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

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Story lines abound in the 2010 Breeders Crown that will be held on Saturday (Oct. 9) at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs with a special post of 5 p.m.

It will be a historic day since all 12 Breeders Crown races will be held on the same day and at the same track. The eyes of the harness racing world will be focused on Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs as more than $6 million in purses will be up for grabs.

First of all, there’s the defining showdown between Muscle Massive, 2010 Hambletonian winner, and runner-up Lucky Chucky in the $500,000 3-year-old colt and gelding trot.

“Lucky Chucky and Muscle Massive have built up quite a rivalry,” said Hall of Fame driver John Campbell at Tuesday’s media conference at the Northeastern Pennsylvania racetrack. “I’m glad we drew inside of him. He (Muscle Massive) might be a little quicker than my horse so I’m going to try to keep him outside at the turn.”

Campbell, who is the all-time leader with 44 Breeders Crown victories and more than $19.7 million in Crown purses, said the two trotters certainly have “stamped” themselves as two of the best in their division.

A win by Lucky Chucky or Muscle Massive more than likely will lock up divisional honors.

Coming into this race, Lucky Chucky has won three straight, including his last outing at Mohawk in the Canadian Trotting Classic with a time of 1:52.2 over the seventh-eighths-mile racing surface. Muscle Massive was third in this race, 5-1/2 lengths back.

Another showdown between two rivals, One More Laugh and Rock N Roll Heaven, takes place in another premier Crown race. That’s the $500,000 Crown pace for 3-year-old colts and geldings.

It was One More Laugh besting Rock N Roll Heaven in the Meadowlands Pace with Tim Tetrick in the sulky. One More Laugh is trained by Ray Schnittker and set to be driven by Tetrick. Rock N Roll Heaven is trained by Bruce Saunders and driven by Daniel Dube.

Before heading out to Delaware, Ohio, for the Little Brown Jug, Saunders had Rock N Roll Heaven in a qualifying race at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, winning easily and under wraps with the timer stopped at 1:51.

Rock N Roll Heaven was sensational in the Little Brown Jug, winning two heats in world record times of 1:49.2 over a half-mile racing surface.

The Saunders conditioned 3-year-old colt pacer is coming into his Crown event on a high note, having won five straight races, including the Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs qualifier.

One More Laugh was third in his heat in the Jug before Schnittker and owners of the 3-year-old gelding decided to scratch him for the second heat. Schnittker noted at the conference he’s not big on heat racing and that the owners wanted to point him to Saturday’s Crown race at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. A win by One More Laugh in the second heat in Ohio would have brought about a third race to decide the Jug.

Saunders chose the No. 3 hole for Saturday’s Crown race while Schnittker decided to go with the No. 2 post. Winners of the elimination races got to select posts for the $500,000 race.

A win by the “Rock” would propel him into the thick of things for year-ending Horse of the Year honors.

There are four Breeders Crown champions from 2009 in Saturday night’s races. They are Buck I St Pat, Lucky Jim, Pilgrims Taj and Won The West.

Won The West will be looking to defend his crown in the $500,000 Open Pace. Last year, Won The West, with Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs’ regular catch driver Jim Morrill, Jr. in the sulky, scorched the racing surface at the Meadowlands with a world record time of 1:47.

Won The West will be leaving from the five post in this race while chief rival Shark Gesture, trained by Larry Remmen, attacks from the No. 1 hole.

Shark Gesture hasn’t raced since going off stride in the Canadian Pacing Derby and finishing 10th after winning two straight races.
The “Shark“ was in a qualifying race at the Northeastern Pennsylvania racetrack on September 23, winning with a time of 1:50.3.

David Miller will be driving Won The West for trainer Ron Burke, who has nine starters in the Crown Saturday. The 6-year-old Western Hanover gelding has won five of 15 starts this season and is coming off two second-place finishes in the Quillen at Harrington in Delaware.

Buck I St Pat, trained by Burke and driven by Tetrick, will have to overcome the seven post in Saturday’s $250,000 older mare trot. The 7-year-old mare has won six of 16 starts this season. In her most recent race, she finished third to Autumn Escapade in Delaware, Ohio, in the Ms Versatility on Jug Day.

Autumn Escapade is in Saturday’s race and will leave from the No. 5 post. She’s trained by Jonas Czernyson and will be driven by Miller.

A total of 108 horses will be seeking to become Breeders Crown champions and only 12 will make it to the winner’s circle. It promises to be a memorable day as another chapter in the rich history of the series will be written.