by Jennifer Starr, for Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs

Wilkes-Barre, PA — The first qualifiers of the 2014 racing season were held on Tuesday morning (March 11) at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs and the weather cooperated as the track was listed as fast as the mild temperature was a balmy 44 degrees under brilliant sunshine.

In the first qualifier, Matt Kakaley and Match Play tripped the teletimer in 1:59. Kakaley, regularly among the top five of the driver colony at Pocono, was joined by drivers Mike Simons, Tyler Buter, Tom Jackson, Anthony Napolitano, Andrew McCarthy, Larry Stalbaum and others in 11 qualifying races.

In the eighth qualifying race, Keystone Neptune paced to a final time of 1:54.4, the fastest of the morning races, with Anthony Napolitano in the bike. The pacer took over at the half and never looked back, winning by a 2-3/4 lengths over Quicksilvercandy A.

In all, six out of the 11 qualifying races went in 1:57 or faster.

Qualifiers are also scheduled for Thursday (March 13) and Thursday (March 20).

Opening night is Saturday (March 22). Racing nights are Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday with a post time of 6:30 p.m. Fridays are added in July and August; September through November, racing will take place Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday.