by Jeff Zidek, for the MSOA

Meadow Lands, PA — The fields have been set for Monday night’s (Sept. 28) Pennsylvania Stallion Series Finals and Consolations, the culmination of the new series’ summer-long trek across the state.

Horses competed in four preliminary legs — two at The Meadows and one each at Harrah’s Chester and Mohegan Sun Pocono Downs. The top point-earners are competing for $40,000 in purse money, while many of those that did not make the final are entered in the recently announced $20,000 consolation events.

The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association is contributing the purse money for the consolation events, four $20,000 races. The MSOA is also contributing half of the $160,000 that is on the line in the finals, and the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association is supplying the rest of the funding.

“We are pleased to offer this chance for Pennsylvania-breds to compete on Monday night,” said MSOA President Rich Gillock. “While this series was set up originally to be kind of a ‘silver’ series to the top flight Sire Stakes, we certainly see a group of quality horses entered in all eight races. I expect to see some great races on Monday night.”

Three of the four divisions in the $40,000 Finals will be represented by the top point earners. Blue Moon Artist, who topped freshman filly pacers in the preliminaries, has drawn post three in the eighth race. The 2-year-old colt pace will include Native Justice (10th race, post five), who led all horses in the early rounds. Two horses that tied atop the point standings in the 2-year-old filly trot, Liz and Si Bon Hall, are both entered in their $40,000 final, with Liz drawing the rail and Si Bon Hall getting post three in the ninth race.

Action will get underway early, with the first consolation event contested off the pari-mutuel card at 5:55 p.m. Post time for the first pari-mutuel race is 6:20 p.m.