Eastend Eddie, brushing to the lead through the backstretch, barely held off a strong-finishing Rock To Glory to win the featured $20,000 claiming handicap pace Saturday, June 2 at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

Driver Eric Goodell cued the gelded son of Million Dollar Cam in the third quarter, and the ten-year-old winner of $515,805 showed the spryness of a colt in streaking to command. He then showed the grittiness of a seasoned pro to withstand Rock Of Glory, who came from sixth at the stretch call only to finish a nostril behind.

Eastend Eddie who won for Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC and trainer Ron Burke. He was claimed after 110 consecutive starts for the Burke Brigade, dating back to March 2014.

Walks Of Life, in a $16,000 claiming handicap co-feature, was claimed for the eleventh straight race. The 'winningest' horse in North America this year with 13 victories, Walks Of Life went his usual big mile, being hard-used to set most of the pace, but he was caught late by Drunken Terror, who beat him by a neck in 1:51.3. Walks Of Life thus leaves the barn of the meet’s leading trainer Rene Allard.

In all 13 horses were claimed out of five selling events at Pocono on Saturday, with four of the five winners changing hands. The total amount of money put up for solid horseflesh on the evening was $252,500.

On the conditioned pacing side, there was a pair of $17,500 events. The first went to Baby Kitty, who took a new mark of 1:49.2 getting by pacesetting Waikiki Beach A by a half-length after a furious stretch charge. Pat Berry sat behind the son of Mister Big for trainer/owner Eric Foster.

In the other division of this class, driver Eric Goodell and trainer Ron Burke, who took the feature with Eastend Eddie, came back with the Western Ideal gelding Clouseau Hanover, who circled three-wide late backstretch to two-wide on the turn, then drew clear midstretch and kept the advantage to the wire by three-quarter lengths. Clouseau Hanover, who took a mark of 1:50, competes for the Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi.

(With files from Pocono Downs)