Dan Carter, trained by North America’s leading trainer Ron Burke, has been tabbed as the 5-2 morning line favorite for Saturday afternoon’s $45,000 Mohegan Pace at

Pocono Downs.

The three-year-old gelding, purchased by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, JJK Stables and W. Haas, Jr., after the pacer’s first lifetime win at the Meadowlands April 8 from Richard Norman, will be attempting to sweep the Mohegan Pace after winning the first two legs with identical times of 1:52. Dan Carter will be looking for three straight at the Northeastern Pennsylvania racetrack and will be leaving from Post 2 with Tim Tetrick in the bike.

“He’s definitely the horse to beat,” said Burke. “We drew the inside post and we’ll have the services of Tim Tetrick. It’s been the Tetrick and (Jim) Morrill, Jr. show thus far at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. Dan Carter is a very versatile horse and does it both ways, on and off the pace. The horse trains well and is getting better and better with each start.”

Dan Carter is a perfect three-for-three in 2009 and has really developed after going 0-6 in his freshman year with four seconds and a third-place finish. Following this race, Dan Carter will be one of several Burke entries for the $300,000 Max C. Hempt Memorial Pace with elimination races set for May 16 at Pocono Downs.

Remainder of the field and posts for Saturday’s Mohegan Pace include No. 1 Riding The Rapids (Morrill, Jr.), No. 3 Picassos Boy (Kevin Sizer) No. 4 Majestic Jackpot (Tom Jackson), No. 5 Hail Storm (Joe Pavia, Jr.), No. 6 Whoyoucallingafool (Jordan Stratton), No. 7 Panplona (Jason Bartlett) and No. 8 Wherethepartysat (Greg Grismore).

Panplona, trained by Erv Miller, is the morning line 3-1 second choice and is coming off a 1:52.2 win April 25 in the second leg of the Mohegan Pace.

(Pocono Downs)