Pappy Go Go posted the fastest trotting time anywhere in North America during 2019 when he won in 1:52 on Saturday, March 30 at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, doing so with a 12-and-three-quarter-length victory.
Driver George Napolitano Jr. kept the five-year-old off fast early numbers of :26.3 and :56, then unleashed him down the back. The trotter swooped to the lead before the 1:24 third quarter and his advantage only increased with every step heading to the wire as he advanced to a lifetime-best mile while lowering the previous season mark of 1:52.3 set by Rubber Duck.
Andrew Harris trains the trotter for owner Michael Goldberg Racing LLC. Bred by Meridian Farms' Bill Andrew and sired by Tad The Stud, a son of Windsongs Legacy, Pappy Go Go is a Prince Edward Island-sired and foaled gelding who brought only $4,000 as a yearling in Nova Scotia. However, he went undefeated in 13 starts at three in Atlantic Canada, almost all in stakes. Pappy Go Go is by far the fastest offspring of his sire–in fact, the second-fastest has a mark of 1:57.2.
In the top purse contest, a fast-class pace worth $21,500, Eddard Hanover was never headed, winning in 1:53.1 for driver Anthony Napolitano, trainer Ron Burke and the partnership of Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, JJK Stables, and Lawrence Karr. Last week the Dragon Again gelding had to go first over in a :54.3 middle half and faltered. But this week he was able to hit the half in a :57.1, then put in successive :28 back quarters to withstand pocket-sitting Dragonology by a half length.
With the Great Northeast Open Series returning in just over a month, Rockeyed Optimist seems to be regaining his top form in good timing nearing the summer-long series, where he was the second-highest point winner last year. On Saturday Rockeyed Optimist posted his second-straight victory, this one in 1:52.1 in the $17,500 pacing co-feature. Driver Mitch Cushing again moved the Rocknroll Hanover gelding to the lead early and the winner $688,258 raced gamely to the wire, withstanding Black Chevron N by three parts of a length for trainer Jake Leamon, co-owner with Stephen Moss, Joseph Battaglia, and Virginia Berkner.
The claiming box remained a hot Pocono meeting place as 13 more horses went back to different barns during the Saturday card, with $210,000 of horseflesh changing hands. In just six cards at Pocono in 2019, 43 horses have changed ownership through the claiming route, with $746,250 spent by owners looking for sharp horses.
(with files from PHHA)