Napolitano, Auciello Win At Pocono
George Napolitano Jr., the leading driver at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, combined with Carmen Auciello, the leading trainer at Woodbine Mohawk Park who also campaigns a string at Pocono, to take the $17,500 distaff pacing feature with Kays Delight in a lifetime best 1:52.2 on Tuesday, Oct. 23 at Pocono.
Gigi From Fiji went down the road with fractions of :27.1, :56, and 1:24.2 while favourite Lady Shadow sat in the pocket. Napolitano Jr. had to come first over with the daughter of Bettors Delight and surged by to a three-quarter lengths victory over Lady Shadow with second-over Attention Hanover third ahead of Gigi From Fiji.
Kays Delight has now been first or second in her last four starts for owner Bob Burgess and she has lifetime earnings of $137,122.
George Napolitano Jr. continued his recent hot streak with three Tuesday winners but Matt Kakaley was the biggest winner on the night, visiting the winner's circle five times, including three times with Ron Burke trainees – which paid $9.60, $30.60, and $18.20.
Driver Mike Simons had 3,999 victories career when last seen in Pennsylvania this past Thursday; he split his stable between Pocono and reopened Pompano Park, where he got career victory No. 4,000 on Sunday and three more during a hot Sunday-Monday.
Returning to cooler climes at Pocono on Tuesday, Simons, known as “The Trot Man”, posted win No. 4,004 with the developing Ddream, who won in 1:56 for trainer Neal Ehrhart for the trotter’s sixth win in her last seven starts, and in the last race got No. 4,005 with another Ehrhart trotter, Jackies Jim.
(With files from the PHHA)