The Roll With Joe sophomore gelding Scootnroll, unraced at two, is now nine for 10, and for the second consecutive week he took his revenge over the only horse to defeat him, Billy Lincoln N, by winning a $12,000 pacing contest on the Sunday (Oct. 18) card at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in a lifetime-best 1:50.2.
Scootnroll, leaving from the outside post in the field of seven, worked his way past Billy Lincoln N after a :27.1 quarter. That foe, favoured slightly over the winner, was content to ride behind to the half in :55.2 and to the three-quarters in 1:23.1, with the leader being joined by first-over Diamond Head at the latter call.
As they turned for home, driver Tyler Buter got a big burst from his promising three-year-old and finished the mile in :27.1 to edge one-and-a-half lengths clear of Sweet Truth, who barreled home between horses after riding third-in; that one in turn was a neck ahead of Diamond Head and another neck to the good of Billy Lincoln N, who did not have enough sprint in the Pocono Pike on this night. Scootnroll had the needed power, and the youngster is quickly making up for lost time for owners Rick and Geoffrey Howles and trainer John “Bo” Hallett.
Anthony Napolitano continued his strong form run by driving three winners on the Sunday card, giving him 32 in his last eight programs at The Downs. Anthony is second to his brother George Jr. in the drivers win standings. Tyler Buter and Matt Kakaley sit third and fourth respectively in the standings behind the Napolitanos, each recorded a driving double – as did McGwire Sowers, a native Maritimer and a “foal” of February 2000 who had never hit the board at Pocono in limited racing here before bringing in two winners and missing a third by a nose.
(PHHA/Pocono)