Update on Sun Stakes Saturday elims
June 20, 2017,by Jennifer Starr, for The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono
Wilkes-Barre, PA — Saturday (June 24), the very best of the best trotters and pacers in North America will descend upon The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in Northeast Pennsylvania for the Sun Stakes Saturday eliminations. The star power for this night is dazzling!
There will be three eliminations each for the $500,000 Ben Franklin Free-For-All Pace; the $500,000 Max Hempt Memorial Pace for 3-year-old colts and geldings; the $500,000 Earl Beal Jr. Memorial Trot for 3-year-olds; and the $300,000 James Lynch Memorial Pace for 3-year-old fillies. The top three finishers from each advance to the rich championship finals on Saturday (July 1) with more than $2 million in purses on this prestigious night.
After scratch time on Tuesday, the final driving assignments and morning line odds have been released. Click here for the complete list of entries.
On Saturday (July 1), Sun Stakes Saturday, the day begins with a special meet and greet with former college basketball coach Bobby Knight in the Racing Lobby from 5-6:30 p.m. This is a wristband-only event, with wristbands being distributed at 1 p.m. Only authorized photos will be signed, and will be available at the signing. A professional photographer will be on hand to capture photos, which will be displayed on the casino Facebook page after the event.
Also on July 1, the first 300 fans will receive a souvenir laptop bag sponsored by the Standardbred Breeders Association of Pennsylvania and the Downs. Coupon is required and in the live racing program, available starting at 5:30 p.m. Redemption is between 9-10 p.m. in the lower Grandstand bar. The promotion is one per fan, while supplies last with their Racing Rewards card.
Post time for both nights is 6:30 p.m., with plenty of seating on the apron and patio, as well as free parking and free admission. Dining in Pacer’s Clubhouse is by reservation only and can be secured by calling 1.888.WIN.IN.PA.
Racing for the track in Northeast PA continues on Sunday nights at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
- Spectacular Saturday at Pocono with Sun Stakes eliminations (Monday, June 19, 2017)
The very best trotters and pacers in North American harness racing will be converging on The Downs at Mohegan Pocono with elimination races being held this Saturday (June 24) for the right to participate in the Sun Stakes Saturday supercard on Saturday (July 1).
- Soup’s on (Wednesday, June 21, 2017)
Talent Soup was limited to a handful of races last year at age 2 because of sickness, but trainer Bruce Saunders saw enough of the colt to believe there was ability beyond the horse’s name. Good looking, well gaited, quick, and professional, Talent Soup checked all the boxes.
- Sun Stakes eliminations top Grand Circuit schedule (Wednesday, June 21, 2017)
The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono will host four sets of stakes eliminations on Saturday (June 24).
- EBC triumph sends Devious Man to Beal (Wednesday, June 21, 2017)
Less than a week ago, trainer Julie Miller was uncertain whether she would send Devious Man to the Earl Beal Jr. Memorial. Devious Man’s performance in last Sunday’s Empire Breeders Classic made the decision easier. Devious Man won the EBC championship by four lengths over Bill’s Man in 1:52.2, prompting Team Miller — Julie and husband Andy — to enter the colt in the Beal.
- Improving Concerto aims for Lynch (Friday, June 23, 2017)
Kelvin Harrison knows Lynch Memorial hopeful Concerto is stepping up in class, but he thinks it could be a stepping stone. Unraced at age 2, Concerto has won four of eight races this season as she prepares for Saturday’s eliminations of the James M. Lynch Memorial for 3-year-old female pacers at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
- Mel Mara aspires to Franklin glory (Friday, June 23, 2017)
He is a world champion and one of the few horses to possess the distinction of besting Always B Miki and Sweet Lou, yet Mel Mara has not visited the winner’s circle for a stakes race since he captured the 2012 edition of the Ontario Sire Stakes Gold final at Flamboro Downs over that year’s Little Brown Jug winner Michael’s Power. His connections are hoping this is the year the 8-year-old stallion collects his fair share of hardware beginning with a victory in his $35,000 Ben Franklin elimination on Saturday (June 24) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.