Top Great Northeast pacers to meet Saturday at Pocono
July 5, 2018,from the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association, in conjunction with The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono and Harrah’s Philadelphia
Wilkes-Barre, PA — The top three pacers in the standings of the Great Northeast Open Series will be joined by 2017 Breeders Crown divisional winner and recent Franklin Consolation winner Split The House in a $30,000 Great Northeast contest this Saturday (July 7) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
Established as the 5-2 morning line favorite is Split The House, who last Saturday (June 30) made his second start of the year a winning one while taking the Franklin Consolation in 1:49, faster than McWicked’s 1:49.3 mile in the Franklin Championship. A conqueror of McWicked in the Breeders Crown at Hoosier Park last fall, Split The House will start from post two for driver George Napolitano Jr. and trainer Chris Oakes.
The second choice at 3-1 is Bettor’s Edge, a two-time winner in Great Northeast action like the aforementioned pair. He has the fastest 2018 clocking in the field, a 1:48.2 triumph in the opening race of Sun Stakes Saturday elimination night, and he will start from post four with the guidance of trainer Jennifer Lappe – who last week at The Meadowlands got her horse to pace his last three-quarters in an amazing 1:19.4 while raw to miss by a nose in a 1:48 mile.
The 4-1 third choice is Rodeo Romeo, who won the first two legs of the Great Northeast and since has been twice second and once third in the series, including finishing second behind the big winning mile of Bettor’s Edge. Rodeo Romeo draws the rail, which can be a nice advantage for a horse with his early foot. The second-ranked pacer in the Great Northeast will be handled by Eric Carlson for trainer Ross Croghan.
The top point earner in the series, Rockeyed Optimist, comes off a Great Northeast win at Harrah’s Philadelphia last Sunday (July 1). The reason the pacer was rated no higher than the 9-2 fourth choice is that he draws outside all of his main rivals, leaving from post six for driver Marcus Miller and trainer Jake Leamon.
Outrajus Blue Chip (post three, Tom Jackson), Nocturnal Blue Chip (post five, Jim Morrill Jr.), Voracity (post seven, Anthony Napolitano), and Great Vintage (post eight, Simon Allard) complete the talented field to square off in race 10 on the Saturday Pocono card.