by John Zimich, publicity director, Pocono Downs

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Trappers Salute A, the 2003 Trotter of the Year at The Downs at Pocono (Home of Pocono Downs harness racing), established a new track mark for an older trotting gelding on Tuesday night (July 20) in winning in 1:54².

Assigned the five hole in the six horse field, George Napolitano, Jr. took Trappers Salute A right to the front and stayed there the entire race. Fractions were :27¹, :57¹ and 1:26¹.

Jake’s Nordic (Timothy Curtin), a winner of 10 of 19 races this year, left from the six post in the open handicap trot and got the two hole trip behind Trappers Salute A. However, Curtin could only get a second behind the new track record holder.

Norwell Shadow, with Claude Huckabone III in the bike, had held the record of 1:54⁴. That mark was set August 31, 1997.

This was the fifth win in 15 starts for Trappers Salute A, trained by Napolitano, Jr., and owned by John A. Campagnuolo of Loxahatchee, Florida.

Trappers Salute A also equaled his 1:54² lifetime mark established at Pompano Park in 2003.