George Napolitano Jr. recorded his sixth of seven victories on Saturday night (July 30) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, and trainer Chris Oakes his fourth, when they teamed with the Rocknroll Hanover gelding Scott Rocks to take the $18,000 10th race pacing feature in sloppy going.
Napolitano and Scott Rocks passed every pole on the lead, coming home in :54.2 – :27 despite the muck to prove two and three-quarter lengths better than Phil Your Boots (Anthony Napolitano, the fourth time in the first 10 events he had finished second behind his brother), with Bushwacker another one and a quarter lengths back in third. Scott Rocks now has earnings of $100,104 for 2016 and $438,571 lifetime. Susan Oakes shares ownership of the 30 percent lifetime winner (27-for-90) with Chuck Pompey.
With the effect the weather had on the track surface still unknown, the $15,500 first race co-feature quickly gave a hint: after Achilles Blue Chip finally cleared Hall Bro after a :25.1 quarter, the brothers Napolitano were both quarter-moving, with Anthony first guiding Casimir Jitterbug to command and then brother George storming by with Dancin Yankee as they entered turn two before the :52.4 half (shades of the Adios, held two and a half hours earlier, 294 miles southwest of Pocono at The Meadows). Dancin Yankee (11-10*) rolled right on to a 1:20.3 three-quarters before staying clear to the wire in 1:49.1 over the 6-5 “Jitterbug.” Dancin Yankee, a career winner of $1,438,436 and the 2014 Pennsylvania Overnight Harness Horse of the Year after dominating the Invitational scene, still has plenty of life in his eight-year-old legs for trainer Josh Green and the partnership of Richard Lombardo and L&J Racing LLC.
(PHHA / Pocono)