Pocono: Field set for $500,000 Ben Franklin final

Luck Be Withyou continued his love for the racing surface at The Downs at Pocono with a wire to wire score in the first of two eliminations for the $500,000 Ben Franklin final on Saturday evening.

The Chris Oakes trainee was gunned to the front by George Napolitano, Jr. and set fractions of 26, 53 4/5 and 1:22 without much pressure and drew clear with ease to win in 1:50.

Vegas Vacation swung four-wide on the final turn to get up for second in a blanket finish. Captive Audience and Domethatagain finished in a dead-heat for third to also earn spots into the July 4 finale.

Owned by John Craig, Luck Be Withyou ($14.40) now has seven wins in nine career starts at Pocono.

In the second elimination, State Treasurer did the near impossible, sweeping from last to win in 1:50 3/5.

Dancin Yankee was used to make the front ahead of Mach It So in a 26 1/5 opening quarter but would soon give way to a charge from Bigtown Hero at the half in 54 3/5. The pace continued to be reasonably quick in the slop as Dynamic Youth, who was parked every step, applied light pressure first-over passing three quarters in 1:22.

It was a tight-knit pack at the head of the lane with most of the field in with a shot. Somehow Dynamic Youth edged to the front despite the difficult journey, but State Treasurer motored home from out of the clouds to snag the victory for driver David Miller.

Clear Vision was outkicked by the winner and settled for third ahead of Mach It So, but both made it into the final.

State Treasurer ($8.40) won for the fourth time in seven starts this year for trainer Dr. Iam Moore. He is owned by Sally Macdonald and Paul Macdonald.

Foiled Again, who finished fifth in the first elimination, also advanced to the final on the merit of his 1:50 2/5 final time.

[DRF HARNESS EYE: Digital Harness Eye is now available for purchase--PPs, Analysis, Charts, and more!]