The three-year-old Bar Hopping gelding Attis Rock overcame the tough tuck-then-first-over journey to win the $20,548 featured trot in 1:54.4 on Monday afternoon (May 20) at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
Braxten Boyd kept the sophomore in third as El Mission Goddess went on a first-end mission with early fractions of :28.2 and :57.3. Attis Rock moved to the outside before the 1:25.4 three-quarters, then showed gameness to defeat pocket-sitter King Tut Hanover by a small nose, with EL Mission Goddess only a half-length back in third. The winner posted a lifetime best for his 93-years-young trainer/owner Don Wiest.
On a sunny afternoon with temperatures near 80, the Pocono oval produced a speed show on a trotter-laden card. The diagonally-gaited horses produced no fewer than six miles in 1:55 or faster, and across a variety of classes. Besides the feature, a third-level conditioned trot went in 1:53.1 (Rich And Miserable) and a second-level contest went in 1:53.2 (Joey); even the bottom-level conditioned trot went in 1:55.2. In a mid-level claiming contest, Big Sky Ex was victorious in 1:55.
And in four “non-winners of one race or $10,000” trots, all the winners recorded lifetime bests: Naked Cowboy in 1:54.4, Du Maurier in 1:55, and 1:55.3 winners St Pauli Girl and Drawing Rights. The pacers did get their chance to shine as well, as a third-level conditioned event went to Rifleman, who took a mark of 1:50.
Racing closes out the week at Pocono with a 1 p.m. card Tuesday, May 21. The horses then will be back in action on Saturday, May 25, also at 1 p.m.
(PHHA / Pocono)