Pocono: Highalator sharp again in Great Northeast Open Series

Highalator showed sharp early speed to earn a fine pocket trip behind favored Backstreet Shadow, then beat that rival by three-quarters of a length to win the $30,000 final preliminary in the Great Northeast Open Series (GNOS) for top-level pacers Saturday night at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in 1:48 2/5.

Driver Richard Still fully exploited his post two draw to the maximum against Backstreet Shadow, looking for his sixth straight win but starting from the outside post nine, and sped away from the gate, putting Scott Rocks in behind him and releasing Backstreet Shadow only after a 26 1/5 first quarter. Backstreet Shadow rolled on to the half in 54 seconds, and then made the three-quarters in 1:21 1/5 to keep the first-over bid of Prairie Panther at a safe distance.

In early stretch Still pulled Highalator to the outside and wore down the gallant Backstretch Shadow before deep stretch. Scott Rocks, third-in, came up the Pocono Pike to get third, ahead of Prairie Panther.

Highalator now has earnings of $537,099 for trainer Jenny Bier, who is co-owner of the son of Somebeachsomewhere with Joann Dombeck and Midsize Construction Inc. The pacer certainly has winning ways: he’s taken 11 of 23 starts in 2019, 32 of 69 lifetime outings, and 14 of his 23 career starts at Pocono.

The Racing Office at Pocono is the official arbiter of the Great Northeast Open Series, but a quick, unofficial calculation performed after this last GNOS race divisional prelim revealed the following nine horses with the most points: 1. Tiger Thompson; 2. Scott Rocks; 3. None Bettor; 4. Highalator; 5. Our Max Phactor; 6. Rodeo Rock; 7. Backstreet Shadow; 8. Havefaithinme; 9. Prairie Panther. The GNOS will have its three $100,000 Championships during a twilight card on Monday, September 9, a card which will also include all eight Pennsylvania Stallion Series Championships.

--press release (PHHA/Pocono)--