, and Tim Tetrick and Yannick Gingras by the Delaware River.

Napolitano lost no time starting towards 6,000, and at Nap-atypical prices, also reigning home The Real Dion ($25.40) and Hacienda ($19.60) while at Philadelphia. At Pocono Sunday night he added two more, putting his career mark after Sunday’s racing at 5,004.