WILKES-BARRE PA -- Gilbert Garcia-Herrera won his first training title at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in 2021, and was honored in ceremonies before Saturday's final card of the local season. Also honored was evergreen leading driver George Napolitano Jr., as has become local custom.
Napolitano won his 300th race of the Pocono season on the final day, giving him his 15th local dashwinning title, and tenth in a row. He finished the season with a .352 UDR, giving him his 13th crown in that category, including the last eight. He also was the winningest trainer five times here.
Garcia-Herrera harnessed 91 winners during the campaign in taking his initial Pocono title. He has trained 3610 winners in his career, and currently sits as the ninth-winningest trainer for all of North America in 2021.
The American Harness Drivers Club visited Pocono on closing day, and amateur driver Anthony Verruso guided the Uncle Peter gelding Slated To Win to a wire-to-wire victory in 1:58, defeating Zooming by a head to give Verruso his fifth local victory in the AHDC. Symon Spicer trains the winning horse for owner George Beck.
The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono will be annoucing its 2022 schedule in short order.