WILKES-BARRE, PA – The in-form duo of pacer Ideal Kiss and driver George Napolitano Jr. combined to take the $20,000 claiming handicap pacing feature on Saturday night at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
"G Nap" sent the altered son of American Ideal to the top well before the 27 quarter, then got a big breather while reaching the half in 56.3. From there the sprint was on, and nobody had enough sprint to catch Ideal Kiss – he went the third quarter in 27.1, and then followed up with a 27.2 kicker to complete the 1:51.1 mile two lengths ahead of Skyful Of Lighters.
Ideal Kiss has now won three of his last four while rising from a price tag of $15,000 to $30,000. The latter price is what trainer Hunter Oakes claimed him for out of his last start, and the career winner of $145,630 has already earned back a third of his purchase price for the Northfork Racing Stable. As for meet-leading driver George Napolitano, the victory was the sixth of the night, and he would end the evening with seven trips to Victory Lane, after winning four at Harrah's Philly yesterday afternoon.
In the $17,500 co-featured pace, George's brother Anthony Napolitano was victorious with the Rock N Roll Heaven gelding Rodeo Rock in 1:50.3. "A Nap" brushed with the winner of $296,720 in front of the stands and stepped to the lead, and Rodeo Rock has enough to withstand Soho Wallstreet A by a length for his second straight triumph. Robert Cleary conditions the winner for Royal Wire Products Inc.
The final preliminary in the popular summerlong Great Northeast Open Series will be held at Pocono on Sunday night, with open trotters going after a $30,000 purse. The two early favorites are double world champion Homicide Hunter and Smalltownthrowdown, who posted a 1:51.1 victory the last time the two collided. Pocono will host $100,000 Championships at 1¼ miles for all the Great Northeast Open Series classes on Sunday, September 2, on a $1.5M card that will also feature the Championships of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for three-year-olds.
From the PHHA/Pocono Downs