Youre Next moved up from the claiming ranks into the $24,000 Open Handicap Trot on Tuesday night at Pocono Downs, but that didn’t stop him from getting the job done
in upset fashion.
Starting from post position four in the field of eight, Youre Next was sent for the early lead by driver George Napolitano, Jr. He then allowed favourite Scorpion Moon to go on by just prior to the quarter pole, and was content to sit in the pocket behind a solid pace.
Napolitano, Jr. took the eight-year-old son of Yankee Paco into the passing lane in the stretch and prevailed by a half-length in 1:55:1. Grain Of Truth rallied from the back of the pack for second while Scorpion Moon faded to third.
Sent off as a 13-1 outsider, Youre Next won for the sixth time this year for trainer Chris Carrubba. The gelding, who started the meet in a $15,000 claiming class, is now five for seven at Pocono Downs. The win was the 30th of his career, and the lion’s share of the purse bumped his lifetime earnings past $207,000.
(Pocono Downs)