Pocono: This Is The Plan pounces from pocket in Ben Franklin final

When you're driving in a big race you have to have a plan. Driver Yannick Gingras had a brilliant one, and he executed it perfectly to capture the $500,000 Ben Franklin for free-for-all pacers at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Saturday night in dramatic fashion with This Is The Plan.

Gingras and This Is The Plan left alertly from post five, out-sprinting Western Fame to the front in 26 3/5 before yielding the top to the public choice. Daniel Dube took the field and Western Fame to the half in 54 2/5, and that's when the action picked up big time. McWicked, last year's Franklin champion, came up without cover, but Dube didn't entertain a challenge, instead he hit the accelerator and Western Fame kicked off a 26 2/5 third quarter keeping ample distance between himself and McWicked. All the while This Is The Plan, who was winless coming into the race in seven seasonal starts, was enjoying the perfect pocket trip.

Late on the final turn Sears started getting McWicked engaged, and he began bearing down on the pace-setter, but Gingras had plenty of room in the passing lane, and This Is The Plan responded in a major way to score by a neck in 1:48 2/5 with McWicked up for second and Western Fame settling for third. Duplicated finished fourth, with Miso Fast earning the final check.

"I was very confident in the horse," said Gingras following the race. "He sat behind Western Fame in the elimination and was loaded; they just came home too fast."

Trained by Ron Burke, This Is The Plan, a 4-year-old gelding by Somebeachsomewhere, returned $26.80 for the victory. He's owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, J & T. Silva, Purnell & Libby and Larry Karr.

"Once the race started and everything set up I said 'we had a good shot if Dube carried us,'" said Mickey Burke Jr., assistant trainer.

There was also a $75,000 consolation on the card, and Highalator (Richard Still) bounced back after a poor performance in his elimination cost him a spot in the final, clearing to the lead from first-up in the third quarter and going on to win in 1:48 for trainer/co-owner Jenny Bier.