Pocono: Top pacers sharp in qualifiers

Some high-powered free-for-all and invitational pacers were very impressive winning Wednesday morning qualifiers at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

Fastest of all was the veteran Riverboat King gelding Theartofconfusion A, who paced a 1:49 3/5 all-age track record mile at Yonkers last year. On Wednesday Theartofconfusion A motored home in 56-flat despite being first-up to complete a 1:55 1/5 victory for driver Eric Carlson and trainer Gilbert Garcia-Herrera. Theartofconfusion A sets out to post a third consecutive $200G+-winning season for co-owners Garcia-Herrera and Barbara and Donald Arnstine.

The Real Desire 8-year-old mare Eclipse Me N, who set a 1:48 2/5 divisional world record at The Downs last year, flew home in 55 2/5 to stop the timer in 1:55 4/5 in her event. Simon Allard was in the sulky for trainer/brother Rene and the ownership of Allard Racing Inc., Yves Sarrazin, and Donald Mac Rae.

Trainer Rene Allard has been le Boss of the local conditioners with six titles in the last seven years, and his 2018 Hempt Championship winner Springsteen sounded a strong winning note with a 1:56 1/5 victory, his own last half 56 1/5 with Simon Allard sulkysitting. Allard Racing Inc. co-owns the son of Rock N Roll Heaven with Bruce Soulsby, Alan Weisenberg, and Kapildeo Singh.

-edited release (PHHA/Pocono)