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

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs will be conducting a 16-race harness program Saturday (May 1) that will feature the largest overnight purses in the history of the Northeastern Pennsylvania racetrack. There will be a special post time of 5 p.m. for the card that will have total purses of $233,900.

Saul Needle, director of racing and longtime employee at the racetrack, says Saturday’s purses are definitely the highest ever for an overnight card.

“It’s loaded with topnotch races,” he said. “Our fans will see a lot of great racing and that’s what has happened here on almost a daily basis since we opened our season March 23. It will continue throughout the entire year.”

Highlighting Saturday’s race card will be the $28,000 Open Handicap Pace for stallions and geldings. This race has attracted a field of eight, including Golden Receiver. The 5-year-old Village Jove gelding has been assigned the eight post in this race by Needle. Golden Receiver, trained by Mark Harder, will be looking for three straight in the Open Handicap Pace, having won in 1:51 and 1:50.3 in his only two starts of the season here after having raced at the Meadowlands. Jim Morrill, Jr., who won with Golden Receiver in his two previous starts at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, once again will be in the sulky.

All eight posts were assigned for the $28,000 race and the remainder of the field includes No. 1 Sailing Cruise (Matt Romano), No. 2 Announcement N (Andrew McCarthy), No. 3 Where’s Waldo (Joe Pavia, Jr.), No. 4 Icandodgebullets (Anthony Morgan), No. 5 Western Bay (Matt Kakaley), No. 6 Four Trumps A (Larry Stalbaum), and No. 7 Mr Hallowell (George Napolitano, Jr.).

Where’s Waldo, also trained by Pavia, is coming off a 1:51.2 win at the track in a race for non-winners of $10,000 in their last five races. Meanwhile, Western Bay has been second in all four starts in the Open Handicap races here.

Saturday’s special Kentucky Derby Day harness card also will feature four divisions of the Mohegan Pace, a late closer for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings.