from the PHHA/Pocono

Wilkes-Barre, PA — George Napolitano Jr., Matt Kakaley, and Anthony Napolitano — first, second, and fourth in the driver standings at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono — each took two of the first six races Tuesday (May 16) at the northeast Pennsylvania oval.

Not a favorite was among them; in fact, the average win price was $29.03. The Napolitano brothers each took half of the Early Double which paid $455.00.

The chief perpetrator of this mutuel mayhem was Anthony Napolitano as both of his two winners paid more individually than Matt’s and George’s combined quartet.

“ANap” started things off with a $54.40 winner in Maracana, holding off the late charge of 45-1 shot Doyoufeelluckypunk to top the $684.60 first race exacta. He then came back in race five with pocket rocket Threedee Delight A at $67.20, with 10-1 proposition Whiskersonkittens the underside of the $625.80 exacta.

And things didn’t calm down in the feature race either, as George Napolitano Jr. (five winners on the card) rallied the longest shot on the board, the Shark Gesture mare Melanies Sharkette, out of the pocket, coming home in :55.2–:27.2 to earn a new speed badge of 1:51.2 in taking the $16,500 distaff pace headliner.

Claimed by Gilbert Garcia-Owen three starts ago and trained by his father, Gilbert Garcia-Herrera, Melanies Sharkette was the fourth winner of the night for “George Nap” and the longest-priced at $27.20.