from the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association, in conjunction with The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono and Harrah’s Philadelphia
Wilkes-Barre, PA — All three divisions of the Great Northeast Open Series (for open pacers, open trotters, and mare pacers) have filled this week, which means three heats of competitive action for $30,000 each at the eastern Pennsylvania tracks.
The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono will play host to the open pacers on Saturday evening. Accorded 5-2 morning line favoritism is More The Better N, a son of Bettor’s Delight who made his U.S. debut a successful one this past Sunday at Harrah’s Philadelphia, rallying from far back to post a 1:49.4 tally. A winner of $445,168, More The Better N drew the challenging post seven in a field of eight for driver Vinnie Ginsburg, trainer Ross Croghan and the ownership of Robert Cooper Stables and J&T Silva Stables.
Highalator, starting from post two for driver Eric Carlson, is no stranger to winning over the Pocono oval. Having posted a career-best 1:48 at The Meadowlands two starts ago, he is rated the early second choice at 3-1 in the GNOS contest, tenth on the mountain oval’s card.
The action resumes with two races at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon. First up will be the sixth race open trot, with Guardian Angel AS, who set a track record of 1:52 for 4-year-old trotting horses when he raced there on June 24, given the early nod at 5-2 from post five for driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Anette Lorentzon, and owners Kjell Johansson and ACL Stuteri AB. The son of Archangel will be going for his fourth win in five seasonal starts on Sunday.
Co-second choices at 3-1 are Such An Angel (post one, driver George Napolitano Jr.), who won an Open handicap at Yonkers in the time of 2:24.2 for 1-1/4 miles last time out, and the two-time divisional champion mare Broadway Donna (post two, driver David Miller), who won in Philadelphia in the GNOS on June 10.
Pacing mares will take to the track in race 11, with the 5-2 early choice Tequila Monday beginning from post six in a seven-horse grouping. The daughter of American Ideal, to be driven by Eric Goodell for trainer Chris Oakes and the partnership of Northfolk Racing Stable and Chuck Pompey, won a GNOS event at Pocono on June 3, and she missed just a head to Newborn Sassy in a distaff handicap pace at Yonkers in her last race.
L A Delight, who won a GNOS contest in Philadelphia on May 27 and has been consistently-close to the best of her group since, is held at 3-1 early as she begins from post three for driver Yannick Gingras.
The Great Northeast Open Series contestants are trying to earn enough points to make their way into their division’s GNOS final. All three of the groups will go for $100,000 over 1-1/4 miles at Pocono on Sunday (Sept. 2), also the card featuring the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes finals for 3-year-olds.