WILKES-BARRE, PA – Rodeo Romeo used his vaunted early foot and propelled his 2018 earnings over the $150,000 mark when he led at every call in winning the $21,500 pacing feature Saturday night at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in 1:50.3.
The son of Rocknroll Hanover cleared to the lead just after a 26.2 opening quarter, and then driver Eric Carlson was able to get him a rest to the 55.2 half. From there, favored Stormont Czar A came up first-over, with Rodeo Rock hot on his bumper at the 1:23 3/4s, but Rodeo Romeo was kept alive at crunch time, holding off Stormont Czar A by a nose, with Rodeo Rock just another neck back in third.
The Chris Ryder trainee, owned by Oompa's Farm Inc. and Robert Mondillo, has now bankrolled $154,080 this season and $335,029 lifetime.
Pembroke Wildcat won his second straight race when he was victorious in the $18,000 claiming handicap pace in 1:51.4. Driver Anthony Napolitano got the winning Western Maverick gelding away in the two hole behind Polak A, stepping up in company in search of his fourth straight win, but after fractions of 26.2, 55.3, and 1:23.2, Polak A could not sustain, and Pembroke Wildcat was able to make the lead and then resist 42-1 shot Onlythetuffsurvive, second for the fifth straight start, by a head.
Brittany Robertson trains and owns the career winner of $345,227.
For 46-year-old trainer Michael Seddon, making his career debut as a conditioner, certainly will have the Pocono patrons remembering his name – not too many trainers have a lifetime profit generation of 11410%.
The very first horse Seddon ever sent out, Some Gold, rallied from an inside trip for trainer Vinnie Ginsburg to tally in an $11,000 pace and return $230.80 for a $2 ticket – despite winning his last start at Freehold. Of the eight horses who have paid in excess of $50 at Pocono since August 11, five of them have lit up the board for $100+, including season's leader College Hanover ($336.60) on September 9.
From the PHHA/Pocono Downs