Ten for Napolitano

In the second race on Wednesday evening's card at Harrah's Chester, George Napolitano Jr. drove Sand Katie to victory.  In the next race, he won again. And again. And again. All told, the 43-year-old reinsman partnered an 10 horses to victory on the `4-race card, just one shy of the one-card record set by Roger Hammer (York, Pa. fair, 2003) and Dave Palone (Meadows, 2008). The 10 wins broke Napolitano’s own track record of eight for most wins on a single card.

“It was unbelievable; I never felt anything like it," commented an elated Napolitano after the evening's tour de force. "I felt like I was on clouds; it was crazy."

Napolitano reeled off six straight wins in the first half of the card, aboard Sand Katie ($5), St. Giannis ($6.60), Armbro Dane ($9), Bengali ($5.60), Cowboy Again ($16.80), and MacDeen Star ($2.80).

After a runner-up performance with BC's Jesse in the featured $40,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace behind Nights Kreeation and Yannick Gingras, who notched back-to-back wins in 1:51.1, Napolitano swept the last four races on the program. Wins with Wesley Snip ($3.80) and Ideal Nectarine ($5.20) brought him level with his former record of eight, and up next was a late addition to Napolitano's schedule--a substitute drive on Don't Tell Elma ($5.40) for an absent Brad Hanners.

"Going up to the 13th race, Josh Green put me up on his horse, and I thought 'Hey, I can win this one,'" Napolitano continued.  "I look at the 14th, same thing." And he won with them both, wrapping up the night's success aboard Stormin Rustler ($6.40).

"It's just unbelievable," concluded Napolitano.  "I've got to give God all the credit."

With his 10 wins, Napolitano joins a list that includes Case (twice), Palone (twice), David Miller, Greg Grismore and Brett Miller who have all also notched 10 wins on a program. Interestingly, all the drivers who won 10 or 11 races on a single card did it in either Ohio or Pennsylvania.

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