Wilkes-Barre, PA — Frazzleberry got his own way on the lead past the half in the $13,000 featured pace at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on a hot Tuesday afternoon (July 19), but still had to work hard late to keep Fulsome a nose at bay in 1:54.2.

George Napolitano Jr. moved the son of Art Major to the lead early and got a :30 breather in the second quarter, but then faced a challenge from first-over Fulsome most of the way home. Others joined in the dash to the wire, but the camera showed Frazzleberry a winner by the smallest of margins over his grinding foe, with Ripplesonthebeach third, just a neck from taking it all.

Frazzleberry has now captured two of his last three starts, with a second in between, for trainer José Godinez and the partnership of Joseph Betro, Ian Behar and Kristie Leigh Farm Inc.

Frazzleberry (#3, blue cheek pieces) held off a host of late chargers to win the Tuesday feature at Pocono. Curtis Salonick photo.

In the first of two $12,500 trotting co-features, Top Me Off, a son of Bar Hopping who was the winningest 3-year-old male trotter in North America last year with 15 victories, posted a 1:54.4 repeat win, moving in front of the stands to take control and going on to win for driver Matt Kakaley and trainer-owner Arlene Cameron, who combined for a pair of wins on the card.

The other top trot went even more quickly, as driver Napolitano teamed up with Can’t Say No in a lifetime best 1:54. The son of Explosive Matter never relinquished control from the pole and left his opponents far behind in winning for the second straight time for trainer Tee Wine and Jemaxpo Racing Stable LLC.

Napolitano, perennially the track’s leading driver, had five wins on the day. Uncustomarily, though, he is looking up for second this season at leader Kakaley, who added three wins on Tuesday.

On Saturday’s (July 23) 1:30 p.m. card, there will be a $25,000 pace featuring such stalwarts as Catch The Fire, J M Mandamin and Southwind Ozzi; the last race will have a $6,258.52 Hi-5 carryover. A similar $25,000 event for distaff pacers appears on Sunday’s (July 24) 5 p.m. program, along with three $30,000 Pennsylvania All-Stars divisions for 2-year-old pacing fillies. Program pages will be available on the PHHA website.