The Rock N Roll Heaven gelding Anythingforlove A, in his second start back since competing in the Levy Final, had anything but an easy trip, but still posted a 1:50.2 victory at 11-1 in the $17,500 pacing feature Saturday night at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
Pat Berry got the winner of $327,308 away well and right to the lead, but after the :27 quarter he was passed in turn by second choice Sweet Rock and the 2-5 favourite, Funknwaffles, who guided the field past middle fractions of :55.1 and 1:22.1. Past the latter split Anythingforlove A vacated the third spot to begin his late challenge, and his determination carried him to a neck victory over Pocono Pike rallier Sweet Rock, with the favoured Funknwaffles fading to fifth and losing a three-race winning streak.
Anythingforlove A is trained by Jennifer Bongiorno for the Wish Me Luck Stables LLC.
In a $16,000 claiming handicap pace, the Roll With Joe gelding Benjis Best enjoyed both a drop in company and a hotly-contested pace, as he was the eighth and final leader in a race which went in 1:50.2. Anthony Napolitano rolled the winner of $168,569 three-wide from third-over before the three-quarter pole, and the pair scooted past those horses who had been used in the early duel, winning by 2-3/4 lengths over Toddler Tantrum for trainer Dan Maier and owner Antonia Storer.
The meet’s leading driver, George Napolitano, Jr., scored four wins on the Saturday card, with Pat Berry and Eric Carlson each coming home first three times. Among the trio, they won the last ten races on the twelve-race card.
(PHHA / Pocono)