All the bettors’ attention was focused on Rodeo Romeo and Rockeyed Optimist, 1-2 in the Great Northeast Open Series pacing standings and 1-2 at the post draw, but Mach It So, a winner here recently and still let go as the 11-1 third choice, set the pace and held off Rodeo Romeo by a head to win a $30,000 Great Northeast event at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono Saturday, June 9.

George Napolitano Jr., with five winners on the Pocono card joining the two he had at Philly this afternoon, gunned the Mach Three gelding at the start and easily took the front, with Rodeo Romeo in the pocket at the :26.1 quarter. Favoured Rockeyed Optimist started uncovered nearing the :55.2 half, but Mach It So had a nice breather in quarter two and restarted the jets, blunting the first-over’s bid by reaching the three-quarters in 1:22.

Rodeo Romeo was still right there and, pulling out in the stretch, he inched closer to the leader. But the winner of $2,593,675 lifetime showed his heart was still in the right place at age eight, holding off the potential pocket rocket by a head for trainer Jeff Bamond Jr. and Bamond Racing LLC.

The $21,500 conditioned co-feature resulted in 2015 freshman champion Boston Red Rocks following cover behind wicked fractions then storming home to stop the timer in 1:48.2. Scott Rocks finished second by one-and-one-quarter lengths. The son of Rocknroll Hanover, now with a bankroll of $1,370,016, took a career mark with the impressive victory for driver Anthony Napolitano, trainer Jake Leamon, and owners Peter Blood and Rick Berks.

In the $20,000 Claiming Handicap Pace, Napolitano Jr. and trainer Hunter Oakes combined for their second-joint win on the night, this with the Art Major gelding Major Trick in a career best 1:49.4. Oakes had the horse for three straight wins, lost him via claim, took him right back and immediately started the winner of $330,098 back on the winning track for owner Omar Beiler. This was the last claiming event of the night; in all, 14 horses changed hands via the claim box, totaling $261,750 and bringing Pocono’s two-week money exchange amount to $514,250 – just on the two Saturdays.

Finally, Walks Of Life remains the winningest horse in North America in 2018 with 13 visits to the winner's circle, and Saturday he was claimed for the 12th straight time, his fourth stay with Team Allard and approaching the local “record” of 13 straight claims put up by R Gauwitz Hanover in 2015. However he did not win Saturday - he had nothing left in the stretch and finished out of the money – the first time he didn’t hit the board in 21 starts this year.

(With files from the PHHA)