Prayer I Am mare Mighty Surf reigned victorious in the $11,200 claiming trotting feature at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 13).
Mighty Surf utilized a strong uncovered move down the backstretch, went to the lead at the three quarters pole, and eventually recorded an easy 1:56.2 victory.
The favoured winner came home in :28.4 over a 'good' track on a day with the temperature in the mid-50s. Mighty Surf is now two for four since being claimed by trainer Jake Huff and the Beauty Bridle Racing Stable Inc. Pocono’s 'Trot Man,' diagonally-gaited sulky specialist Mike Simons, drove the winner.
Well-respected trainer Jenny Melander scored her first career driving win with the Lionhunter sophomore gelding Hunting AS in a $10,400 contest, rallying from far back to nose out S Class in 1:58. Melander, who has trained the winners of over $5 million, had achieved victories in Racing Under Saddle competition, but this is her first winner to sulky in infrequent career outings. Melander Racing Inc. co-owns the winner with Robert Bernaski.
The Napolitano brothers, George Jr. (the track’s leading driver) and Anthony, accounted for half of the fourteen winners on the Tuesday card: George finished first four times and Anthony three. The triple gave Anthony 13 winners for the second consecutive three-card Pocono racing week. And on a day where eight of 14 favourites were successful, both brothers brought home two of the non-chalk, with winners for George including $7.20 and $37.60 successes, and Anthony piloting horses who paid $12.20 and $35.80.
(PHHA / Pocono)