Wilkes-Barre, PA — The Great Northeast Open Series will have $30,000 events for open-caliber horses on both gaits this weekend, with the pacers going during a post-Preakness Saturday night (May 18) program at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, and the trotters getting their turn Sunday afternoon (May 19) at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

The three morning line choices in Saturday’s pace will be starting in inverse order from the rail in their Pocono event. Sweet Rock (post three, driver Eric Carlson, 5-2) was second to first leg winner Highalator in a 1:48.3 mile at The Meadowlands last week; Dealt A Winner (post two, driver George Napolitano Jr., 3-1) was a close fifth in that race as he rounds into top form; and Rodeo Rock (post one, driver Eric Goodell, 7-2), gets a big improvement in post as he makes his second start since being second in the Levy final on April 20.

Not to be overlooked, but a bit of an outsider in more than one sense of the word, is the winner of last week’s event at Philadelphia, Tiger Thompson N. The import has won four of his last five races, including his last start when he rode a perfect pocket trip to victory in 1:50.3 over a sloppy track. Driver Pat Berry may need more than a bit of racing luck for his mount as they start from post six in the field of seven, with early odds of 9-2.

On Sunday afternoon at Harrah’s Philadelphia, the $1.4 million winner Melady’s Monet has been named the 2-1 morning line choice, beginning from the track’s winningest post position, the five-hole, for driver Jordan Stratton. Melady’s Monet won the first leg of the series here in 1:52.4, then took last week off, but this 10-year-old has been known to hold his form for long stretches at a time.

He’ll need to be on his game, because the next two rated rivals are Top Flight Angel (post three, driver Marcus Miller, 5-2) and Homicide Hunter (post one, Yannick Gingras, 7-2). Top Flight Angel comes in from Yonkers and a second behind Philadelphia divisional track record holder Will Take Charge, while Homicide Hunter, the world’s fastest trotter by virtue of his 1:48.4 win at Lexington last year, couldn’t have had worse luck in his 2019 debut last week, tucking in from post eight, then getting stuck inside and never getting into the flow of the race. An improved race is very likely to result from Homicide Hunter on Sunday afternoon.

These two classes, plus the mares open pace, will all have a chance to race for series points next Sunday (May 26) at Philadelphia, as the track presents its three showcase $100,000 Invitationals: the Maxie Lee Open Trot, the Commodore Barry Open Pace, and the Betsy Ross Mares Open Pace. To make that day even more thrilling for race fans, there will be Sire Stakes and Stallion Series action for the best Pennsylvania 3-year-old pacing colts mixed into the blockbuster card.