On a night not kind to favourites most of the way, 7-1 shot Hitman Hill caught 6-5 favourite Rockin Ron in the final strides for a neck win in 1:50.1 in the $21,500 featured pace Saturday night, May 25 at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
Hitman Hill did some of the work to undo the favourite, forcing him to remain two-wide for three-sixteenths before clearing to the lead before a :25.3 opener. Rockin Ron got a breather against the wind to a :55.2 half, but at that point Lyons Steel cruised towards the leader uncovered and forced Rockin Ron to reengage top gear.
Rockin Ron shook off the first-over challenger at the 1:22 third quarter, but driver Hunter Oakes rallied the victorious American Ideal gelding from the pocket, eating up ground in progress to his third victory of 2019–all at Pocono and all in 1:50.1. Hunter’s dad Chris Oakes trains Hitman Hill, who has now earned $396,406, for Tom Hill and Northfork Racing Stables.
In a contentious $17,500 co-featured pace, Hunter Oakes was again a winner–this time as trainer–as Turbo Hill took a mark of 1:49.4 for driver Eric Goodell.
Stung to a :25.4 quarter, the victorious son of American Ideal yielded to Midway Island halfway to the :54.3 midpoint, then watched as the pacesetter fought with Rootin Tootin, who came uncovered from last to challenge the leader nearing the 1:22.1 three-quarters. Those two continued their battle, and then Goodell dipped Turbo Hill to the Pocono Pike, where he showed enough kick to win by a neck over Rootin Tootin with Midway Island another half length back in third. Tom Hill is also the owner of Turbo Hill, a winner eight times in 12 starts this year and in 10 of 14 overall.
When Atta Boy Dan was claimed for $40,000 out of the night’s first race, he joined Raksmach N (who’s been haltered for that tag twice) as the most expensive claim ever in Pocono history. A few races later, Rock The Town also changed barns after a payment of $40,000, earning himself a line in this particular section of the local record books. Both of tonight’s big claims had to start from the outermost post in the claiming handicap events, were both favoured despite the draw and both were in the hunt in their races only to come up shy late after big efforts.
In total for the night, only nine horses were claimed, but their total value was $276,250 (over $30,000 a claim–serious money for serious horses), bringing the meet figures to 184 claims for $3,430,000.
Anthony Napolitano guided four horses to victory on the Saturday night card.
On Sunday, three-year-old trotting fillies will be featured at Pocono, with three divisions of Sire Stakes, including the undefeated Millies Possesion and the 2019 debutante The Ice Dutchess, and four division of Stallion Series action.
(with files from PHHA/Pocono)