This Is The Plan powered to the front early and wired his competition with a 1:51 performance to take the second of three $25,000 Breeders Crown eliminations for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Saturday, Oct. 20.

The other elimination winners were Dorsoduro Hanover and Shnitzledosomethin, who upset a Field that included supplement Lather Up.

The Ron Burke trainee This Is The Plan was to the top from post seven with I’m A Big Deal securing the pocket to a :26.4 quarter. Meadowlands Pace winner Courtly Choice, sent the 4-5... more...

Favored Tactical Landing with Brian Sears in the sulky kicked off Saturday night Breeders Crown elimination action from Mohegan Sun Pocono, winning the first $25,000 Crown elimination for three-year-old trotting colts in 1:52. Kentucky Futurity champion Six Pack won the second elim by open lengths.

Sears moved a Tactical Landing from well back at the three-eighths, battling leader Met’s Hall for most of the mile before pulling away at the top of the stretch to win by five lengths. Met’s Hall finished second, with Jula Downtown third and Evaluate fourth. Those four all advance to the $500,000 Breeders Crown Final next Saturday. Gemologist... more...

From start to finish, Atlanta and driver Scott Zeron led the six-horse field and won the second $25,000 Breeders Crown elim for three-year-old trotting fillies on the "sloppy" track at Pocono Downs on Oct. 20, skillfully holding off a late-closing Lily Stride to win in 1:53. The first of the two elims for 3-year-old trotting fillies went to Plunge Blue Chip.

In the second elim, the field lined up behind Atlanta, with Lily Stride next, followed by Manchego, then Ciao Dolce, Supergirl Riley and Phaetosive. Atlanta cut the fractions in :28, :57.4 and 1:26.

At three-quarters the only movement behind Atlanta came from Phaetosive. She came to the... more...

Youaremycandygirl ($4.20), a noted frontstepper, moved to the lead in front of the stands and went on to a hard-fought head victory over Alexa’s Power in the sole $25,000 three-year-old pacing filly Breeders Crown elimination Saturday night at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

The sophomore fillies saw 11 horses declare for the Breeders Crown, with Kissin In The Sand and Baron Remy taking byes into the Championship (earnings-based) and the other nine being reduced by two in the elim.

Alexa’s Power fired to the top early ahead of Double A Mint; Youaremycandygirl and driver Yannick Gingras were on the move from third approaching the 27.4... more...

The ironsided New Zealand pacing mare Shartin N ($4.40) was hustled to the lead over a "sloppy" track Saturday at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, then went on to a one-length victory in her $25,000 elimination of the Open Mare Pace. Call Me Queen Be captured the first elim for pacing mares earlier in the evening.

As for Shartin N, the daughter of Tintin In America, who is now tied for second in wins in North America with her 17th win of the year (one behind Always A Prince), left well from post eight for driver Tim Tetrick, and she would not settle for an early "tuck," but went on to the front in a demanding 26.3 opener. Shartin N, the second choice behind even-money chalk Caviart Ally, was able to back off the... more...

The field for Saturday’s $250,000 Breeders Crown Mare Trot is set after Emoticon Hanover and NF Happenstance won their respective eliminations Saturday night at Pocono.

The next three finishers -- Ariana G, Ice Attraction and Celebrity Ruth from the first split and Barn Bella, Pink Pistol and Caprice Hill from the second elimination -- will join the winners, in the final, along with Broadway Donna from the second division, the fifth-place finisher with the highest earnings.

Second-choice Emoticon Hanover, trained by Luc Blais, sat in the pocket behind Ariana G to win the first $25,000 elimination in 1:52.4, going by the favorite in deep... more...

Guardian Angel AS and Top Flight Angel recorded commanding wins in their respective $25,000 Breeders Crown or Open Trot elims at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Oct. 20.

In the first elim, Matt Kakaley steered Guardian Angel AS to victory after taking the lead after the :28.1 first quarter set by Pinkman. Guardian Angel AS easily came from third to take control of the race, going on to cut the half in :57 and three-quarters in 1:24.3.

Pinkman drafted... more...

Draws for post positions for the Breeders Crown 2-year-old events were held Friday night, following the eliminations at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono. All finals will be contested Saturday night, Oct. 27, at Pocono. Eliminations for 3 year olds and older horses will be contested Saturday night, Oct.... more...