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

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs will open its 2008 harness racing season on Tuesday, April 1, with a 14-race card. Post time is 2:00 p.m.

The 95-day meet will feature live racing on Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday afternoons through September 13.

Tuesday’s racing card will feature a $22,000 Open Trot and the first leg of a $20,000 claimer late closer series.

Instant Photo, trained and driven by Jim Raymer, is the morning line favorite in the Open Trot but will have to overcome the eight post. Instant Photo has one win in eight starts in 2008 and is coming off a second-place finish at Dover Downs in a conditioned event. His lone victory this year was a 1:55.3 clocking at the Delaware track. Instant Photo collected five wins in 2007 and more than $106,000 in earnings.

A Gentleman, trained and driven by John Duer, won more than $112,779 in 2007 and is expected to be the main threat to Instant Photo. A Gentleman, who will leave from the four hole, has only started once this season with a seventh place finish at the Meadowlands in 1:56.3.

Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs is coming off a historic year and more of the same is expected in 2008 with escalating purses from slot revenues in Pennsylvania.