Some high-powered free-for-all and invitational pacers recorded impressive victories during the Wednesday morning (March 4) qualifying session at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

Fastest of all was the veteran Riverboat King gelding Theartofconfusion A, who paced a 1:49.3 all-age track record mile at Yonkers Raceway last year. On Wednesday, Theartofconfusion A motored home in :56 – despite having raced first-up – to record a 1:55.1 victory for driver Eric Carlson and trainer Gilbert Garcia-Herrera. Theartofconfusion A is looking to compile a third consecutive season in which he banks at least $200,000 in purse earnings for co-owners Garcia-Herrera and Barbara and Donald Arnstine.

Eight-year-old Real Desire mare Eclipse Me N, who set a 1:48.2 divisional world record at Pocono last year, flew home in :55.2 to stop the timer in 1:55.4 in her qualifier Wednesday morning. Simon Allard was in the sulky for trainer/brother Rene and the ownership of Allard Racing Inc., Yves Sarrazin, and Donald Mac Rae.

Trainer Rene Allard has been ‘le Boss’ of the local conditioning ranks, as he has secured six titles in the last seven years. Allard’s 2018 Hempt winner Springsteen sounded a strong winning note Wednesday with a 1:56.1 victory, in which he came home with his own last half in :56.1 for driver Simon Allard. Allard Racing Inc. co-owns the son of Rock N Roll Heaven with Bruce Soulsby, Alan Weisenberg, and Kapildeo Singh.

(PHHA / Pocono)