The all-time winningest driver at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, George Napolitano Jr., reclaimed the seasonal lead in the driving dash derby with six winners on the Tuesday, April 8 program at the mountain oval, include three amidst the eight $21,429 divisions of the first preliminary of the Game Of Claiming Trotting Series for horses base-tagged at $20,000 USD.

Two of Napolitano’s win came in successive races in 1:55.4, both with horses he had already guided to victory in the young meet: with Altus Hanover (pictured above) for trainer Peter Pellegrino and Room4040 LLC Stables, and with Vegas Ticket, who had been claimed in his previous start and returned immediate dividends for trainer Brandon Presto and owner Rocco Stebbins.

Napolitano's other Game Of Claims win came in the only series race decided by a photo finish: newcomer Erin caught pacesetting Macmorris Hanover by a head in 1:56.3 for the meet’s leading trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi, FAC Racing and Yannick Gingras. The 1-2 finishers were both claimed out of the race; 11 Game Of Claims horses were haltered in all for $229,000 USD, and on the entire card 14 horses, a 2025 high, changed hands for $271,500 USD, just below March 1’s total of $275,000 USD.

The only winner to go faster than the double 1:55.4 clockings mentioned above was In My Dreams, who has found his form in two straight first-over wins, this one in 1:55.3 for driver Anthony Napolitano (himself a tripler on the card), trainer Lou Pena and P T Stables. In My Dreams, at 9-1, was one of only two Game Of Claims horses who paid better than 5-2 in the generally-formful competition; the other was 10-1 shot Papa Doc, roaring home from the clouds to win his seasonal bow in 1:57.1 for driver Simon Allard, trainer Mark Ford and owners George and Rose Bonomo.

Besides Erin, two other first leg winners were purchased from their race. One was Golden Compass, who went down the road in 1:56.1 for driver Mark Herschberger, trainer Travis Alexander and the partnership of Joe P Racing and Oldford Racing. The other was Brave By Design, succeeding in 1:57.1 for driver Braxten Boyd, trainer Jill Wine and Wine Stable, and having the distinction of changing barns both before and after the race.

Three-time Pocono defending driving champion Matt Kakaley rallied Keystone Apache to the other series win of the day, winning nicely off cover in 1:56.4 for trainer Frank Calcagni and RBH Ventures Inc.

Racing resumes at The Downs on Saturday, April 12 at 1 p.m., highlighted by Bobby Weiss Series action for three-year-old pacers of both sexes racing for $20,000 USD a contest: three divisions of both the Weiss third preliminary round for male horses and the second prelim for females.

(With files from PHHA / Pocono Downs)