by John Zimich, publicity director, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs will be honoring its 2009 Horse of the Year award winners during closing week of the live harness racing season that concludes Saturday, November 21, with a 1 p.m. post.

Four Starz Sue is the 2009 Pacer of the Year while the Trotter of the Year will be shared by both All About Justice and Grain Of Truth.

Carmine Fusco trains Four Starz Sue, a winner of six of 28 starts through November 12 with four seconds and one third-place finish. This pacing gelding earned more than $120,612 in 2009 and was a tough competitor in open and open handicap paces at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

All About Justice, trained by Gail Wrubel and driven by Mike Simons, won nine of 15 starts at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs with earnings of $104,487. Two of those wins came in open and open handicap races.

Grain Of Truth, trained by Ray Schnittker, was a model of consistency in the open and open handicap trots at the Northeastern Pennsylvania five-eighths-mile oval. This trotter won several open handicap trot races while finishing second and third several times. Grain Of Truth won eight of 32 starts with nine seconds and five third-place finishes. The trotter amassed $176,766 in 2009 earnings.

Theredandpanlines, trained by North America’s leading trainer Ron Burke, was selected as Claiming Pacer of the Year. Theredandpanlines was a perfect six for six at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, winning $25,000 and $30,000 claiming races for Burke. Through November 12 Theredandpanlines had compiled 10 wins in 34 starts with three seconds and nine third-place finishes and earnings of nearly $145,000.

Claiming Trotter of the Year laurels went to Twocarlane. This trotter had several trainers, including John Wagner, Carmine Fusco and Chris Oakes. Wagner had Twocarlane for the longest period of time in 2009 at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs and was a winner in the $20,000 and $25,000 claiming ranks. Twocarlane won four of 30 starts with six seconds and nine third-place finishes with earnings of more than $90,000.

Johnny Z, trained by George Teague Jr., was named 3-year-old Colt of the Year. This pacer went three-for-three at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs and was the 2009 Max C. Hempt Memorial winner with Brian Sears in the sulky. Johnny Z won four of 14 starts with one second and one third-place finish for earnings of more than $234,000.

Billie Bluechip was selected as the 3-year-old Filly of the Year. Joe Pavia Jr. drove and trained Billie Bluechip, a winner of six of 21 races, six seconds and five third-place finishes with earnings of more than $227,000. Billie Bluechip won the 2009 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs with a purse of $200,000.

Nip N Attack, a topnotch mare, was accorded Mare of the Year honors. She won 11 of 27 starts with five seconds and two third-place finishes and more than $202,000 in earnings for trainer Chris Oakes. Most of her races involved taking on the toughest of the fillies and mares in open handicap races.

With so many outstanding horses competing this season at Mohegan Sun at Pocono, it was a very difficult task of selecting the horses of the year by the panel consisting of Jim Beviglia, Randy Castellani, Saul Needle and John Zimich.

The 3-year-olds must have had at least three starts at the racetrack in order to be considered while older horses had to have at least five starts.