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

Wilkes-Barre, PA — The biggest racing day of the 2007 harness racing season at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs takes place on Saturday (September 29) when four $100,000 Pennsylvania Sires Stakes Championship finals are contested.

All told, total purses for the 13-race card will be $517,300.

This year, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs will be crowning the 3-year-old champions.

Big Business and Western Graduate, two of the 2-year-old Pennsylvania Sires Stakes champions from 2006, will be returning in pursuit of more crowns. Big Business, a 3-year-old Dragon Again gelding, trained by Ben Stafford and driven by Ben Stafford, Jr., has drawn the seven post in the eight-horse field for 3-year-old colts and geldings.

Last year, Big Business won the $100,000 Pennsylvania Sires Stakes Championship finale at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs with a time of 1:52.4.

Also winning at the Northeastern Pennsylvania racetrack in the 2006 Pennsylvania Sires Stakes Championship final was Western Graduate, timed in 1:53.2. She earned $154,652 in her freshman season and in 2007 has already won $313,670 with six wins, five seconds and a third. Western Graduate is coming off a 1:51.3 win in the Jugette Final at Delaware, Ohio, on September 19.

In Saturday’s $100,000 final at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, Western Graduate has drawn the three hole and is scheduled to be driven by Greg Grismore. Mickey Burke, the leading trainer in North America, conditions Western Graduate.

Captiva Island, trained by Tim Crissman and driven by Anthony Morgan, will leave from the two post in the same race with Western Graduate. Captiva Island’s last start was at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in a Sires Stakes division, stopping the timer in 1:52.1.

Elusive Prey, another Western Hanover filly, is also in the eight-horse field and has amassed earnings of $244,307 in 2007 with four wins, seven seconds and four third-place finishes. Elusive Prey was fourth to Western Graduate in the 2007 Jugette. Mike Simons is down to drive Elusive Prey for trainer Kevin Johnson.

Keeping Pace: All fans attending Saturday afternoon’s race card will be receiving a commemorative key chain while supplies last. Post time is 2:00 p.m. and admission and parking are free.

Survival Saturday also will conclude when one of 20 handicapping finalists is crowned the 2007 champion. The winner will be receiving $5,000.