WILKES-BARRE PA -- The redoubtable ten-year-old Atta Boy Dan won for the fifth straight time, and tenth in his last eleven starts, leading at every pole to take the featured $20,000 claiming handicap pace at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Saturday night. He was also claimed for the 13th straight start for $40,000, tying a local standard first set by R Gauwitz Hanover in 2015.
George Napolitano Jr. got the winning Western Terror gelding to the front late on the first turn and posted fractions of :26.1, :54.2, and 1:22, crossing the wire in 1:50.1, 1¼ lengths ahead of pocketsitting Rock The Town, for his connections for this start, trainer Brandon Presto and the ownership of Spring Valley Ranch and Michelle Linnert.
In the $17,500 top conditioned pace, Rebellious was limbed past a 26.3 quarter, but he had sway the rest of the way to win in 1:50, his second straight victory. After making the lead around Turbo Hill, driver Anthony Napolitano gave his horse a breather to a :55.4, and he was ready when brother George and favored Dealt A Winner came up head-to-head with him during a :26.3 backside, keeping the chalk out past the 1:22.2 three-quarters and into the lane. When that rival backed off, Turbo Hill loomed inside from the pocket, but Rebellious kept a ¾ of a length advantage over him at the wire in winning for trainer Michael Deters, co-owner with Joel Warner.
George Napolitano Jr., the track’s leading driver, had five victories on the Saturday card.