Pocono Downs feature to Eastend Eddie

WILKES-BARRE, PA – Eastend Eddie, streaking to the lead down the backstretch while pacing his own third quarter in 26.2, barely held off a strong-finishing Rock To Glory to win the featured $20,000 claiming handicap pace Saturday night at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

Driver Eric Goodell gave the word to the altered son of Million Dollar Cam in the third quarter, and the 10YO winner of $515,805 showed the spryness of a colt in streaking to command. He then showed the grittiness of a seasoned pro to withstand Rock Of Glory, who came from sixth at the stretch call only to finish a nostril behind.

For trainer Ron Burke, the victory with Eastend Eddie, who won for Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, must have had a bit of bittersweetness, as the winner was claimed after 110 consecutive starts for the Burke Brigade, dating back to March 2014.

If Eastend Eddie has a touch of homesickness in the next few days, he might do well to consult with Walks Of Life, who in a $16,000 claiming handicap co-feature was claimed for the eleventh straight race.

The winningest horse in North America this year with 13 triumphs, Walks Of Life went his usual big mile, being hard-used to set most of the pace, but he was caught late by Drunken Terror, who beat him by a neck in 1:51.3. Walks Of Life thus leaves the barn of the meet's leading trainer Rene Allard – who will take a shot at replacing him with Western Terror, whom he claimed out of the race.

In all 13 horses were claimed out of five selling events at Pocono on Saturday, with four of the five winners changing hands. The total amount of money put up for solid horseflesh on the evening was $252,500.

On the conditioned pacing side, there was a pair of $17,500 events. The first went to yet another closer on an unusually-rough night for Pocono pacesetters, Baby Kitty, who took a new mark of 1:49.2 in getting by pacesetting Waikiki Beach A by a half-length after a furious stretch charge. Pat Berry skysat behind the son of Mister Big, currently in career form, for trainer/owner Eric Foster.

In the other division of this class, driver Eric Goodell and trainer Ron Burke, who took the feature with Eastend Eddie, came back here with the Western Ideal gelding Clouseau Hanover, who circled three-wide late backstretch to two-wide on the turn, then drew clear midstretch and kept the advantage to the wire by ¾ of a length.

Clouseau Hanover, who took a new mark of 1:50, has been quite a find for Burke and the ubiquitous Burke Racing / Weaver Bruscemi team, going only 1 for 37 to start his career, but now having seven wins in 17 starts since Burke acquired him in the fall of last year.

From the PHHA/Pocono Downs