by Jim Beviglia, Publicity Assistant, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs

As the most successful driver and trainer at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs since the beginning of the millennium, George Napolitano, Jr. has seen his share of big days.

Monday afternoon’s performance should rank among his very best, both in terms of quality and quantity of victories. He drove six winners, picking up a stakes championship and a track record in the process.

The track record came in the sixth race Open trot, as Napolitano drove Woody Woodrow to a win in 1:53.1. That mark matched the fastest trot ever at Pocono, which was established a year ago by Armbro Barrister, and the fastest trot ever on a 5/8 oval in North America. In addition, Woody Woodrow, a 6-year-old gelding, broke the track record for aged trotting geldings, set by Napolitano and Trappers Salute A in 2004.

Napolitano gunned Woody Woodrow to the engine but allowed the favorite Sand Prince to gain the lead at the half. That left a pocket trip for the Freehold shipper, who is trained by Alan Sacco and owned by Anthony Puma of Colts Neck, NJ, and Napolitano was able to urge him forward again in the stretch for the record-setting mark. Self Professed rallied for second with Sand Prince third.

Ironically, the time fell short of Woody Woodrow’s previous lifetime best of 1:52.3, which was set at Hawthorne, a one mile oval in Illinois, in 2005. It was his 26th career win, and the winner’s share of the $20,000 purse pushed his career earnings close to $200,000 lifetime.

Napolitano was just getting warmed up though, as he then guided He’s Mine Stratto to an easy win in the final of the Spring Training Trot late closer series in race nine, which carried a purse of $26,600.

He’s Mine Stratto, a 1-2 betting favorite, controlled the pace nicely and had plenty left in the lane to leave behind his nearest competition, Astro Hall in second and Kick Asphalt in third, for a win in 1:57.1. Napolitano drove the gelding for trainer Bill Mullin and owner Thomas Oliver of Belle Vernon, Pa.

It was the third straight win and the 8th in 11 races this year for the 6-year-old gelding, who now owns 20 lifetime wins in just 48 races.

For good measure, Napolitano won another Open trot, aboard Bacon Hill Scott, in race ten.