Preliminary action from the Game of Claims Series continued on Monday (March 9) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

Driver Anthony Napolitano, who won one of the two divisions of the first prelim of the Game of Claim Series for pacing mares on Sunday night at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, went himself one better by sweeping the two $15,000 divisions of the first prelim of the Game of Claims Series for $15,000-base trotters Monday.

Tactically “Anthony Nap” was well-diversified. In the first division, he sent Manwithamission, a gelded son of Manofmanymissions (a 2010 Breeders Crown winner here) to control the pace with two moves, then stepped home in 1:56.3 for trainer Steve Salerno and owner Jack Piatt III – who promptly lost the horse to a claim in the chess game that is the Game of Claims prelims.

For Manwithamission, it was his fifth winning effort in seven 2020 starts.

Steve Salerno had even better luck in the second Game of Claims divisions – the Uncle Peter gelding ELO Hanover, whom he co-owns with trainer Emily Bost, not only won in 1:57.2, but they did not lose him to a claim. Napolitano brought this one from far back off of cover, tipping wide and getting by a contentious bunch late.

The most impressive winner on the Pocono card was a maiden pacer making his second career start 236 days after making his first. But the Somebeachsomewhere-Allamerican Memoir sophomore colt Remember The Beach (a full brother to $900G+-winning world champion Beach Memories) certainly had the pedigree to improve from freshman to sophomore status, as indeed he did, winning in 1:52.4 for driver Josert Fonseca, trainer Nancy Takter, and owners 3 Brothers Stables, Christina Takter, Rojan Stables, and Caviart Farms.

Fonseca put rivals in behind in a hot :26 opener, yielded to favoured Devil Or Angel and sat on his back through middle splits of :54.4 and 1:23.2, then came out nearing head stretch and took right over, suggesting more success may be in his immediate future.

(PHHA/Pocono)