Driver Anthony Napolitano “rolled a seven” at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Saturday afternoon (July 22), winning the feature, one of the two co-featured events, and the race generating the longest priced winner of the day.
The 41-year-old Napolitano kept the Always B Miki gelding Building Boost off the pace through early fractions of :27.3 and :55, had him rolling raw before the 1:23 three-quarters, and then held off the horse on his back, Boardwalk Bet, to win the $17,000 featured pace in 1:50.3, reducing his mark by a tick. Jake Huff trains the developing sidewheeler for Rosalia Huff and Beauty Bridle Racing Stable Inc.
In one of two $16,500 events for fast-class pacers, Pat Mcgarry A wouldn’t yield to favoured RIP Wheeler early, setting first-half numbers of :26.3 and :54, then drew clear to the 1:21 three-quarters and finished out his mile in 1:48.3, lowering his mark by a full second. The gelded son of Million Dollar Cam is trained by Jenn Bongiorno for owner Howard Taylor.
Jenn Bongiorno swept the co-features. Her Betting Line gelding Imaginary Line took the shortest way home from the rail. Driver Marcus Miller put up fractions of :27, :55 and 1:22.4, then kept his pacer going to withstand pocket-sitter Code Cracker by three-quarters of a length in 1:50 for owner Robert Weinstein.
“Anthony Nap” concluded the day’s racing by working out a nice second-over trip with Santafes Coach, closing strongly to win in 1:51.3 and return $45.20 to win as the longest shot in the finale.
Sunday’s 6 p.m. (EDT) card at The Downs will feature two $40,000 divisions of a Pennsylvania All-Stars pace for two-year-old fillies as the baby distaffs look to build on their early resumes.
(PHHA / Pocono)