This Sunday (May 12) promises some spectacular racing at the two tracks served by the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association, as the Great Northeast Open Series will be staging a trio of $30,000 events.
Open pacers will clash in GNOS action at Harrah’s Philadelphia in the afternoon. Open mare pacers and open trotters will face the gate at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in the evening.
In the open pacing event (Race 5) at Philly, Rodeo Rock has been installed as a tight 7-2 favourite in a well-matched field of nine. The Robert Cleary pupil, to be driven by Andrew McCarthy, is one of only four North American horses to have earned over $200,000 already this year (the bulk of his bankroll came when he finished second in the $664,000 Levy Final at Yonkers Raceway). Starting just to his outside will be Donttellmeagain for trainer Jim King Jr. and driver Tim Tetrick. A state favourite since winning the PA Stallion Series Championship in 2017, Donttellmeagain holds the distinction of being the last horse to win against 2018 Horse of the Year McWicked, and he is coming off of a 1:49 victory at the Meadowlands.
The two GNOS races at Pocono will come consecutively, in slots ten and eleven. The ladies will come first, as Tequila Monday and Kissininthesand are set to bump heads. Sunday’s test will mark the second start of the year for Kissininthesand (post one, trainer Nancy Johansson, driver Scott Zeron), last year’s three-year-old champion in the U.S., and she might be just that much better with a race under her girth.
Knocking off Tequila Monday (post six, trainer Chris Oakes, driver Tyler Buter) has never been an easy task. She has started 2019 with five consecutive victories, and she has shown she can win on, off, or near the pace.
The world’s fastest trotter, Homicide Hunter (1:48.4 at Lexington last year), is set to contest the open trotting event, and he is now trained by Ron Burke. Homicide Hunter is heading into his Sunday test off of two fine qualifying wins, the latter of which was a photo victory over 2018 sophomore champion Six Pack. One big obstacle facing Homicide Hunter and driver Yannick Gingras will be the outside starting spot in the field of eight, but he is still the early favourite.
Guardian Angel AS (post five, trainer Anette Lorentzon, driver Tim Tetrick) won a Breeders Crown elimination at Pocono last year. In his seasonal debut last week at the Meadowlands, he came from ninth at the three-quarter call to miss by less than two lengths. Pappy Go Go, who has two of the four fastest North American trotting miles of the year thus far (a pair of 1:52 wins), has the advantages of Post 1 and Pocono’s top driver, George Napolitano Jr.
(With files from the PHHA/Pocono/Harrah’s Philadelphia)