from the Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs publicity department

Wilkes-Barre PA — Wishing Stone, the international trotting winner of more than $2 million who started his 2013 campaign in March, seems to be ready to keep going on with it as some rich FFA events loom on the horizon. He stayed sharp with a 1:55.4 qualifying win Thursday at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

Matt Kakaley guided the 6-year-old son of Conway Hall to the lead just past the quarter and kept him rolling from there for trainer Ron Burke, snapping home with a :28.1 final quarter.

Stevensville, a Ray Schnittker pupil who heretofore probably had his most fame as the 67-1 shot who almost wired his field in the rainsoaked “can’t-see-‘em” race at Lexington, rallied from the pocket to catch highly-regarded Western Vintage by three-quarters of a length in 1:53 in a Q race containing freshman horses also looking at rich late-season opportunities.

Both horses were making their first racetrack appearance after not qualifying for their Breeders Crown championship: Stevensville was fifth after being last at the half, while Western Vintage had everything imaginable thrown at him in the first quarter of his elim, causing him to tire in the lane.

Schnittker was the winning driver today behind the son of Somebeachsomewhere; the team of Marcus and Nancy Johansson sent out Western Vintage, an NJSS champion who was second in the Metro.