The perennial “king” of the driving colony at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, George Napolitano Jr., is serving early notice that he will be tough to dethrone in 2021, posting his second-straight card of posting six victories on Sunday (March 14).
The double sextet now gives George a 38-31 advantage over his brother Anthony, and quick math shows the pair has won 41 percent of all races held at the mountain track during the first 12 days of the meet.
Two from George’s six-bagger came for trainer Gilbert Garcia-Herrera, who now has nine visits to the Pocono winner s circle this year one more than Jennifer Bongiorno and Dan Maier. The pair’s most impressive hookup of the night was with the Art Major mare Crazy Cute, who had 80 days since her last race, but still managed to set the pace and come home a final half in :55.2 to win in 1:53.4. The win for the partnership of Garcia-Herrera and Barbara Arnstine was the fastest clocking of the card.
Bongiornos Bag Three, Napolitano Six | Standardbred Canada
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Game Of Claims Continues At Pocono | Standardbred Canada
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The 2021 harness racing season got underway on Saturday afternoon at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, and while the temperature hovered just above 20°F, the action was hot on the racetrack, at the claiming box, and if your horse was driven by Matt Kakaley.
Featured during the curtain-raiser were the first preliminary legs of the Game Of Claims Pacing Series for two divisions: horses with a $25,000 base tag and horses based at $15,000. The claiming prices rise a little in the next two preliminaries which may be part explanation for the incredible total of 41 claims during the card. All told, $825,000 worth of horseflesh went home to a new barn after the races as hopefully the right horse for their purchasers to chase after their $50,000 and $30,000 Championships respectively on March 6.