from the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association, in conjunction with The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono and Harrah’s Philadelphia

Chester, PA — The open pacers and open trotters of the Great Northeast Open Series will each go for $30,000 purses on Sunday (Aug. 26), with the pacers set for afternoon action at Harrah’s Philadelphia and the trotters competing under the lights at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

This will be the final chance for horses to accumulate points to get them high in their division’s rankings so that they may compete in their $100,000 GNOS final events, to be held at 1-1/4 miles, at Pocono on Sunday (Sept. 2).

In the afternoon at Philly, Mach It So, who has two wins and a second in GNOS competition, looks to solidify his final eligibility, and has been tabbed the 3-1 morning line favorite. The winner of $2.6 million, starting from post three for driver George Napolitano Jr., comes off a win at the highest conditioned level at Yonkers, and good early speed has always been part of his arsenal.

The second choice is Donttellmeagain, 7-2 on the early line, and with only a win and a fourth in GNOS competition, he would greatly benefit from capturing Sunday’s race as a springboard to the final. Starting from the trailing post nine for driver Victor Kirby, Donttellmeagain has won three of his last four starts, including the Graduate Series final and a nice 1:49.1 win right here two weeks ago in the GNOS.

Some 100 miles up the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike lies the Pocono oval and the final GNOS prelim for the trotting set. The early 5-2 favorite is Homicide Hunter, double world record holder and the leading point winner among the GNOS trotting set. Earlier Homicide Hunter, with George Napolitano Jr. scheduled to drive, had a five-race winning streak, but he has lost his last two outings while coming from behind; he may go back to speedy tactics here from post seven.

The second choice at 3-1, and second in the series standings, is Smalltownthrowdown, to be handled by Simon Allard from post five. Smalltownthrowdown has one of the recent wins over Homicide Hunter, a 1:51.1 career best in GNOS action at Pocono July 30.

Both races are slotted for race 10 in their respective competitions; the Philly card starts at 12:40 p.m., while the Pocono action begins at 7 p.m.