In the span of less than 15 minutes, Anthony Napolitano vaulted to the top of the heap on the second night of the Isle of Capri Drivers' Championship
at Pompano Park on Tuesday evening.
The 29-year-old reinsman was sitting in fourth place in the standings heading into the Tuesday evening action. That all changed after he won consecutive races with claiming trotter Mr Taurus for owner/trainer Mario Dessureault and with claiming pacer Remington Style, trained by Allan Johnson. Napolitano sat a pocket trip to put the first win of 2011 into the summary of Remington Style for owners Sara and Phil Seckler of Royal Palm Beach, FL.
Also moving into contention for Wednesday evening's big money concluding round was Ricky Macomber. He executed a thrilling off the pace win with claiming pacer Up Front Rudy for owner and fellow horseman Chuck Connor, Jr.
"Ricky did a great job with this horse and it certainly didn't hurt that he used to own him," said Connor. "A lot of times in these drivers' competitions guys get a little too eager and Ricky sat behind all the battling and speed so smartly. I was standing at the paddock when he went four wide at the top of the stretch when sitting sixth and somehow he picked them all off. I'm in the camp that says Ricky is Pompano's most underrated driver. He'll need some things to go his way on Wednesday night and I wouldn't be surprised if he won the whole thing."
Going into the final four races of the Championship on the Wednesday, March 16 program, here are the standings:
1. Anthony Napolitano - 33 pts
2. George Napolitano, Jr. - 27 pts
3. Wally Hennessey - 24 pts
4. Ricky Macomber - 23 pts
5. Joe Pavia, Jr. - 17 pts
6. Mike Micallef - 13 pts
7. Dan Clements, 11 pts
8. David Ingraham - 8 pts
9. Bruce Ranger – 0 pts
The points award breakdown is 10 for a win, 7 for second, 5 for third, 3 for fourth, and 1 for fifth. From the $17,500 prize money up for grabs, an $8,000 winner's cheque will be awarded after the competition ends on Wednesday evening. The final four races of the Championship commence with the 5th race on Wednesday evening, and that's the start of the Pick-4 wager with a $5,000 guaranteed pool. Post time is 7:05 p.m.
(Pompano Park)