Pocono Downs Selections for Saturday, June 29

In perhaps one of the biggest evenings of racing at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs (after all the Breeders Crown will be raced later this year there), we have a quartet of top flight stakes races being contested on the sixteen race card; $300,000 James M. Lynch Memorial, $500,000 Max C. Hempt Memorial, $500,000 Ben Franklin FFA, and the $500,000 Earl Beal Jr. Memorial.  It may not be the Breeders Crown, it isn't Super Sunday, but it is Pretty Darn Special Saturday at Pocono Downs.  Why this quartet of races isn't being provided (cable) television coverage as Super Sunday gets I don't know.  You know it is a special week of racing when Arch Madness is competing in the first race of a race card.

One thing to watch for if you are thinking of dipping in the the wagering action at Pocono Downs is the takeout rates.  The Pick-3 is a reasonable 15% rake while exactas and doubles have a 20% rake.  Straight wagers have a 19% cut.  However, you really want to look out for the obscene rake on the trifecta and superfecta which come in at 30%.


Here are my abbreviated selections for the sixteen race card.

1st Trot - $25,000 Preferred Handicap
6 - Arch Madness (Sears, 5-2)
1 - Keystone Thomas (Pavia, 6-1)
5 - Uncle Peter (D Miller, 2-1)
2 - Holy Halibut (Kakaley, 10-1)

2nd Pace - $14,000 Claiming $20,000
1 - St Pete Star (Tetrick, 5-2)
2 - Rock N Roll Star (Naploitano, 4-1)
3 - Light Up The Sky (Kakaley, 9-2)
4 - Casino King (Pierce, 3-1)

3rd Trot - $50,000 Earl Beal Jr Memorial Consolation
4 - Banco Solo (Brennan, 4-1)
6 - Smoother Ride (Sears, 3-1)
2 - Boffin (Norris, 10-1)
1 - High Bridge (Gingras, 5-2)

4th Pace - $18,000 Claiming Handicap $25,000-$30,000
2 - Northern Mcardle (Tetrick, 9-2)
3 - Waylon Hanover (Pavia, 5-2)
4 - Blended Whiskey (Allard, 4-1)
7 - C'mon Buzz Off (Drury, 3-1)

5th Pace - $50,000 Ben Franklin FFA Consolation
2 - Rockincam (Sears, 5-2)
5 - Fred And Ginger (Pierce, 7-2)
4 - Heston Blue Chip (Tetrick, 6-1)

6th Pace - $16,000 4 and 5yos Claiming $25,000
5 - Best Ears (Morrill, 5-2)
4 - In Mint Condition (Wallis, 12-1)
9 - Nabber Again (Brennan, 5-1)
1 - Arsenal (Kakaley, 4-1)

7th Pace - $50,000 Max C. Hempt Memorial Consolation
3 - Good Day Mate (Pierce, 6-1)
5 - Lonewolf Currier (Sears, 5-2)
2 - Dedi's Dragon (Kakaley, 3-1)
9 - Ultimate Beachboy (Mccarthy, 15-1)

8th Pace - $25,000 Preferred
3 - Abelard Hanover (Milby, 7-2)
2 - Bet On The Law (Pavia, 3-1)
7 - Aracache Hanover (Mcnair, 5-2)

9th Pace - $300,000 James M. Lynch Memorial (3yo Fillies)
3 - Ms Caila J Fra (Allard, 4-1)
5 - Shebestingin (D Miller, 3-1)
4 - Charisma Hanover (Kakaley, 9-2)
7 - Jerseylicious (Callahan, 10-1)

10th Pace - $500,000 Max C. Hempt Memorial (3yo Open)
2 - Word Power (Callahan, 4-1)
4 - Rockin Amadeus, 12-1)
9 - Captaintreacherous (Tetrick, 5-2)
7 - Vegas Vacation (Sears, 7-2)

11th Pace - $500,000 Ben Franklin FFA
4 - Foiled Again (Gingras, 5-2)
7 - Modern Legend (Campbell, 10-1)
3 - Clear Vision (Kakaley, 12-1)
6 - Pet Rock (D Miller, 5-1)

12th Trot - $500,000 Earl Beal Jr. Memorial (3yo Open)
2 - Dontyouforgetit (Gingras, 3-1)
5 - Possessed Fashion, 6-1)
4 - Corky (D Miller, 5-1)
1 - Royalty For Life (Sears, 5-2)

13th Pace - $21,000 NW $24,000 Last 5 Starts 
8 - Raji's Blue Line (Pierce, 20-1)
5 - Arockin Hanover (Napolitano, 15-1)
9 - Foreign Officer (Sears, 8-1)
4 - Steelhead Hanover (Pavia, 4-1)

14th Pace - $21,000 NW $24,000 Last 5 Starts
1 - Townslight Hanover (Mccarthy, 3-1)
3 - Musselsfrmbrussels (Allard, 5-2)
8 - Miers Hanover (Kakaley, 10-1)
9 - Martial Bliss (Brennan, 15-1)

15th Pace - $19,000 NW $16,000 Last 5 Starts
1 - Shock It To 'Em (Pierce, 3-1)
4 - Take It Back Terry (Kakaley, 5-2)
2 - Keemosabe (Buter, 4-1)
8 - Maytime Terror (Napolitano, 20-1)

16th Pace - $15,000 NW $11,000 Last 5 Starts
2 - B N Bad (Pierce, 3-1)
4 - Laurent Hanover (Buter, 7-2)
1 - Alex Bullville (Pavia, 6-1)
5 - Moses Terror (Napolitano, 5-1)