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

Wilkes-Barre, PA —- It’s safe to predict that Rodeo Romeo, the leading point-winner in the Great Northeast Open Series in the open pace division, will not get as rough a trip as he did in his last start when he begins from the rail in a $30,000 divisional event Saturday night (Aug. 4) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

Rodeo Romeo, who is featured in this month’s edition of Hoof Beats as a horse using recently-developed technology to keep him in consistent peak form, had no chance to show that form in the Gerrity Memorial at Saratoga last time, parked three-wide past the quarter on the half-mile track and then two-wide throughout, ample excuse to tire. The Chris Ryder-trained pacer will be handled by George Napolitano Jr., who had his pick of the three morning line favorites and chose Rodeo Romeo, is quoted at 4-1, and could well be both an early and a late factor.

The morning line favorite is Split The House, winner of the Ben Franklin Consolation and then photoed out in his last two races, both in the Great Northeast series. Trainer Chris Oakes will have Tyler Buter, in hot driving form, handle Split The House from post three as the early 5-2 choice.

The two-three horses in the GNOS point-standings had quite different results at the post draw. Bettor’s Edge drew post two for driver Jim Morrill Jr. and was tabbed at 3-1; the horse just ahead of him in the current rankings, Rockeyed Optimist, drew the outside post eight and was set at 6-1, with Marcus Miller slated for sulky duty.

The top point-winners in GNOS action after the last Aug. 25-26 prelims will be eligible to draw in for their $100,000 GNOS final event, to be held over 1-1/4 miles at Pocono on Sunday (Sept. 2), the same night as the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes finals for 3-year-olds.