WILKES-BARRE PA — George Napolitano Jr. recorded his sixth victory of Saturday night at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, and harness racing trainer Chris Oakes his fourth, when they teamed with the Rocknroll Hanover gelding Scott Rocks to take the $18,000 tenth race pacing feature in sloppy going.
Napolitano and Scott Rocks passed every pole on the lead, coming home in 54.2 – 27 despite the muck to prove 2¾ lengths better than Phil Your Boots (Anthony Napolitano, the fourth time in the first ten events he had finished second behind his brother), with Bushwacker another 1¼ lengths back in third. Scott Rocks now has earnings of $100,104 for 2016, and $437,209 lifetime; Susan Oakes shares ownership of the 30% lifetime winner (27 for 90) with Chuck Pompey.
With the effect the weather had on the track surface still unknown, the $15,500 first race co-feature quickly gave a hint: after Achilles Blue Chip finally cleared Hall Bro after a 25.1 quarter, the brothers Napolitano were both quarter-moving, with Anthony first guiding Casimir Jitterbug to command and then brother George storming by with Dancin Yankee as they entered turn two before the 52.4 half (shades of the Adios, held 2 1/2 hours earlier 294 miles southwest of Pocono at the Meadows). Dancin Yankee (11-10*) rolled right on to a 1:20.3 3/4s before staying clear to the wire in 1:49.1 over the 6-5 "Jitterbug." Dancin Yankee, a career winner of $1,438,436 and the 2014 Pennsylvania Overnight Harness Horse of the Year after dominating the Invitational scene, still has plenty of life in his eight-year-old legs for trainer Josh Green and the partnership of Richard Lombardo and L&J Racing LLC.
PHHA / Pocono