Vlos, driven by George Napolitano Jr., overcame a broken head pole in winning his second straight $24,000 Open Handicap Pace at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs Saturday evening

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Assigned the nine post, Vlos was caught on the outside for the first three-eighths of a mile with the opening quarter clicked off in :26.3 with Golden Receiver (Joe Pavia Jr.) leading the way.

The race winner, trained by Eric Mollor, was the new leader just past the three-eighths pole followed by Golden Receiver, Deuce Seelster (Tom Jackson) and Onthewingsofnangel (Mark Gingrich). The half was registered in :54.3 and it was soon after that Vlos began getting pressure from Takeshigemichi (Kevin Sizer) going down the backstretch.

Vlos, a six-year-old Dragon Again stallion, and Takeshigemichi battled to the three-quarter pole with the former still leading the way with the three-quarters clicked off in 1:22.1.

Napolitano Jr. had a tough time steering Vlos coming down the stretch as Vlos was bearing in but got the job done over a fast-closing Drive All Night (Anthony Napolitano) by three-quarters of a length. Third went to Golden Receiver.

With his eighth win in 21 starts in 2010, Vlos went over the $100,000 mark in earnings for owner Nancy Spaziani of Washington TWP, New Jersey

(With files from Pocono Downs)