Wilkes-Barre, PA – Horsemen with Grand Circuit-caliber 3-year-olds and free-for-allers of both gaits are reminded that the draw will be held THIS COMING MONDAY (Aug. 17) for Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania’s annual highlight of the campaign, SUN STAKES SATURDAY, which will be contested on Saturday, Aug. 22, with a 2:30 p.m. first post.
The top eight divisional money winners in 2026 at time of declaration will race in the four signature sophomore events – the $300,000 Grade 2 Earl Beal Memorial Trot and $300,000 Grade 2 Max C. Hempt Memorial Pace, both for males, and their companion races for fillies, the $250,000 Grade 1 James Lynch Memorial Pace and $250,000 Grade 1 Delmonica Hanover Trot. For each “main event,” two AEs will also be drawn.
Those just outside of the top eight in each division will contest Consolation I events, worth $200,000 for the males and $125,000 for the females; two AEs for these races will also be drawn. Should there be enough declarations in the divisions, there will also be Consolation II races, of $100,000 for colts and geldings and $75,000 for fillies. Declaration fees are spelled out in the Sun Stakes Saturday stakes eligibility conditions.
Sun Stakes Saturday also features two $100,000 Free-For-All events, one for the very best on each gait – the $100,000 Grade 3 Sebastian K S Trot and $100,000 Grade 3 Always B Miki Pace. The top eight money earners in 2026 who enter will go to post. Should all these events fill, they alone would be worth $2.3M, and could go a long way to detangling the various contenders for current supremacy in their six respective divisions.
Owners should also be aware that Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association will be sponsoring a limited amount of seating and a buffet lunch starting at 1:30 p.m. in the track’s Pacer’s Clubhouse. After the draw, owners whose horses are racing on Saturday’s card should make immediate RSVPs with Rachel Olszewski of the PHHA (rolszewski@phha.org).
Sun Stakes Saturday is always a day of top-notch competition among the classes involved, with several national champions numbered among the former winners, along with record clockings. But you “have to be in it to win it,” so mind the Monday morning declaration time; any questions can be directed to Pocono’s Director of Racing Rick Kane through the Race Office at 570-831-2228.