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

Wilkes-Barre, PA — With temperatures in the high 50s and a lightning fast track, speed was the order of the day as Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs held its first qualifying races of the 2010 harness racing season on Thursday (March 11) morning.

Pocono photo

This was the scene Thursday morning at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs as the pacers and trotters were behind the starting gate and ready to race in preparation for the upcoming harness racing season.

Of the 10 qualifying races conducted, the initial race produced the fastest clocking of 1:55.1 for 3-year-old pacer DVC Givemeattitude. Mike Micallef was in the sulky with this qualifying winner.

Second race of the morning also had the fastest time for a trotter when Indian Hill Rocket, reined by Jim Raymer, went wire-to-wire, stopping the timer in 1:56.3.

“This racing surface is lightning fast,” said trainer Mickey Peterson. “It’s as though we never stopped racing since the closing last November 21. It’s hard to believe that the racetrack was just cleared of more than a foot of snow about a week ago. We also have great weather today.”

Also among the regulars on hand for the qualifiers from previous harness racing seasons at the Northeastern Pennsylvania racetrack included Tom Jackson, Mark Gingrich, Tyler Raymer, Larry Stalbaum, Drew Chellis, Jim Taggart, Jr., and Jim Groff.

Jason Bartlett, one of the top drivers in North America, was in the sulky in almost every qualifying race. He said he’ll be a regular on Wednesday nights during the upcoming season that opens Tuesday night, March 23, with a 6:30 p.m. post.

“I wish I could drive more,” Bartlett added. “But my home base is Yonkers and they’ll be racing on the other days Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs is racing.”

Other winners and times were as follows: Moira’s Bliss (John Plutino), 1:57.1; Fort Benning (Tony Schadel), 1:57.3; Shanghi Lil (Bartlett), 1:55.4; Baby Boy Grin (Larry Stalbaum), 1:57.2; Art’s Special Boy (Bartlett), 1:56.4; Enjoy Your Tour (Stalbaum), 2:00.1; Doubleshotascotch (Bartlett), 1:56.1; and Slick Sylvester N (Gingrich), 1:55.3.

Qualifying standards were 2:01 for pacers and 2:03 for trotters with a one-second allowance for 3-year-olds.