The talent pool was deep from start to finish in Saturday’s Sun Stakes elimination night at Pocono Downs, and it turned out to be a night that had a little bit of everything, including upsets, speed shows and even a disqualification.

Here's what transpired:

$25,000 Max C. Hempt Memorial Eliminations

Lather Up blasted to the lead for driver Montrell Teague, and the recent winner of the Pepsi North America Cup never looked back en route to an eye-catching score in 1:49.2.

The three-year-old son of Im Gorgeous-Pocket Comb sped through fractions of :26.2, :55.4 and 1:22.2 before kicking home in :27.3 to defeat Nutcracker Sweet. Taking home third prize was Wes Delight.

Clyde Francis conditions the homebred for Gary & Barbara Iles of Harrington, DE. The colt is now 7-for-7 this season and 11-for-14 in his career. He’ll go into next week’s final boasting a bankroll of $679,600.

Hitman Hill went to the top and didn’t look back for driver Brett Miller, who guided the Chris Oakes trainee to an eye-catching score in 1:49.3.

Miller put the pedal to the metal with the three-year-old son of American Ideal-Fox Valley Shaker, who ripped through fractions of :26.2, :54.4 and 1:22.1 before sealing the deal in 1:49.3. Shnitzledosomethin was next best, and Stay Hungry rounded out the Trifecta ticket.

Tom Hill of Lancashire, UK and Northfork Racing Stable of Wilkes-Barre, PA share ownership on the seven-time winner who nabbed his first win of the season. The $12,500 payday bumped his cash stash to $186,583.

Dorsoduro Hanover was heavily-favoured to prevail, and he did – by a neck – for driver Matt Kakaley and trainer Ron Burke.

Kakaley took a tuck into fifth with Dorsoduro Hanover while longshot Decoy fired to the top and clicked off an opening quarter in :26.1. This Is The Plan then brushed to the lead and came under immediate attack from Dorsoduro Hanover. Those two battled through middle panels of :55.1 and 1:22.1 before Dorsoduro Hanover got the upper hand in the closing strides. He stopped the clock in 1:49.1 winning over Springsteen and This Is The Plan.

It was the fourth win of the season from five trips postward for the three-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere-Deer Valley Miss. The six-time winner has banked $172,668 to date for Burke Racing Stable LLC, Silva Purnel And Libby, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Wingfield Five LLC.

$25,000 Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial Eliminations

Manchego is now 3-for-3 to start the season and 15-for-15 in her career for trainer Jimmy Takter thanks to her 1:52.4 triumph with driver Yannick Gingras in tow.

Gingras watched Fourth Dimension fire to the quarter pole in :26.4 before brushing by that foe with Manchego. Once she cleared, she sliced out middle splits of :56 and 1:24.4. A :28-second closing quarter was just enough for the filly to edge out Crystal Fashion. Mississippi Storm was third.

Black Horse Racing, John Fielding and Herb Liverman own the three-year-old daughter of Muscle Hill-Secret Magic. She’ll go into next week’s final boasting a bankroll that now stands at $966,138.

Six Pack stretched his winning streak to seven-in-a-row thanks to a front-stepping score in 1:53.3 for trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt.

The three-year-old son of Muscle Mass-Pleasing Lady rolled through panels of :28, :57.3 and 1:25.4 before using a :27.4 closing quarter to win over Evaluate and Fashionwoodchopper.

Ake Svanstedt Inc, Little E LLC, Stall Kalmar FF and Lars Berg share ownership on the colt who is 4-for-4 this season. The eight-time winner pushed his overall cash stash to $345,055.

Mission Accepted used off-the-pace tactics to capture his assignment in a sharp clocking of 1:53.2 for driver Ryan Stahl and trainer Jeff Conger.

Sent off as the 4-5 favourite in the seven-horse affair, Mission Accepted got away in mid-pack while Whats The Word rolled to the lead and hit the opening marker in :27.4. He hooked up in a second-quarter battle with Patent Leather, and the sped past the half in :57 before Patent Leather sprinted to the top. He hit the three-quarter pole in 1:23.4 before giving way to a Mission Accepted. The favourite sprinted to the line en route to defeating Patent Leather and Lawmaker.

The three-year-old son of Manofmanymissions-Witty Girl is now 4-for-4 this season after going 4-for-7 last year. Trainer Conger shares ownership on the career winner of $268,300 with Knox Services Inc and David Wills.

$35,000 Ben Franklin Memorial Eliminations

All Bets Off laid down all the speed in this elimination only to get nipped right on the money by Sintra. But the inquiry sign flashed moments later, and after examination of the stretch drive Sintra was placed to third leaving the win for All Bets Off.

All Bets Off and Matt Kakaley thundered through fractions of :26.1, :54.2 and 1:21 before being confronted up the rail by Sintra and Filibuster Hanover. Sintra snuck through at the pylons to win by a nose, but was later placed third for going inside a pair of pylons in mid-stretch. All Bets Off was second-placed-first, and Filibuster Hanover was third-placed-second. The time for the mile was 1:48.4.

Ron Burke trains the seven-year-old son of Bettors Delight-Armbro Penelope for Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Frank Baldachino and The Panhellenic Stb Corp. It was the second win of the year – and the 29th to date – for the triple millionaire.

Mcwicked was out of position for driver David Miller when he disappointed as the favourite in last Saturday’s Mohawk Gold Cup Invitational at Woodbine Mohawk Park, but Brian Sears wasn’t about to make that same mistake in tonight’s elimination assignment.

Sears got away fourth with the Casie Coleman trainee, who watched Mach It So muscle to the top and chop out first-half fractions of :26 and :54.2. Mcwicked came first over in the backstretch and gained ground on Mach It So, who cruised past the three-quarter pole in 1:21.2 with Mcwicked coming to his bridle. Mcwicked kicked into another gear at the head of the lane and poured it on in the lane en route to a comfortable score in 1:48.3. Rockin Ron rallied to be second, and Macs Jackpot closed well to finish third.

S S G Stables of North Boston, NY owns the seven-year-old son of Mcardle-Western Sahara. The 25-time winner now boasts a 3-1-0 record from five trips to the track this season. He’s quickly closing in on $2.5 million in lifetime earnings.

Heaven Rocks A was sent off as the 1-5 favourite, and he didn’t disappoint for the duo of driver David Miller and trainer Ross Croghan.

The six-year-old son of Rock N Roll Heaven-Mendelico was in no hurry in the early going, but that wasn’t the case for Missile J. That speedster blasted to the top in :26.1 before rolling off stride as the field passed the grandstand. Check Six swept past that galloping gelding and proceeded to carve out middle fractions of :54.1 and 1:22. Miller tracked cover in the backstretch with Heaven Rocks A, and when he flipped the switch turning for home the gelding rallied to the lead and scored in 1:49.3. Longshot Donttellmeagain was a strong-closing second, with third prize going to Western Fame.

It was the third win of the season for the 14-time winner who races for Let It Ride Stables Inc, Dana Parham and Misty Miller. The victory pushed the pacer’s lifetime earnings over $400,000.

$20,000 James M. Lynch Memorial Eliminations

Kissin In The Sand was treated to a sweet trip by driver Scott Zeron, and when she found room in the late stages of the mile she had enough pace to post a 1:51.1 score for trainer Nancy Johansson.

Zeron hustled his charge to the early lead, and after they fired to the opening quarter in :26.4 they were overtaken by Sidewalk Dancer who then sped through middle splits of :55 and 1:23.1. Kissin In The Sand shot up the rail in the lane, however, and got up to win in 1:51.1 over Sidewalk Dancer and Im Trigger Happy.

The three-year-old daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Kiss Me Kate is owned by Marvin Katz of Toronto, Ont. and Hatfield Stables of Columbus, OH. The filly now owns a 2-2-0 record from four trips postward this season. The nine-time winner lifted her lifetime earnings to $380,120 with the win.

Youaremycandygirl had little to offer in her Fan Hanover elimination two weeks ago at Woodbine Mohawk Park, but she was a different filly in this evening’s assignment for driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Ron Burke.

The three-year-old daughter of American Ideal-Sweet Lady Jane whacked out fractions of :27.1, :56.2 and 1:23.2 before using a :28.1 kicker to win impressively in 1:51.3 over Double A Mint and Alexas Power.

W J Donovan of Delray Beach, FL owns the 11-time winner, who is now 2-for-4 this season after last year’s brilliant rookie campaign in which she assembled a 9-for-11 record. She’s stashed away more than $970,000 to date.

$30,000 Great Northeast Open Series

Bettors Edge laid down blistering, middle-half fractions in a hotly-contested tilt, and the classy gelding lived to tell about it for driver Scott Zeron.

The nine-year-old son of Bettors Delight-Spring Wind, who was sent off at odds of 5-2, watched Rodeo Romeo put up the :25.2 opening panel before rocketing to the top. Bettors Edge took command and tore through middle splits of :53.3 and 1:20 before using a :28-second kicker to win in 1:48.2 over Rodeo Romeo and race favourite Highalator.

It was the sixth win of the season and the 42nd lifetime tally for the double millionaire. He is owned by Robert Santagata and trainer Jennifer Lappe.