Drivers Simon Allard and Anthony Napolitano had the hot hands at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 11), with Simon bringing in five winners and Anthony just behind him with four. Surprisingly, the crowd did not catch on to the successful drivers, as each only numbered one favourite among their victories.
Simon Allard finished just ahead of Anthony Napolitano three times and his brother George once, with Anthony was first in races where George was second three times and another where Simon was second. George did get a winner in the last race on the card and as usual has far and away the highest seasonal total at The Downs.
The $17,200 featured trot was won by the Ake Svanstedt-trained Muscle Hill gelding Muscle M Up, driven by Anthony. Muscle M Up went first over and still won by two lengths over Scirocco Rob (Allard) in 1:52.2 for Knutsson Trotting Inc.
There was a pair of $14,000 co-features, with Simon Allard guiding the American Ideal Casual Cool gelding to victory in 1:50.1 despite also having to take the grinding uncovered route. Joesstar Of Mia A (Napolitano) was a half length behind the Daniel Renaud trainee, who raised his earnings to $330,009 for the Dune Road Stables LLC.
In the trotting co-headliner, area newcomer Justin Huckabone continued to impress with the Winning Mister gelding Winning Legends, who ran his eastern Pennsylvania record for his trainer-driver and owner Jonathan Applebaum to 6-3-2-0 since coming to the area two months ago. Winning Legends won by a neck in a career best 1:53.2 over Broadway Athena (Napolitano), who charged home from last to come up just shy.
Finally, Larry Stalbaum celebrated his first return to Pocono since July 19 and only his second card here since March 9 with a pair of sulky successes. The double included the fastest mile of the day, with Stalbaum and the Somebeachsomewhere gelding Closing Statement blasting down the road under duress in :25.4, :53.4 and 1:20.4, yet still making a decisive closing statement in winning by six-and-a-quarter lengths in a lifetime best 1:49.3 for trainer Randy Bendis, co-owner with Pollack Racing LLC.
(PHHA/Pocono)