Wilkes-Barre, PA – The 3-year-old Bar Hopping gelding Attis Rock overcame the tough tuck-then-first-over journey to win the $15,000 featured trot in 1:54.4 on Monday (May 20) afternoon at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.

Attis Rock defeats King Tut Hanover (largely hidden to the inside) and EL Mission Goddess to win the Monday feature at Pocono. Curtis Salonick photo.

Braxten Boyd kept the sophomore in third as EL Mission Goddess went on a first-end mission with early fractions of :28.2 and :57.3. Attis Rock moved to the outside before the 1:25.4 three-quarters, then showed gameness to defeat pocketsitter King Tut Hanover by a small nose, with EL Mission Goddess only a half-length back in third. The winner posted a lifetime best for his 93-years-young trainer/owner Don Wiest.

On a sunny afternoon with temperatures near 80, the Pocono oval produced a speed show on a trotter-laden card. The diagonally-gaited horses produced no fewer than six miles in 1:55 or faster, and across a variety of classes. Besides the feature, a third-level conditioned trot went in 1:53.1 (Rich And Miserable) and a second-level contest went in 1:53.2 (Joey); even the bottom-level conditioned trot went in 1:55.2. A mid-level claiming contest saw Big Sky Ex victorious in 1:55.

And in four “nw 1 race or $10,000” trots, all the winners recorded lifetime bests: Naked Cowboy in 1:54.4, Du Maurier in 1:55, and 1:55.3 winners St Pauli Girl and Drawing Rights. The pacers did get their chance to shine as well, as a third-level conditioned event went Rifleman, who took a mark of 1:50.

Racing closes out the week at Pocono with a 1 p.m. card Tuesday (May 21); the horses then will be back in action on Saturday (May 25), also at 1 p.m. Free Pocono programs will be available at www.phha.org.