Sun Stakes eliminations top Grand Circuit

Harness Racing This Week: Ben Franklin Pace, Earl Beal Jr. Memorial, Max C. Hempt Memorial and James M. Lynch Memorial eliminations, The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Schedule of events: The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono will host four sets of stakes eliminations on Saturday (June 24). There will be three $35,000 eliminations in the Ben Franklin for older pacers; a trio of $25,000 eliminations in the Earl Beal Jr. Memorial for 3-year-old trotters and the Max C. Hempt Memorial for 3-year-old pacers; and three $20,000 eliminations in the James M. Lynch Memorial for 3-year-old filly pacers. Complete entries for the races can be found by clicking on this link.

Last time: Last weekend's Grand Circuit action was highlighted by the $730,000 Pepsi North America Cup for 3-year-old pacers at Mohawk Racetrack. Fear The Dragon, driven by David Miller, defeated the bettor's choice Huntsville by three-quarters of a length to capture the prestigious race in 1:48.4 on Saturday (June 17).

Trained by Delaware, Ohio's Brian Brown, Fear The Dragon gave his conditioner his first Cup victory and his driver back-to-back Cup wins. Miller, who now has two trophies, won last year's edition with Betting Line. Stablemate Downbytheseaside, who is also trained by Brown, finished third.

Sports Column and driver Chris Christoforou was quickest off the gate from post five and grabbed the front on the rail. Classic Pro and driver Trevor Henry was close on his heels from post six, making a rush for the lead from the outside. Classic Pro was able to take command at the quarter pole posting a flashy :25.2 opening panel.

The speed revved up in the backstretch. Filibuster Hanover and driver Louis Philippe Roy came first-over from third to clear to the front but a stalking Downbytheseaside, driven by Brian Sears, caught second-over cover and was quick to steal the lead at the midway point. Downbytheseaside posted a scorching :52.1 half, the fastest half-mile in Mohawk history.

The 4-5 favorite, Huntsville, driven by Tim Tetrick, was on the move first-up from fifth before the half. Fear The Dragon followed behind the advancing favorite. Downbytheseaside remained in command past the three-quarters in 1:19.3 and into the lane.

All three Cup elimination winners — Downbytheseaside on the rail, Huntsville in the middle and Fear The Dragon on the outside — battled into the stretch. It then became a two-horse duel between Huntsville and Fear Of The Dragon, but it was the Brian Brown trainee who crossed the wire first, taking a new lifetime mark in the process. Huntsville was second and Downbytheseaside was third.

"My horse was having a hard time keeping up," said Miller of the quick fractions. "He was gapping and I was chasing him and he didn't really get into contention until right at the head of the stretch and then he dug, he fought, Huntsville he kept fighting and it was a battle right to the wire."

Fear The Dragon remains unbeaten as a 3-year-old with six victories from six outings. He notched his 11th lifetime victory in 17 starts. The son of Dragon Again and Armbro Cinnamon increased his career earnings to $684,094 for owner Emerald Highlands Farm.

Complete recaps of the weekend races are available at the Grand Circuit website.

Grand Circuit Standings: In 2017, the Grand Circuit leaders in three categories (driver, trainer and owner) will once again be tracked on a points system (20-10-5 for the top three finishers in divisions/finals and 10-5-2 for the top three finishers in eliminations/legs). Winbak Farms is the sponsor for the 2017 Grand Circuit awards.

Here are the leaders through and including the races on June 17.

Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 253; 2. David Miller – 169; 3. Jason Bartlett – 150; 4. Matt Kakaley – 138; 5. Jordan Stratton – 136.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 270; 2. Peter Tritton – 132; 3. Rene Allard – 119; 4. Richard Banca – 86; 5. Brian Brown – 75.

Owners: 1. Harry von Knoblauch Stable – 103.5; 2. Burke Racing Stable – 61; 3. Weaver Bruscemi – 52.2; 4. J&T Silva Stables – 48.9; 5. Determination – 42.

Looking ahead: Next weekend Pocono will have the finals for the Ben Franklin (older pacers), Earl Beal Memorial (3-year-old trotters), Max Hempt Memorial (3-year-old pacers) and James Lynch (3-year-old filly pacers) as part of a busy weekend of Grand Circuit racing.

Paul Ramlow