Pocono: Highalator rebounds in scoring 40th career victory

Highalator, a son of Somebeachsomewhere who has been a frequent winner at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono whenever his schedule takes him here, bounced back from equipment failure in last week's first 2021 appearance at the mountain oval to put up a game 1:51 victory in the $15,700 fast-class feature on the Kentucky Derby Day Saturday afternoon card.

Regular pilot Richard Still guided the veteran past Mykindachip to the 27 1/5 quarter, then got a breather to the half in 56 2/5. Bill Haley N made a big move at the leader down the backstretch, with Rodeo Rock in cover tow, but Highalator was able to keep the first-over attacker at bay by the 1:23 1/5 three-quarters, and then withstood the oncoming Rodeo Rock by a length.

Highlator has now won 40 times in 90 trips behind the gate, with Pocono being a large contributor to that high win ratio, as he has won 16 times in 26 career starts here. Trainer Jenny Bier co-owns the winner of $644,844 with Joann Dombeck and Midsize Construction.

Another veteran Pocono lover, the 11-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding Scott Rocks, recorded career victory 69, and sixth in his last eight starts, taking a division of the high-end claiming handicap in 1:51 4/5 for driver George Napolitano Jr., a three-time winner on the afternoon, and trainer Hunter Oakes, the latter co-owner with Scott Bice.

The other division of the top claimer went to the Mach Three gelding Tullow N, driven by Tyler Buter to a head victory over Busboy Hanover, whose cover he followed before he came on to win in 1:51 3/5. David Rosso trains the winner for Marissa Russo.

Besides "George Nap," Gilbert Garcia-Herrera, leading trainer at the meet, recorded a triple - with three different drivers. And 2017 World Driving Champion James MacDonald, in town because of the Ontario shutdown, made an auspicious debut by guiding the Carmen Auciello-trained Nothing But Muscle to a hard-fought score.

--press release (PHHA/Pocono)--