The weather looks like it will be sufficiently cold and gloomy in Halloween night, which is the perfect setting for the Grey Ghost and Poltergeist Pace at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, sponsored by the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame. The showdown with all grey horses has been carded as Race 4 on the 14-dash card. Post positions were assigned.
The Cindy Weitoish-trained Gotta Love Him will make his fifth start in the Grey Ghost Pace. The nine-year-old won the race in 2014 and 2015, and his owners are hoping that his first win this year will be by the light of the ghostly All Hallows’ Eve moon. He has been rated at 12-1 on the morning line and will be driven by Austin Siegelman.
White Rolls and driver Jim Marohn Jr. won the race last year, and the duo will be back in action again this year. Michael Hall trains the four-year-old that is 3-1 on the morning line. Another returning ‘Grey Ghost’ is Six Gun, who will ship in from Harrah’s Philadelphia for the contest. Six Gun is now in the Paul Stratton barn, and has won five races this year. The gelding has been rated at odds of 5-1 early.
Simon Allard will drive Donald Doc, who is new to both ‘Team Allard’ and the Grey Ghost. The four-year-old will be making his first start at Pocono after having raced at Tioga. Another new face will be Toejamminmomma for Valeriya Medik. She will be one of three mares in the field. Jim Taggart Jr. is scheduled to drive. Anthony Ciuffetelli will ship in with Forever Effie, who has been racing at Saratoga, and is 11 for 27 in the money this year. Andrew McCarthy will drive.
Winter Blast, who has been pegged as a 6-1 shot, will ship in from Canada for trainer Carmen Auciello. Eric Carlson will be in the bike. Stirling Escort will enter the race off of a second-place finish at Pocono this past Saturday evening, and is 4-1 early with driver Matt Kakaley.
Another new face is Gadsden Hanover, trained by Mark Ford. The mare has raced primarily at Yonkers Raceway and has been installed as the 5-2 morning line favourite.
(With files from Pocono Downs)