WILKES-BARRE, PA (September 18, 2010)—Vlos, driven by George Napolitano Jr., overcame a broken head pole in winning his second straight $24,000 open handicap pace at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs Saturday evening.Assigned the nine post, Vlos was caught on the outside for the first three-eighths of a mile with the opening quarter clicked off in 26.3 with Golden Receiver (Joe Pavia Jr.) leading the way.
The race winner, trained by Eric Mollor, was the new leader just past the three-eighths pole followed by Golden Receiver, Deuce Seelster (Tom Jackson) and Onthewingsofnangel (Mark Gingrich). Half was registered in 54.3 and it was soon after that Vlos began getting pressure from Takeshigemichi (Kevin Sizer) going down the backstretch.
Vlos, a six-year-old Dragon Again stallion, and Takeshigemichi battled to the three-quarter pole with the former still leading the way with the three-quarters clicked off in 1:22.1.
Napolitano Jr. had a tough time steering Vlos coming down the stretch as Vlos was bearing in but got the job done over a fast-closing Drive All Night (Anthony Napolitano) by three-quarters of a length. Third went to Golden Receiver.
With the eighth win in 21 starts in 2010 Vlos went over the $100,000 mark in earnings.