Best In Show, the 2019 Meadowlands Pace winner, certainly showed he is ready to go for his five-year-old campaign, roaring to a 1:52.3 victory in a Wednesday morning (April 21) qualifier at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

The royally-bred Best In Show (by Bettors Delight out of the $2.4M-winning world champion Put On A Show) was sent right to the top by driver Scott Zeron and made short work of his field, coming home in :26.3 to win by 17 lengths. Trainer Linda Toscano and owners Richard and Joanne Young will undoubtedly be testing this one in against the nation-caliber fast-class pacers shortly.

A pair of three-year-old pacers caught the eye during these qualifiers–with opposite techniques. The Sweet Lou gelding PD The Big Easy, a Kentucky Fairs champion at two, went away to a big lead early, then lasted in the stretch by a nose in 1:55 for driver Anthony Napolitano, trainer Tee Wine, and A Piece Of The Action LLC (Perry De Luna). Mullinax, the Massachusetts Sire Stakes and Excelsior A champion, buzzed home with a last quarter of :26.2, but came up just shy in the picture behind PD The Big Easy.

(PHHA / Pocono)