When Napolitano, the track’s all-time leading driver, has a horse with an inside post, especially the rail, he’ll hustle her away to get prime racing position; if he gets the lead around the quarter or earlier, he’ll back off the second quarter; and if he backs off the second quarter, he’ll sprint with his horse down the backstretch, trying to get away from the opposition.
Skippin By drew the rail, was urged away from the start by Napolitano, got everybody to tuck in behind her well before the :27 quarter, went :28.2 to the half in :55.2, then sent his mare on a :26.3 sprint down the back, opening some distance by the 1:22 three-quarter pole. Napolitano and Skippin By had enough strength to hold off the first-over bid of Vorst by 1-1/4 lengths, with a :27.4 last quarter to get the 1:49.4 new speed badge. Nick Surick conditions the winner of $836,534 for the Cornerstone Stock Farm.
The Crazed gelding Gural Hanover inched closer to the $1 million plateau in lifetime winnings with a 1:53.2 triumph in the $17,500 featured trot on Sunday. Matt Kakaley patiently made his way to the lead in a race with fractions of :27, :56.2, and 1:24.4, then had plenty left nearing the wire to stay 1-1/4 lengths clear of Ostrich Blue Chip.
Ron Burke is the trainer of the winner of $979,002 for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Little E and The Panhellenic Stable Corporation.