The fields have been set for the $100,000 Great Northeast Open Series (GNOS) Championships, which will be taking place next Monday (Sept. 9) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
A world record for the distance of one and one-quarter miles over a five-eighths-mile track was broken in last year’s inaugural edition of the GNOS Championships. The world record at both gaits for the elongated distance – twice around Pocono’s five-eighths-mile course – may be in jeopardy in Monday’s three GNOS Championships.
It was Homicide Hunter who lowered the record on the trot to 2:22.2 in winning his GNOS Championship; and the world’s fastest trotter will return to Pocono Monday for trainer Ron Burke and Crawford Farms Racing. The gelded son of Mr Cantab will start from Post 6 in a field of seven in Race 11 (David Miller will be driving). This season has not been as kind to Homicide Hunter as 2018 was, when he won in 1:48.4 at the Red Mile to become the fastest-ever at his gait. The veteran has recorded a GNOS victory this year and did look good against lesser foes last time out.
The horse to beat in the GNOS will start just outside Homicide Hunter, and it is one of his stablemates – 2017 Horse of the Year Hannelore Hanover, who will be driven by Yannick Gingras. The daughter of Swan For All has won half of her eight seasonal starts; has beaten 1:51 twice; and was undefeated in two GNOS starts, including setting a Philly track record of 1:52 in winning the final prelim. Hannelore Hanover is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Frank Baldachino and J&T Silva Stables
The pacing record for one and a quarter miles is 2:19.4 (it is not kept separate by sex), and it appears to be under greater threat from the open pacers division (Race 12). The field is replete with high-percentage winners, one being Highalator (Post 7, trainer Jenny Bier, driver Richard Still), who is 11-for-23 in 2019. Highalator won three GNOS prelims, including last week’s, and is the year’s co-fastest horse on a five-eighths-mile track over the mile in 1:48. A fellow three-time GNOS winner is None Bettor A (Post 8, trainer Andrew Harris, driver George Napolitano Jr. listed), who is 10-for-14 this season, won nine in a row earlier in the year, and controlled a good Open field at Yonkers last time out.
Add in Backstreet Hanover, who lost a five-race winning streak last time out, and Prairie Panther, each of them a winner in half of their 20 seasonal starts, and you have many fast horses who know the way to get to the winners circle – it should be fascinating to see which one in the full field of nine will be able to work out the winning trip.
The industry’s No. 1-ranked performer, pacing mare Shartin N, is sticking to her intermittent racing pattern, so she will not be competing in the championship for pacing mares (a race in which she had a rough trip and faded last year). One distaffer that will not regret her absence is the Bettors Delight mare Caviart Ally, who is having an excellent season in the shadow of the superstar (in fact, Caviart Ally has not lost a race that Shartin N did not win since ‘Ally’s seasonal debut on April 30). She has given Shartin N some notable battles, and she may be in controlling position from Post 2 in the tenth race, which will feature a field of seven. She will be driven by Andrew McCarthy for trainer Brett Pelling and Caviart Farms.
Eclipse Me N, the horse who beat Caviart Ally in her 2019 bow, is still going strong over four months later. She’ll have the ‘home field advantage’ Monday in that she is trained by Rene Allard, who is the leading trainer at Pocono. Rene’s brother, Simon, will be driving from Post 3.
In addition to these three outstanding races for the more seasoned performers, the Monday card will also feature eight $40,000 championship events for Pennsylvania Stallion Series high preliminary pointwinners. Those races will be featured in a separate release.
Monday’s post time will be at 4 p.m.
(With files from the PHHA, in conjunction with The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono and Harrah’s Philadelphia)