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

Wilkes-Barre, PA — The first of three elimination races for the 2008 Delvin Miller Adios, set for Friday, August 1, appears to be the toughest. Each of the elimination races will carry purses of $50,000 with the final on Saturday, August 9, going for $350,000.

Included in the eight-horse field in the opener are Moon Beam, Rudy Rednose and Dali, all with earnings in excess of $100,000 in 2008. Moon Beam, trained by Eric Abbatiello and with Jim Morrill, Jr. down to drive, has drawn the three post while Rudy Rednose (Brian Sears) will be leaving from the five hole. George Teague, Jr. trains Rudy Rednose. Dali, with John Campbell in the sulky, will leave from post six. Duane Marfisi is the trainer for Dali.

Moon Beam has two seconds and two thirds in five starts this season and is coming off a 1:49.2 mile in the Meadowlands Pace consolation race. Moon Beam won four of six races and more than $407,000 as a freshman. Rudy Rednose was second in the New Jersey Classic this season with a 1:49.4 clocking. This gelding has won four of eight starts in 2008. Rudy Rednose didn’t race as a 2-year-old. Dali has one win this year in six starts along with one second. That win came in a Burlington division at Mohawk with a time of 1:50.3. Dali has competed in the Meadowlands Pace, Hoosier Cup and North America Cup.

Goddess’s Justin, trained by Jim Arledge, Jr. and with Tim Tetrick in the bike, will have the one post in that opening elimination. This 3-year-old Western Hanover gelding has five wins and three seconds with $93,377 in purses. Goddess’s Justin is coming off a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes win in 1:52 at the Meadows.

Other horses in the first Adios split with posts and drivers include 2 – Trade Editor (Andy Miller), 4 – Lonestar Legend (David Miller), 7 – Stonebridge Magnum (Ron Pierce) and 8 – Real Celebration (Ray Paver).

Lonestar Legend, trained by Don Swick, is coming into the Adios elimination race with three consecutive victories, one in he W.N. Reynolds Memorial Stake at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs with a time of 1:50.1.

Second elimination race field with posts are as follows: 1 – Todd J H Hanover (John Campbell), 2 – Dragoon K (Tim Tetrick), 3 – Idle Hour (Brian Sears), 4 – Mystery Chase (Brian Sears), 5 – Atochia (Dave Palone), 6 – Upfront Hannahsboy (Tim Tetrick), 7 – Lookout Hanover (Mike Wilder) and 8 – Yankee Rocketeer (Tony Morgan).

Upfront Hannahsboy was a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes winner at the Northeastern Pennsylvania oval on July 1 with a clocking of 1:49.2, a new track record for a 3-year-old pacing colt. Tetrick was in the bike. Arledge also trains Upfront Hannahsboy, who has amassed $144,702 in 2008 earnings.

Final elimination race field includes the following: 1 – Major General (Andy Miller), 2 – Lisfinny (Ron Pierce), 3 – Allamerican Major (Daniel Dube), 4 – Sand Shooter (Tim Tetrick), 5 – Its That Time (Dave Palone), 6- Shadow Play (David Miller), 7 – Blueridge Western (Yannick Gingras) and 8 – Mjbudah Baby.

Sand Shooter, another standout 3-year-old trained by Arledge, has earned $136,312 this season and $465,957 in his career. In his last race Sand Shooter paced the mile in 1:48.1, finishing fifth in the $1.1 million Meadowlands Pace final. Sand Shooter won a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes race at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs on July 1 with a time of 1:50.2.