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

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs held its first qualifying races of 2008 in preparation for the opening of the harness racing season on Tuesday afternoon (April 1).

Eight qualifiers were conducted under cloudy skies, cold temperatures and pretty stiff winds.

Anthony (Tony) Coletta drove three of the eight winners while producing driving doubles were Tom Jackson and Greg Wasiluk.

Ohoka Qtee N, piloted by Coletta, turned in the fastest mile of the day for pacers, stopping the timer in 1:58.2. It was a wire-to-wire win.

Coletta won the first qualifying race of the year with Diamond Dan N with a time of 1:59, while another pacer, Beach Enigma N, scored in the seventh race with a 1:59.2 time.

Veteran trotter Donegal, driven and trained by Wasiluk, was the fastest trotter of the opening qualifiers, winning in 2:01.1. Wasiluk also won with trotter Touche Hanover, stopping the clock in 2:03.

Jackson’s two wins came with 3-year-old pacer Jo Pa’s Wild Card (1:59.1) and trotter Lay Lobell (2:03.3).

Mike Simons, perennially one of the top drivers at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, won with trotter Icy Cream in the second race with a time of 2:03.1.

The track was listed as fast with qualifying standards for pacers at 2:05 and trotters at 2:07. Three-year-olds were granted a one second allowance.

More qualifying races are set for Tuesday, March 25, and Thursday, March 27, at 11:00 a.m. prior to the racing season opening here on Tuesday, April 1, with post time of 2:00 p.m.