Pocono: Great Northeast Open Series action closes with three finals

A world record performance by Homicide Hunter headlined the trio of $100,000 Great Northeast Open Series finals that occurred on Sunday night at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono. All three races were conducted at the distance of a mile and a quarter.

Homicide Hunter (George Napolitano Jr.), the 3-5 favorite in the trot, brushed into the lead heading to the 58 second half, and then reached three-quarters in 1:28 1/5. Napolitano Jr. stepped on the accelerator past three-quarters, reaching the mile in 1:55 3/5 and the finish in 2:22 2/5. He defeated Tight Lines (Jeff Gregory) by 8 1/4 lengths, with Satin Dancer (Tim Tetrick) third.

The 2:22 2/5 clocking easily eclipsed the previous world record of 2:24 3/5 produced by Magician in a leg of the Classic Series at Dover Downs in 2001.

Homicide Hunter is a 6-year-old Mr Cantab gelding trained by Chris Oakes for owner Crawford Farms Racing. This was his 37th career victory, and he pushed his earnings out to $1,355,427. He paid $3.20 to win.

Western Joe's strong season continued with a 2:20 2/5 tally in the open pace. Driven by Scott Zeron, Western Joe led to the 27 4/5 first quarter, then turned favored Donttellmeagain (Tim Tetrick) loose to the lead. Donttellmeagain would go on to click off a 56 1/5 half, a 1:25 2/5 three-quarters, and a 1:52 4/5 mile, but Western Joe came up the passing lane in the stretch and passed Donttellmeagain en route to winning by a neck. More The Better N (Corey Callahan) checked in third.

A 4-year-old son of Western Ideal, Western Joe is trained by Chris Choate for co-owner/breeder Anthony Ruggeri and co-owner Richard Tosies. Western Joe is now a 19-time winner, and he has pocketed $503,551. He was the 5-2 second choice and returned $7.80 to win.

Bettorhaveanother (Matt Kakaley) followed along on the inside in the pocket and then the three-hole through stations of 28, 55 4/5, 1:24, and 1:51 3/5, then also came up the passing lane to win the mare pace final by a neck in 2:21 3/5. Caviart Ally (Andrew McCarthy) led, yielded for the two-hole, and was second, and Agent Q (David Miller) got up for third. Race favorite Shartin N (Tetrick) had a second-over trip, went three-wide in the backstretch the final time, but came up empty and finished next-to-last.

The victorious 6-year-old mare by Bettor's Delight is trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC. and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. She made her 30th appearance in the winner's circle, and she has now banked $430,977. A 10-1 offering, she paid $23.80 to win.