by Don Bielak, for Harrah’s Chester Casino & Racetrack

Chester, PA — Seventeen of harness racing’s greatest pacing stars — including nine millionaires — have been entered in two $50,000 eliminations for the Ben Franklin stake at Harrah’s Chester Casino and Racetrack on Sunday, June 8. The first four finishers in each elimination will return for the rich $500,000 Ben Franklin final on Sunday, June 15.

In the first elimination, Brittany Farms, Lindy Farms, and John Fodera’s Mr Feelgood, currently the top rated older pacer in harness racing and a winner of $1.16 million lifetime, will open on the board as the 2-1 favorite in an eight horse field. The 5-year-old son of Grinfromeartoear has won half of his 14 races this year, including a victory in the $284,000 Graduate at the Meadowlands on May 17. Mr Feelgood will leave the gate from post six. The trainee of Jimmy Takter will be handled by Andy Miller.

The other millionares in the first elimination are Mypanmar, Mister Big, Total Truth and Boulder Creek. Palone Ranger, Won The West and Spin Rate round out the field.

Joseph Alborano’s Artistic Fella has been made the 2-1 morning line choice in the second elimination. The 5-year-old Pacific Fella stallion sports 22 wins from 43 lifetime starts with career earnings in excess of $1.81 million. Most recently, the Steve Elliott conditioned horse was narrowly beaten at the wire when he finished second in the $200,000 Dan Patch at Hoosier Park on May 24. Artistic Fella will start from the second tier in post nine in the nine-horse field. He will be guided by Tim Tetrick, who has been in the sulky for all of Artistic Fella’s five outings this year.

Southwind Lynx, Western Ace and Special Report are also millionaires entered in the second elimination. Completing the field are Ghee’s House, Sharky Osborne, Took Hanover, Tivoli Hanover and Radar Installed N.

All told, the 17 entrants in the two eliminations for the Ben Franklin have amassed $19 million in lifetime earnings.

Sunday’s 13-race slate of racing action at Chester will get underway with a first post of 12:25 p.m.