Pocono: Rodeo Rock rules in Great Northeast Open Series

Rodeo Rock posted the fastest clocking of the year at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, 1:49, in winning a $30,000 Great Northeast Open Series for open pacers on Saturday night.

The altered son of Rock N Roll Heaven got away midpack in a field of seven as Tiger Thompson, winner of the GNOS divisional leg at Philly last week, took the early lead via a 26 2/5 opener. With the leader applying the brakes, Rodeo Rock and driver Eric Goodell (a three-time winner on the evening) made a quick move at the three-eighths to pass the three horses in front of him, reaching the half in a “leisurely” 55 4/5.

The price of pacing went up dramatically down the back, as suddenly-uncovered favorite Dealt A Winner tried to challenge the leader, but couldn’t really menace as Rodeo Rock went his third panel in 26 1/5 for a 1:22 tripping of the three-quarters timer, then added a 27 second kicker to be an easy 1 3/4 length winner at the end while also establishing a new lifetime mark. Tiger Thompson held on well for second, with 2019’s fastest pacer, Sweet Rock (1:48 1/5), another half length back while bagging the show dough.

Rodeo Rock is the third-leading money-winning horse in North America this year with $264,400, the majority of which was banked in finishing second in the Levy Series final on April 20. Trainer Robert Cleary, sending them out at nearly a 40 percent victory clip, conditions the career winner of $623,055 for Royal Wire Products Inc.

--press release (PHHA/Pocono)--