from the PHHA/Pocono

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Last week, driver George Napolitano Jr., trainer Hunter Oakes, and the Northfork Racing Stable ownership raced their Strawb’s Chippie N, just acquired in a claim, in a claiming handicap pace for mares, worth $14,000, at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, won with her — and lost her to a claim.

Last week, Northfork had a backup plan — they claimed Warrawee Qually, second to Strawb’s Chippie N. They entered Warrawee Qually right back in that same claiming event on Monday (May 7), won with her by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:52.4, just a tick off her lifetime best — and promptly lost her to a claim out of the race.

But that’s two $7,000 purse checks in two weeks, minus a week of training fees for each, so all concerned have done very well in this class recently.

Next week, the Northfork connections will likely give the class “a rest,” as they claimed no one from Monday’s event — although there are private purchases and barn changes.

For the second straight night at The Downs, a longshot winner opened the proceedings, as there was joy in Mudville when Casey Hanover wired his field and paid $51.80. Casey Hanover’s driver was Anthony Napolitano, currently the leading dashwinner at the track; his trainer, Steve Salerno, in one year captured both the local driving and training dash titles and the UDR crown — way back in 1981. Steve added training titles in 1982 and 2000.

Of the 15 longshots to pay $50-plus at Pocono in 2018, four have come in the first race (and two more in the second half of the Daily Double).