by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Freehold, NJ — Three eliminations will be contested this Saturday (June 18) for the Earl Beal Jr. Memorial for 3-year-old trotters at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. The $500,000 final is June 25.

Pastor Stephen, last season’s Dan Patch Award winner as best 2-year-old male trotter, starts from post No. 1 in the second of the three divisions. He is the 2-1 morning line favorite for driver Ron Pierce and trainer Jimmy Takter.

Last year, Pastor Stephen won the William Wellwood Memorial and was second in the Breeders Crown and Valley Victory on his way to $653,748 in purses. So far this season, he is 2-for-2, with one of the triumphs coming in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes.

Pastor Stephen’s elim also includes, in post position order, Luckycharm Hanover, Way Back When, Broad Bahn, Big Rigs, and Whit.

Broad Bahn was second in the Wellwood and won a Breeders Crown elimination before being sidelined by a fracture. He has one win and a second in two starts this year. He starts from post four for driver George Brennan and trainer Noel Daley.

Big Rigs was a multiple-stakes-winner last year and is 1-for-1 this season, with a victory in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes. He will start from post five with driver George Napolitano Jr. at the lines for trainer Kelly O’Donnell.

The first elim features Empire Breeders Classic winner Whatever It Takes, who is the 2-1 morning line favorite. He got post one for driver Andy Miller and trainer Julie Miller.

Also in the elim, in post position order, are I Love New York, I’m The Answer, Opening Night, Buffalino Hanover, and Swan In A Million.

The morning line favorite in the third elim is Dejarmbro, who is 2-1 for trainer/driver Trond Smedshammer and will start from the rail. He was last year’s New York Sire Stakes champion and finished second to Whatever It Takes in this season’s Empire Breeders Classic.

Completing the field, in post position order, are Ride In Style, Charlie De Vie, Winuendo, Magnum Kosmos, Leader Of The Gang, and Bambino Hall.