by John Zimich, publicity director, Pocono Downs

Green Dot, trained by Steven Bush and driven by Dave Palone, is favored to win the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship Saturday night (Sept. 3) at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

The Northeastern Pennsylvania racetrack will be hosting the Pennsylvania Championship Finals with each of the four races carrying purses of $100,000 each.

Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs will be crowning the three-year-old champions in 2005.

Earlier this summer, Green Dot, driven by Palone was a winner of a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes race here with a clocking of 1:55.4, a new lifetime mark. Since that time, Green Dot has a victory, two seconds and a third coming into the Pennsylvania Championship Finals.

Green Dot will be leaving from the No. 6 post in the opening $100,000 race to crown the three-year-old colts and geldings trot champion.

Also in this eight-horse field is Amour Ami, trained and driven by Per Henriksen. This three-year-old Tagliabue colt, leaving from the seven post, has won seven of 12 starts in 2005 with a 1:55.4 lifetime best at Woodbine in Canada.

Second $100,000 race will feature three-year-old filly trotters and one of the horses to beat here is Coulantine, drawing the No. 4 post. Palone is also scheduled to drive this trotter, a winner of three of 10 starts this season with four thirds. She’s trained by Doug Miller.

Filly trotters to watch in this $100,000 race include Sunseeker Kosmos, a winner of five of 12 starts this year, and Rosebud Sioux, a victor of four of 10 races this season.

P-Forty-Seven, driven by Palone and trained by Kelly O’Donnell, has drawn the No. 1 post for the $100,000 colts and geldings pacers. This three-year-old colt has won four of 12 starts this season with a seasonal best of 1:48.2 at the Meadowlands.

Horses to watch in this race include Roddy’s Bags Again, who has won eight of 14 starts this year, including a recent 1:52.4 mile in a division of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes; Mega Hall and Pembroke Flex, an entry both trained by Randy Bendis.

Final $100,000 race will feature the three-year-old pacing fillies, including Up Front Dragonfly, leaving from the two post. She’s also scheduled to be driven by Palone and will leave from the No. 2 hole. She has won 12 of 21 starts this year, including a 1:52.2 mile at the Meadows.

Other horses expected to contend for this crown include May Sue Todd (George Napolitano, Jr.) and Jamie’s Character (Yannick Gingras).

KEEPING PACE-Each fan paying regular $1 admission price will be receiving a monogrammed Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs tote bag while supplies last.