Vlos, with a tough second over trip, won another $24,000 Open Handicap Pace at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs Saturday night
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Leaving from the seven post in the seven-horse field, Tony Morgan was second over with Vlos going down the backstretch with Presidential Order (George Napolitano Jr.) on the front end.
Presidential Order got to the opening panel in :26-seconds before relinquishing the lead to Golden Receiver (Joe Pavia Jr.) briefly. In the retake, it was Presidential Order back into the lead with the half clicked off in a brisk :54.2 with Vlos still a couple of lengths off.
It was still Presidential Order on top at the three-quarter pole with the timer reading 1:22 and Vlos lurking a couple of lengths back. Morgan and Vlos came flying down the stretch to win by three-quarters of a length over Presidential Order with Golden Receiver only a length back with the final time of 1:50.1 in a driving finish.
Vlos has now won five of his seven starts in Open and Open Handicap races at the Northeastern Pennsylvania racetrack with a second and one third in eight starts. Eric Mollor trains Vlos, whose last effort here on October 8 equaled the all-time track mark of 1:48.2.
Rusty Tank, trained by Jake Huff and driven by Napolitano Jr., won the Open II Pace with a time of 1:51.3. Napolitano gave Rusty Tank a two-hole trip from the one post and won by three-quarters of a length over Drive All Night (Anthony Napolitano).
Fashion Heart, a three-year-old Western Hanover colt trained by Jim Campbell and piloted by Anthony Napolitano, won the sixth race with a 1:49.3 mile. The race was for non-winners of $11,350 in last five starts race or 12 extended pari-mutuel races lifetime. Napolitano sat third for more than three-quarters of the mile before taking to the inside lane to win by two and one-half lengths over Eagle Jolt (Joe Pavia Jr.).
(Pocono Downs)