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

Wilkes-Barre, PA — George Teague, Jr., one of North America’s top Standardbred trainers, will be looking for his second straight victory in Saturday afternoon’s $300,140 Max C. Hempt Memorial Pace at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

And he’ll have two of the nine entries in the field, Johnny Z and Mr Wiggles. Teague won last year’s event with Badlands Nitro (Tim Tetrick) with a stakes record time of 1:50.

“I like our chances but you have seven other topnotch horses in the field,” offered Teague. “Both Johnny Z and Mr Wiggles came out of those elimination races last Saturday in good shape.”

Teague doesn’t see a whole lot of difference between Johnny Z and Chasin Racin, who was one of his four other 3-year-olds who missed out in making the Hempt final. Chasin Racin had won four of five starts in 2009 going into last Saturday’s elimination but finished fifth, while another top colt out of his powerful 80-horse stable, Barber Pole, was also fifth in another division.

Johnny Z was coming back to the races after a layoff of almost two months after coming up sick in the Matt’s Scooter on March 21.

“Brian (Sears) did a nice job in putting him on the front early and giving him a breather at the half,” said Teague.

It was a :29.1 second quarter that really made it tough on the remainder of the field to catch Sears and Johnny Z. More than likely they’ll be flying to the half in Saturday afternoon’s final.

While it may have surprised many that Mr Wiggles won a Hempt division it wasn’t for his trainer.

“Mr Wiggles has as much talent as I have in the barn,” noted Teague. “He’s a very competitive horse and Corey (Callahan) did a great job of handling him in that Hempt elimination race.”

Does Teague have any advice for Sears and Callahan in the $300,140 final?

“Two words, ‘good luck’,” said Teague. “There are too many factors that come into place and your horses have to have talent plus a little bit of luck.”

Sheer Desire, who turned in the fastest time in those three elimination races with a 1:51 time for Dave Palone and trainer Ron Burke, has been made the 2-1 favorite while the Teague entry is second choice at 5-2. Sheer Desire will have to overcome the eight hole.

Below is the complete field for the $300,140 Max C. Hempt Memorial Pace, the tenth race on the Saturday afternoon card at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. Estimated post time is 3:33 p.m. (EDT).

PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Rusty’s All In-Tim Tetrick-Steve LeBlanc
2-Lahaye-Roger Hammer-Roger Hammer
3-Arctic Warrior-David Miller-Steven Cook
4-Upfront Hoosierboy-Kevin Sizer-Kelly O’Donnell
5-Mr Wiggles-Corey Callahan-George Teague, Jr.
6-Johnny Z-Brian Sears-George Teague, Jr.
7-Gallant Yankee-Yannick Gingras-Todd Schadel
8-Sheer Desire-Dave Palone-Ronald Burke
9-River Shark-Daniel Dube-David Sabatelli