Pocono: Van Rose Memorial Invitationals brought to you by the letter R

Rodeo Romeo quarter-moved to the front and was strong on the engine, throwing successive 27 1/5 quarters coming home to take one $50,000 division of the Van Rose Memorial Pace Saturday night at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, while in the other Rockin Ron never yielded the lead and held off favored Mach It So in the sprint home.

Rodeo Romeo, a son of Rocknroll Hanover, faced his sternest test of the year in his division of the Van Rose, yet the punters knocked Rodeo Romeo down to 6-5 favoritism. He waited third early as Dr J Hanover worked hard to get around Wakizashi Hanover by the 26 2/5 opener, then responded to George Napolitano Jr.’s command and brushed to the front in front of the stands, making the lead easily and hitting the half in 55 seconds.

“George Nap,” who won the 2016 edition of the Rose with Luck Be Withyou, is known for his “rate-then-sprint” tactics in the middle of the race, and indeed as the field entered the backstretch the pedal went to the metal, as the first-over challenge of Boston Red Rocks was seen off by the 1:22 1/5 three-quarters. Dr J Hanover still lurked in the pocket, and Long Live Rock was coming on well late, but Rodeo Romeo kept on rolling and maintained a 1 1/2 length margin to the finish while filling his hopples into a headwind, stopping the timer in 1:49 2/5 for the fastest clocking of the meet. Dr J Hanover withstood Long Live Rock by a half-length to retain second.

Trainer Chris Ryder has found the key to Rodeo Romeo, who took his third race in his last four starts for Oompa’s Farm Inc. and Robert Mondillo.

In the second split of the race honoring the memory of the veteran local sportswriter and handicapper, Rockin Ron was sent right to the lead by Anthony Napolitano (from post one, which he inherited when early favorite Keystone Velocity was scratched), forcing brother George to take the two-hole with the race chalk Mach It So well before the 27 3/5 opener.

“Rate-then-sprint” is also a tactic known to Anthony as well as his brother, as “ANap” gave Rockin Ron a huge breather in quarter two even considering the headwind, with a 57 1/5 half leaving plenty in Rockin Ron’s tank. Then came “sprint,” as in 53 1/5 the last half, with Rockin Ron continuing on quickly and gamely, digging in determinedly when Mach It So as expected materialized in the famed Pocono Pike, but the latter’s powerful charge came up a head shy in the 1:50 2/5 mile.

Ron Burke conditions the Real Desire gelding, who boosted his earnings to $1,136,107 for the familiar trio of Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., and J&T Silva Stables.

--press release (PHHA/Pocono)--