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

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs will be presenting its 2010 Horse of the Year awards Friday and Saturday as the 136-day harness meet concludes.

Pacer of the Year honors will be shared by two horses. Those horses are Golden Receiver and Vlos.

Golden Receiver has been campaigning at the Northeastern Pennsylvania racetrack since April and has won eight Open or Open Handicap Paces. Joe Pavia, Jr. has been the driver with this Village Jove pacer while Mark Harder trains.

Vlos, trained by Eric Mollor, has come on late in the meet, winning four Open or Open Handicap Paces. One of the wins came on Oct. 9 with the 1:48.2 clocking equaling the all-time track mark. George Napoitano, Jr. was in the bike.

Grain Of Truth, a 9-year-old gelding trained by Ray Schnittker, for the second straight year has been named Trotter of the Year. This trotter, like Golden Receiver, mainly raced at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs during the entire meet. With either Schnittker or Tom Jackson in the sulky, Grain Of Truth won six Open Handicap Trots and competed against the best. When not winning, Grain Of Truth would be finishing either second or third and was the most consistent trotter at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

Omen Hanover, a 6-year-old mare trained by Nicholas Surick, garnered Mare of the Year laurels. She won five Open Handicap Paces for fillies and mares here with either Matt Kakaley or Jim Pantaleano driving. Just like Grain Of Truth, Omen Hanover also had a number of second and third-place finishes while going up against the best fillies and mares.

General Montgomery and Boo’s Boy will be sharing Claiming Pacer of the Year honors.

General Montgomery, now trained by John Butenschoen but with Rob Harmon most of the season, started as a $7,000 claiming pacer before moving up the ladder and winning in the $10,000 and $12,500 claiming ranks. A nine-time winner at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, General Montgomery also had several second-place finishes.

Meanwhile, Boo’s Boy, now in the Carmine Fusco barn, also was trained by Sarita Mosher and Anthony Napolitano when winning here. This 4-year-old pacer started out as a $5,000 claimer in Ohio and here at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs was winning in the $10,000, $15,000 and $20,000 claiming ranks. Boo’s Boy won eight starts at the Northeastern Pennsylvania racetrack.

Muscles To Spare is now with trainer Wendy Chellis and was named Claiming Trotter of the Year. This 5-year-old Muscle Yankee trotter won seven times in the $12,500, $15,000 and $20,000 claiming ranks. Several of the wins came with trainer Mosher.

Members of the panel who selected the horses for 2010 honors were Jim Beviglia, track announcer; Randy Castellani, who is co-host of the live racing show at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs; Saul Needle, director of racing; and John Zimich, public relations director for racing and a television host.