Open pacers will take to the track in Saturday’s tenth race at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in the $30,000 penultimate preliminary of this division’s action in the Great Northeast Open Series.
The top three open pacers in their point standings have clinched eligibility for their Championship contest, which may be a good thing since they have drawn the three outermost posts in the field of seven – Rodeo Romeo, post six, #1 in points, driver George Napolitano, Jr.; Rockeyed Optimist, post seven, #2 in points, driver Anthony Napolitano; and Bettors Edge, post five, #3 in points, driver Jim Morrill, Jr.
Highalator is tied for fifth in standings, and is all but mathematically assured of eligibility for the Championship. This is not a handicap event, but Highalator happens to be starting from post four, with Eric Carlson listed to drive.
The horses drawing posts two and three are “on the bubble” for making the Championship field, having “come late” to the big dance, but they nonetheless are the two morning line favourites.
The 5-2 morning line favourite More The Better N won his North American debut by taking a division at Philly in 1:49.1; in his second start in the series he was used early and set the pace, winding up beaten only a length. He’ll go on Saturday from post three with Corey Callahan driving.
Second choice is 3-1 Split The House from post two: he comes off a tremendous first-over second to the Wonder From Down Under, Lazarus N, at Hoosier Park, and will be guided by Tyler Buter on Saturday.
The Real One drew the rail: he has not started in the series and is facing better stock than he is used to, but everything handled by Pat Lachance seems to be going great guns now.
Next week the final preliminary events for the GNOS’s three divisions – open pacers, open trotters, and mare pacers – will be on the condition sheet. After next Sunday’s GNOS action, the point standings will be final, and the top point earners declaring in will get to go for $100,000 over 1-1/4 miles in their Championship events at Pocono, which will be held Sunday, September 2, which will also be the night that Pocono hosts the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championships for three-year-olds.
(PHHA / Pocono)