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

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Barber Pole, River Shark, Chasin Racin, Arctic Warrior and Dan Carter head up a field of talented 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings that will be converging on Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs for the 2009 Max C. Hempt Memorial Pace elimination races on Saturday (May 16).

There will be three divisions of the Hempt elimination races with the top three finishers from each of the races moving on to the following Saturday’s $300,140 final. Each of the divisions carries a purse of $25,012.

Race 7 of the 16-race Preakness Day card at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs features Arctic Warrior, coming off a third-place finish in the $230,000 Berry’s Creek final at the Meadowlands; Dan Carter, who recently swept the Mohegan Pace final with a 1:50.3 time over the five-eighths-mile oval; along with the George Teague, Jr. entry of Johnny Z and Chasin Racin, who will have the five post.

Steve Cook trains Arctic Warrior, who will be leaving from the four post. Chasin Racin has won four of five starts in 2009 with a 1:51.1 clocking in the $104,400 Matt’s Scooter Final at the Meadowlands.

Barber Pole, another of the talented 3-year-olds from the powerful Teague Jr. barn, is two for two in 2009, winning his last race at the Meadowlands with a time of 1:49 with Tim Tetrick in the bike. Tetrick also will be driving Barber Pole (post three) on Saturday afternoon at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

Also in the ninth race and second division is River Shark, the favorite in the Berry’s Creek final who went on an early break and finished way back in the tenth spot. River Shark, with Dan Dube in the bike, will be leaving from post six and is a winner of four of nine starts with three third-place finishes in 2009.

Race 11 also will have another talented field of 3-year-olds, including Built To Drive, a winner of three straight with the last victory coming at the Meadowlands with a time of 1:50.3. Teague Jr. also trains Built To Drive, who will leave from the six hole with Brian Sears in the bike.

Also in this field is Ron Burke-trained Sheer Desire, a winner of three of four starts in 2008 with a 1:49.3 world record time at Lexington’s Red Mile. Sheer Desire has drawn the five post.