Barimah A is no stranger to success in the Van Rose Memorial for older male pacers, but the Aussie import is going to have to find it as an outsider this year when he competes in the event on Saturday night (May 5) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
Pocono will host two $50,000 divisions of the Van Rose, which is the first leg of the newly created Great Northeast Open Series. Last year, Barimah A started from Post 1 and won the Van Rose Memorial Invitational at odds of 14-1 by defeating a field that included Sunfire Blue Chip, Somewhere In LA, Mach It So, McWicked, and Rockin Ron.
On Saturday, Barimah A will start from Post 7 in a seven-horse field, with Boston Red Rocks, Rodeo Romeo, Long Live Rock, Wakizashi Hanover, Always At My Place, and Dr J Hanover lining up to his inside. Barimah A, with Pat Berry driving for trainer Scott DiDomenico, is 7-2 on the morning line. Dr J Hanover is the 5-2 early favourite.
“It looks tough,” said DiDomenico, who trains Barimah A for owners Brian Carsey, John McGill and Adam Friedland. “The draw wasn’t very kind. There is a lot of speed inside of him. We’ll see. He can sit off of them and probably do some good.”
Barimah A heads to the Van Rose off a career-best 1:49.1 win in the Whata Baron Series championship at the Meadowlands Racetrack on April 21. The eight-year-old gelding has won four of his past five starts and finished no worse than second in six consecutive races.
Barimah A charging late at the Meadowlands Racetrack (Lisa Photo)
“Nothing bothers him,” DiDomenico said. “He’s a really good horse. He’s got his head out (of his stall) all day. You can do whatever you want with him. He’s just a pleasure. He doesn’t have any bad habits. He’s very sensible and very likable. He’s a little grabby in the race at some times, but I’d like to have a few more like him.”
Barimah A is a son of Bettors Delight out of Classy Sheila. He won 10 races and $102,840 Down Under before arriving in the U.S. in 2016. Since then, he has won 14 of 54 starts and $200,705.
“I love his heart,” DiDomenico said. “He digs in and wants to fight horses off. He wants to pass horses. He’s got a big desire to win.”
The second Van Rose Memorial division will include George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series champion Keystone Velocity, who is the 2-1 favourite. Rounding out the seven-horse field are Rockin Ron, Mach It So, Bettor Memories, Rockeyed Optimist and New Zealand-breds Super Imposed and Christen Me.
In addition, Pocono will host four $30,000 Bobby Weiss Series championships for trotters and pacers. I M Fishin is the 5-2 early favourite in the race for female trotters; Archibald is the 5-2 early pick among male trotters; Riggle Wealth is the 5-2 early favourite among male pacers, and Sharen Hanover is 5-2 early choice among female pacers.
First-race post time is 7:30 p.m. (EDT).
(USTA)