George Napolitano Jr., solidifying his lead atop the drivers standings at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, took both $25,000 features this Saturday night, with pacer Bandolito and trotter Frau Blucher justifying their odds-on status by scoring over a track re-rated to 'sloppy' after mid-card rains.

Bandolito was moved to the front by 'George Nap' after the :26.4 opener in his contest, put up a midway split of :54.1, and saw first-over Scott Rocks coming to him towards the 1:21.1 three-quarters. In the stretch, Scott Rocks was gaining throughout, but Bandolito, a son of Ponder, was kept alive to win by a head in 1:49.2 in the off going. Trainer/owner Daryl Bier will be happy to receive the news as he probably did not watch the race live, since post time was at 3:20 a.m. in Sweden, where Bier is preparing Wind Of The North for Sunday’s Elitlopp.

Napolitano completed the chalk feature double by guiding the world champion Broadway Hall mare Frau Blucher to a 1:55 win in the off going. Frau Blucher let the field settle, was moved by Napolitano to the lead after the first turn, “stole” a :58 first half, and then powered home in :57 to tally easily for trainer Chris Oakes and the ownership combine of Susan Oakes and Hauser Brothers Racing Enterprises LLC.

Any potential the features had to produce a really fast mile was washed out by the mid-evening rain, but to show the speed potential the track had at card’s start: three of the first six races featured an opening quarter of less than :26 seconds, and one of :26 flat.

(PHHA / Pocono Downs)