Springsteen had his third straight “#1” at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Saturday night, grinding his way past Western Joe to take the $21,500 featured pace in 1:49 and add to a great evening for the brothers Allard.

Springsteen, a four-year-old son of Rock N Roll Hanover, was away fourth as Rebellious cut a :27 quarter and the favoured (even money vs. Springsteen’s 6-5) Western Joe brushed past him to hit the half in :54.3. Springsteen came first-up at the 5/8 and gained on Western Joe to and past the 1:21.4 three-quarters, and he finally pressured his main foe into submission in deep stretch. Western Joe held on well to miss only a half length, winning a photo from the inside-shooting Rebellious for second.

After missing a neck to Lather Up in a Franklin elimination in his first start of the year and then finishing within three lengths in the Franklin Championship, Springsteen has put together his current win streak for owners Allard Racing Inc., Bruce Soulsby, Alan Weisenberg, and Kapildeo Singh while boosting his earnings to $594,512. Springsteen was one of six winning drives on the night for Simon Allard, four of them for his brother Rene, the meet’s leading trainer, including this one with Springsteen.

In the $20,000 claiming handicap pace, the main question wasn’t whether Atta Boy Dan would win – he did again, on the front end for driver George Napolitano, Jr. in 1:50.1, his third straight and eighth of his last nine – but where he would wind up after the race. It turns out it won’t be with trainer Vinnie Fusco, Jr. and the P T Stable, for whom he won Saturday, but back with owner Clifford Grundy, who has now claimed him for $40,000 four times in his 11-race streak of being haltered for that top Pocono price.

Atta Boy Dan is 15-11-2-1-$123,450 since coming to Pocono on May 11, 14-for-25 in 2019 (tied for second in wins among North American pacers), and a 66-time winner in a career that has seen the 10-year-old accumulate $896,417.

(PHHA / Pocono)