Wilkes Barre, PA – The Roll With Joe gelding Benji’s Best, who snapped Atta Boy Dan’s five-race winning streak in the top claiming handicap pace at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono last Saturday (Aug. 3), handled the jump to the $21,500 conditioned company this Saturday (Aug. 10), winning despite a first-over trip in 1:50.4.
Anthony Napolitano, who had four wins on the night as did his brother George, was fifth as Another Daily Copy took the field to the quarter in :27, then yielded to Soho Wallstreet A, who fronted the group to the half in :54.4. Benji’s Best moved first-over and gained steadily to a 1:23.3 three-quarters, then continued his relentless grind, made the lead in the stretch, then held off the Pocono Pike charge of Another Daily Copy by a head, with Soho Wallstreet A staying on for third.
It was the fourth straight victory for Benji’s Best, who was claimed for $25,000 on July 27 by the partnership of Ameer Najor and trainer Dan Maier and now has earned $20,750 in his two starts for them and $150,769 lifetime.
Atta Boy Dan bounced right back from having his winning streak snapped, winning in the $20,000 claiming handicap pacing event in 1:49.4. Despite being outside past the three-eighths mark in making the lead from the outside post six for Anthony Napolitano, Atta Boy Dan had enough left late to withstand inside-shooting longshot Lucbobski, with Pembroke Wildcat third behind the winning 10-year-old Western Terror gelding.
Atta Boy Dan now has 12 victories in 23 seasonal starts, with earnings of $132,815 in 2019; his lifetime stats show 64 career triumphs and a bankroll of $876,417. He won on Saturday for owner/trainer Antonia Storer, but he was claimed from his ninth straight start (three of them for Storer).