WILKES-BARRE PA – Harness racing trainer Rene Allard, leading conditioner at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono five of the last six seasons including the previous two, showed that he should again be a major force during the early part of 2019 at the mountain oval as he harnessed three winners during the Thursday morning qualifying session.
The track was again rated "+2" in 20-degree temperatures even though the surface was today rated fast, but several horses looked in midseason form, especially those coming from Team Allard. Rene's brother Simon drove two of the barn's winners, Bet On Brett (1:56.1) and Beach Boogie (1:57.1, his own last half 56.2); Simon was guiding another Allardite when Rene's third winner, Nicol Shard N, posted the fastest clocking of the day, 1:55.2 (56.4-28), going wire-to-wire for driver Tom Jackson.
For the results of these qualifiers click on this link.
Many of the horses who qualified two days ago and today are likely to be racing on Pocono's first live card of the season on Saturday, March 16, which will be drawn on Monday. Opening night will find male pacers going in $12,500 first leg divisions of their Secretary's Series action.
Nicol Shard N returning to the paddock with driver Tom Jackson for trainer Rene Allard
There will be one more qualifying session at Pocono before Opening Night – this coming Wednesday, the 13th, at 10:00 a.m., after which Pocono will welcome the media for a preview of the 2019 racing season.
Jennifer Starr
Racing Marketing Manager