The Roll With Joe gelding Benjis Best, who snapped Atta Boy Dan’s five-race winning streak in the top claiming handicap pace at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono last Saturday, handled the jump to the $21,500 conditioned company this Saturday (Aug. 10), winning in 1:50.4 despite a first-over trip.
Anthony Napolitano, who had four wins on the night as did his brother George, was fifth as Another Daily Copy took the field to the quarter in :27. He then yielded to Soho Wallstreet A, who fronted the group to the half in :54.4. Benjis Best moved first over and gained steadily toward three-quarters in 1:23.3, then continued his relentless grind. He made the lead in the stretch, then held off the Pocono-Pike charge of Another Daily Copy by a head, with Soho Wallstreet A staying on for third.
It was the fourth-straight victory for Benjis Best, who was claimed for $25,000 on July 27 by the partnership of Ameer Najor and trainer Dan Maier. He was passed up when offered for $30,000 last week, and now has earned $20,750 in his two starts for Team Najor-Maier and $150,769 lifetime.
Atta Boy Dan bounced right back from having his winning streak snapped, winning in the $20,000 claiming handicap pacing event in 1:49.4. Despite being outside past the three-eighths when making the lead from post 6 for Anthony Napolitano, Atta Boy Dan had enough left late to withstand inside-shooting longshot Lucbobski, with Pembroke Wildcat third behind the ten-year-old Western Terror gelding.
Atta Boy Dan now has 12 victories in 23 starts this season with earnings of $132,815 in 2019. His lifetime stats show 64 wins and a bankroll of $876,417. He won on Saturday for owner-trainer Antonia Storer, but he was claimed from his ninth-straight start (three of them for Storer), for the tenth time this meet for the local record $40,000, and for the twelfth time since he came in from The Meadows in May. His next start will be for Clifford Grundy, his third stint for that ownership.
(PHHA/Pocono)