by John Zimich, publicity director, Pocono Downs

Wilkes-Barre, PA — The Pennsylvania Sires Stake season opens on Tuesday afternoon (July 3) at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. Featured on the 13-race holiday card will be five divisions of the Sires Stakes for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

Oh Poncho, trained and driven by Donnie Russell, headlines the opening division. The Panderosa 3-year-old colt has won six of 10 starts this season, including two straight at The Meadowlands with clockings of 1:51.3 and 1:51. Oh Poncho has drawn the seven post.

Another of the top notch horses in the Sires Stakes field is Won The West, trained by Mickey Burke and scheduled to be driven by Greg Grismore. Won The West has won nine of 14 starts this season and is coming off a 1:53 win in an $87,600 Cleveland Classic division at Northfield Park. Won The West won a race at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in May with a time of 1:52.

Scheduled to drive in the races are top drivers from throughout North America, including Tim Tetrick, Cat Manzi, Andy Miller, David Miller, Daniel Dube, Yannick Gingras and George Brennan.

For additional information, including statistics, log on to www.standardbredbreederspa.org.