Pocono: Field set for Ben Franklin final after three eliminations

McWicked and driver Brian Sears overpowered the competition in one of three $35,000 preliminaries to the $500,000 Ben Franklin at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Saturday night. The 7-year-old gave veteran Mach It So the early advantage but came up with a forceful first-over assault on the backstretch and drew clear in a 1:48 3/5 mile.

McWicked, sent off as the 1-5 favorite in the field, was relaxed early as Mach It So set fractions of 26 and 54 2/5. At that point Sears took the son of McArdle to the outside and matched strides with the leader through a 27 flat third quarter. McWicked asserted his class in the stretch, easing away from all rivals. Rockin Ron came free from the pocket to gain the place spot, with Mac's Jackpot rallying wide to nail the other berth.

Casie Coleman trains McWicked for the S S G Stables.

Heaven Rocks A made good use of a live cover trip to capture another Franklin elimination for driver David Miller. Missile J made an early sprint for the lead in 26 1/5 but broke stride briefly after that call and Check Six took control for Yannick Gingras through a half in 54 1/5. The long grind up the backstretch proved favorable to the winner as Western Fame attacked without cover, towing the 3-10 favored Heaven Rocks A to the final turn and a 1:22 three-quarters. Miller sent the import wide and immediately circled the field as Miller guided him confidently over longshot Donttellmeagain, with Western Fame holding sternly for third.

Ross Croghan trains Heaven Rocks A for owners Let It Ride Stables, Dana Parham and Misty Miller. The 1:49 3/5 mile was a career-best for the winner.

Sintra crossed the wire first but was disqualified in the final Franklin elimination division after going inside pylons through the stretch and set back to third. As a result of the placing, All Bets Off got the victory for driver Matt Kakaley after losing the original photo by a nose.

Filibuster Hanover blasted to the front from the outside, moving past Sintra quickly, but yielded to his stablemate All Bets Off at the quarter in 26 1/5. All Bets Off cut solid fractions of 54 2/5 and 1:21 with little dispute as Filibuster Hanover followed in the pocket and 3-5 favorite Sintra and Jody Jamieson elected to sit in third.

In the stretch All Bets Off bore out some, allowing Filibuster Hanover a clear chance, but he could not advance. Sintra moved through further inside and was able to get his nose up on the wire in a 1:48 4/5 mile but shortly thereafter was set back for going inside two pylons.

All Bets Off, a 7-year-old by Bettor's Delight, returned $9 for the victory. A near-$3 million winner, All Bets Off is trained by Ron Burke and owned by Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Baldachino and Panhellenic Stable.