Atta Boy Dan, the 2019 Horse of the Year at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, added another chapter to his already-burnished historical record when he went over a million dollars (USD) in lifetime earnings with a Monday afternoon (July 20) victory at the mountain oval.
George Napolitano Jr., his companion in so many victories last season, got the 11-year-old Western Terror gelding into fourth early, then moved first-over against pacesetter Nine Ways. The pacesetter didn’t make it easy for the 'greybeard,' but Atta Boy Dan showed his class by going on to a one and one-quarter-length victory over his foe in 1:51.3 for owner Stephen Larkin and trainer Pete Pellegrino.
The victory boosted Atta Boy Dan's lifetime earnings to $1,002,084 (USD). He has now recorded 76 career victories from 214 trips to the gate.
Atta Boy Dan was the winningest U.S. harness horse in 2019 with 19 victories. He also set an unofficial record by being claimed out of 14 consecutive races, and 17 times in total at the Pocono meet last year, for a total of $670,000. Larkin and Pellegrino were the last of the claimants, and they have seen their horse win over $44,000 already this year despite the limited opportunities.
George Napolitano Jr. finished with five winners on the card, including two each for trainers Pete Pellegrino and Tom Cancelliere.
(PHHA / Pocono)
Atta Boy Dan's 19 wins last
Atta Boy Dan's 19 wins last year were second in North America only to Rustys Flying, who just notched the 100th win of her career last weekend.