WILKES-BARRE PA – Royal Emeralds moved to the lead early and went on strongly to lower her mark to 1:55.1 to take the $15,000 trotting feature at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Monday afternoon.
Mischievous G was first on top, getting to the quarter in :28.4, and then driver Jim Pantaleano pulled the pocket with Royal Emeralds and sent her to the lead before the :58.1 half. The winning Greenshoe sophomore filly picked up the pace down the backstretch to hit the three-quarters in 1:25.4, and she maintained a 1 1/4 length lead to the wire over Mischievous G for trainer Megan Scran and owners Jeffrey Northcott and Richard Macpherson.
Anthony Napolitano drove four winners at Pocono Monday to move into outright third in the drivers standings. Of the pair above him, Matt Kakaley had three wins and George Napolitano Jr. two, putting their prolonged battle at Kakaley 178, George Napolitano 174.
The racing week concludes on Tuesday with a 1 p.m. card; up-and-coming pacers will be matched in the $17,000 featured contest. There will also be a carryover in the Pick 5 wager starting in race five. Free Pocono programs are or will be available at www.phha.org.