Pocono: Mach It So, Rockin Ron triumph in Great Northeast Open Series

While the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes were the featured attractions on the Saturday night program at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, there were also two $30,000 divisions of the Great Northeast Open Series for open pacers.

In one, Mach It So equaled the fastest clocking on a five-eighths-mile track this year (Major Uptrend at Dover and Nuclear Breeze at Miami Valley) with a 1:49 victory for driver George Napolitano Jr., trainer Jeff Bamond Jr., and Bamond Racing LLC. Mach It So left side-by-side with Dr J Hanover, let that one take the top before the hot 26 second opening quarter, then removed to the lead. Mach It So hit the half in 54 1/5, then opened up a sizable lead with a 26 4/5 quarter to trip the third timer in 1:21. The Mach Three gelding still had a big lead as far as midstretch, but both his early exertions and rapid closer Bettor’s Edge were catching up to him; however, you don’t earn $2,578,675 in your career by succumbing easily, and Mach It So held on by a half-length.

In the other Great Northeast cut, Rockin Ron became a two-time Great Northeast winner, holding off the determined Rockeyed Optimist by a nose in 1:50 2/5. Matt Kakaley put the Real Desire gelding on top and set fractions of 26 3/5, 55 1/5, and 1:22 4/5; in early stretch the pair had opened up two lengths, but Rockeyed Optimist, first-over, came back on with great gameness only to just get photoed out. Maxdaddy Blue Chip came from way out of it to miss it all by a neck behind the $1,151,107 winner, trained by Ron Burke for Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., RTC Stables Inc., and J&T Silva Stables LLC.

--press release (PHHA/Pocono)--