by John Zimich, publicity director, Pocono Downs

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Two elimination races of the James M. Lynch Memorial Pace for three-year-old fillies on Saturday evening (June 5) at The Downs at Pocono will determine the nine horse field for the $114,176 final the following week.

In the opening division, George Napolitano, Jr., the track’s leading driver and trainer who has been setting a torrid pace at the Northeastern Pennsylvania racetrack, will be in the sulky with Reindeer Can Fly. The three-year-old The Panderosa filly has drawn the four hole. Reindeer Can Fly, trained by Paul Doherty, is coming off a 1:53⁴ victory at The Downs at Pocono, winning by almost 10 lengths.

Other horses in this field and posts include: 1 – Whatsupcuz (Howard Parker), 2 – West Coast Arturo (Mike Simons), 3 – Honest Ironstone (Dean Zaimes, 5 – Day After Day (Herve Filion), 6 – Modern Hanover (Sean Bier), 7 – LT’s Magic, Jim Taggart, Jr.), and 8 – Wilma Hall (Joe Pavia, Jr.).

Whatsupcuz, a three-year-old The Panderosa filly also trained by Parker, had a 1:52¹ victory from the seven hole on May 23 at the Meadowlands.

Swirly, drawing the two post in the second division, looks like the one to beat there. Parker will be in the bike for trainer Ronald Coyne, Jr. Swirly has won four of nine starts in 2004 with three seconds and a third. One of Swirly’s wins was a 1:53⁴ clocking at Woodbine in Canada.

Remainder of this field and posts are 1 – JK Matchmaker (Joe Pavia, Jr.), 3 – Character Counts (Mike Simons), 4 – Romance Me (Sean Bier), 5 – Queen Of The Ball (Jim Taggart, Jr.), 6 – Artbiration (Patrick Berry), 7 – Hrubys N’ Diamonds (Matt Romano), and 8 – Western Countess (Napolitano, Jr.).

The top four finishers in each of the elimination races will make the final along with the fastest fifth place finisher.