The fields have been drawn for the $500,000 Max Hempt Memorial, the $500,000 Ben Franklin Free-For-All, the $500,000 Earl Beal Jr. Memorial and the $300,000 James Lynch Memorial, which will highlight a stellar 16-dash card of harness racing at Pocono Downs this Saturday night (June 29).
First-race post time is 6:30 p.m.
In the Max Hempt (Race 10, 9:12 p.m.), North America Cup winner Captaintreacherous has drawn the disadvantaged Post 9 for driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Tony Alagna. Fellow elimination winners Emeritus Maximus and Sunfire Bluechip drew better than 'The Captain,' but will not start from inside posts. Sunfire Blue Chip will start from Post 8 for driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Jimmy Takter, while Emeritus Maximus will start from Post 5 for driver Doug McNair and trainer Tony Alagna.
The field for the 'Hempt' appears below.
For a recap of all of the eliminations, click here.
$500,000 Max C. Hempt Memorial
(Race 10, 9:12 p.m.)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver
1 - Martini Hanover - Jim Morrill Jr.
2 - Word Power - Corey Callahan
3 - Evenin Of Pleasure - Jody Jamieson
4 - Rockin Amadeus - Yannick Gingras
5 - Emeritus Maximus - Doug McNair
6 - Johny Rock - Andy Miller
7 - Vegas Vacation - Brian Sears
8 - Sunfire Blue Chip - Yannick Gingras
9 - Captaintreacherous - Tim Tetrick
AE1 - Dedis Dragon - Matt Kakaley
AE2 - Good Day Mate - Ron Pierce
The fields for the James Lynch, Earl Beal Jr. and Ben Franklin appear below.
$500,000 Ben Franklin Free-For-All
(Race 11, 9:30 p.m.)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver
1 - Razzle Dazzle - Brian Sears
2 - Up The Credit - Jody Jamieson
3 - Clear Vision - Matt Kakaley
4 - Foiled Again - Yannick Gingras
5 - Our Lucky Chip - Tyler Buter
6 - Pet Rock - David Miller
7 - Modern Legend - John Campbell
8 - Betterthancheddar - George Brennan
9 - Dynamic Youth - Andrew McCarthy
AE1 - Rockincam - Brian Sears
AE2 - Bolt The Duer - Mark MacDonald
$500,000 Earl Beal Jr. Memorial
(Race 12, 9:48 p.m.)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver
1 - Royalty For Life - Brian Sears
2 - Dontyouforgetit - Yannick Gingras
3 - Picture This - Charlie Norris
4 - Corky - David Miller
5 - Possessed Fashion - John Campbell
6 - Fico - Ron Pierce
7 - Crystal Phenom - Andrew McCarthy
8 - Celebrity Maserati - Tom Jackson
9 - Smilin Eli - Tim Tetrick
AE1 - Banco Solo - George Brennan
AE2 - Dewycolorintheline - Tim Tetrick
$300,000 James M. Lynch Memorial
(Race 9, 8:54 p.m.)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver
1 - Nikki Beach - Ron Pierce
2 - Authorize - Yannick Gingras
3 - Ms Caila J Fra - Simon Allard
4 - Charisma Hanover - Matt Kakaley
5 - Shebestingin - David Miller
6 - Somwherovrarainbow - Montrell Teague
7 - Jerseylicious - Corey Callahan
8 - I Luv The Nitelife - Tim Tetrick
9 - Mattie Terror Girl - Jody Jamieson
AE1 - UF Dragons Queen - Brain Sears
AE2 - Live Entertainment - Yannick Gingras
An open draw for post positions for the feature races in Saturday’s $2-million Sun Stakes Saturday card at Pocono Downs proved extremely unkind to many of the likely favourites in the events, with the unkindest luck of all being delivered to the three-year-old colts, as pacer Captaintreacherous and trotter Smilin Eli both must contend with the outside Post 9.
Both Captaintreacherous and Smilin Eli will put their four-race seasonal unbeaten streaks on the line Saturday. Captaintreacherous, the defending Pacer of the Year, was able to win on the engine in his Max Hempt Memorial elimination last week, sprinting home in 53 seconds to defeat a game Vegas Vacation. That rival, a closer, may have been even harder-hit by the draw, as he will begin from Post 7 in the $500,000 Hempt final. Between them is the fastest Hempt elim winner, Sunfire Blue Chip --- faring the best was the other elim winner, Emeritus Maximus, who drew Post 5.
Smilin Eli, who was unraced at two, will put his perfect four-for-four record on the line in the $500,000 Earl Beal Final. 'Eli' did win from the outside Post 8 in his elim, as he set a fast pace and fending off his foes late, but his task should be tougher here. Dontyouforgetit, the fastest Beal elim winner, will start from Post 1.
Captaintreacherous and Smilin Eli will both benefit from the sulky services of Tim Tetrick, as will I Luv The Nightlife, who headlines the $300,000 Jim Lynch final. The pacing filly got the best draw of the three Tetrick charges --- Post 8 --- but she will likely still be favoured off an in-control victory last Saturday. Ms Caila J Fra, the other Lynch elim winner, has benefitted by drawing drawn Post 3.
Somewhat surprisingly, Tetrick did not qualify a horse for the $500,000 Ben Franklin final for free-for-all pacers. Defending 'Franklin' champion Betterthancheddar got caught up in the bad luck at the 'pill shake,' as he has drawn Post 8. Faring better was the old warhorse Foiled Again (Post 4), who set a world record for his division in his 1:48 elim triumph.
(With files from Pocono)