A pair of $15,000 co-featured trots on the Tuesday, Oct. 8 card at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono were captured by horses that sat the pocket and dashed up the 'Pocono Pike' to victory.
The faster of the two winners was the Crazed gelding Krentler Hanover, who lowered his lifetime best to 1:55 for trainer Bruce Clarke and owner Anthony Cangialosi. Marcus Miller used the pylon post well to defend the pocket behind pacesetter Firen Woodshed, then caught that one by a head.
The Sierra Kosmos mare Bag O Chips, a former stalwart of the Massachusetts program, raced in the two-hole behind Pilgrims Lass, then had enough trot late to win by a neck over tough first-over challenger Allthefixins, with Pilgrims Lass another one-and-a-quarter lengths back in third in the 1:56 mile. Eric Carlson handled driving duties behind the winner of $212,820 for trainer Bucky Angle and owners Howard and Joshua Kaufman.
The World Of Rocknroll mare Clarebear was three wide well past a fast quarter in pursuit of the lead in the $14,000 co-featured pace for mares, but once on the front she held on to her advantage to the wire for a 1:52.1 victory. Eric Carlson kept the winner of $290,208 alive to the line to post a three-quarter lengths win over pocket-popper Truth And Liberty for trainer Michael Russo and the Cavalli Veloci (“fast horses” in Italian) Stable LLC.
George Napolitano Jr. had a driving double on Tuesday night, bringing his local four-card week’s tally to 17 and his career total to 9,992. George now heads down the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike for three days of competition at Harrah’s Philadelphia – whether he will be still be looking for the milestone 10,000th victory when he returns to Pocono on Saturday is up in the air as he had three winners last Sunday at Philly.
(PHHA/Pocono)