Wilkes-Barre, PA — Developing 3- and 4-year-olds of both gaits and sexes will begin contesting their $15,000 third and final preliminary legs of the Bobby Weiss Series at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono starting Monday (April 15), hoping to solidify places in the $30,000 series championships (or perhaps a $15,000 consolation) that will begin in one week on Monday (April 22).

The pacing fillies and mares will take to the track for Weiss action on Monday in three divisions. Undefeated in their first two preliminaries were Ghosttothepost, an American Ideal mare to be guided by George Napolitano Jr. for trainer Darren Ferrell from post five in the fifth race division, and the Art Major filly Ashlee Sparkles, who will begin from race two in the 11th race Weiss contest for driver Matt Kakaley and trainer Blake MacIntosh. Both are morning line favorites in their respective divisions.

There were six different winners in the first two preliminaries of the distaff trotting Weiss Series, with the only repeat winner the Explosive Matter filly Spring In Paris, who was game to win by a neck in each of her Weiss starts. During Tuesday’s (April 16) 11th race cut of the third Weiss preliminary, she’s starting as the morning line choice from post five for trainer Steve LeBlanc, who doesn’t disrupt a winning formula and again taps Andrew McCarthy for sulky action.

This coming Saturday (April 20), pacing males will be contesting their final Weiss preliminary action. The horse to watch in this section is the American Ideal 4-year-old Turbo Hill, who closed in :26.3 in his second Weiss preliminary to post a 1:51.2 victory. Trained and driven by Hunter Oakes, Turbo Hill is riding a six-race win streak, and he has won eight times in nine career starts.

The trotting male third round preliminaries will be held on Monday (April 22), as the Downs will be dark on Easter Sunday (April 21). My Lindy Winner, a 4-year-old son of Credit Winner, will be the only horse bringing two straight Weiss victories with him, both times winning impressively to remain undefeated in five 2019 starts for trainer Rob Harmon, with Jim Morrill Jr. slated for sulky duty.