Harrah's Philadelphia: George Napolitano Jr. collects 13,000th career win

George Napolitano Jr. drove the 13,000th winner of his career on Friday afternoon at Harrah's Philadelphia, rallying La Miki N into a 53 4/5 final-half to give the Always B Miki mare a lifetime mark of 1:51 while recording his milestone triumph.

Napolitano Jr. and La Miki N made the lead just past the midpoint of the first turn, but Wise Professor was out and brushing for the lead past the 27 4/5 quarter, getting a breather to a 57 1/5 half. There was no third quarter breather as Wise Professor blazed down the back in 26 1/5 for a 1:23 2/5 three quarter split, with La Miki N and Napolitano Jr. doing their best to stay within shouting difference.

Wise Professor carried the lead well into the stretch but began to tire a bit, and "George Nap" kept La Miki N up on the bit, finally rallying the Kiwi import to be along for a neck decision.

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Napolitano Jr., 60, joins seven others in the 13,000 Win Club - in order, Dave Palone, Anthony Morgan, Aaron Merriman, Herve Filion, David Miller, Tim Tetrick, and Cat Manzi. Many have connections to Harrah's Philly - Palone won the feature race there on Opening Day in 2007, and Morgan and Miller have raced there regularly in years past. Between Tetrick and Napolitano Jr., they have won 19 of the 20 dash-winning titles at the oval - and the other leader, in the inaugural 2007 season, was Manzi.

The native of Long Island, whose horses have earned over $121 million, has found eastern Pennsylvania to be very good to him - in addition to his eight sulky crowns and four UDR championships at Harrah's Philly, Napolitano has won 15 dash, 13 UDR, and five training titles at Pocono, and campaigned successfully at Pompano for several years. George won the 2010 North American driving title, and he remains tied for the most wins on one pari-mutuel card with 11.

--press release (PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)--