Altmeyer Wilder Racing heads to Sun Stakes Saturday
By Jennifer Starr
With the hot August sun in the background, the $2.3 million Sun Stakes Saturday at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania is set to go on August 16, with 14 races and a special post time of 2:30pm.
Chris Gooden Photos
Heading to Pocono from the Meadows Racetrack in Washington, PA will be Altmeyer Wilder Racing, competing in Consolation II of the Earl Beal Jr. Memorial Trot (race 3), with I’ll Have ADouble (Bar Hopping-Adreamcomestrue As-Conway Hall). Driver Mike Wilder is enthusiastic about the race and gelding’s chances, trained by Dan Altmeyer, in a race full of trotter talent.
“He’s a nice horse, he made just shy of $50,000 this year,” Mike said. “He just kind of did that quietly. With that being said, he’s just really such a nice horse. He shows up every week, and I’m really looking forward to racing him. We’re going for $100,000, and I think he’s got a chance. There’s a couple in there that maybe stand out, but I think he has as good a chance as any. If they race a little bit, he loves hunting them horses down!”
“He had some really nice trips this year. He just got beat by a nose in the Currier & Ives (June 26-Meadows). Tremendous trip. His last start and the one before he trotted back halves in :55, so he’s a very nice horse,” he emphasized.
Drawing post 5 was a plus, also. “He’s very versatile,” Mike added. “When we were in overnight races, I put him on the lead, but he doesn’t have to have the lead. He doesn’t have to have the two-hole trip. He’s a very versatile horse.”
I’ll Have A Double and Mike have a great ‘working relationship’ and make a great team. “I’ve driven him in every start but one in his whole life, and he just likes it when you pull the right line. You’ll be sitting in a hole, real nice and quiet, and when you hit the right line, it’s like you hit the gas pedal! He just loves hunting horses down. I’m really looking forward to the opportunity this Saturday.”
Chris Gooden Photos
He has over 9100 trips to the Winner’s Circle in his career, including a win in the 2020 Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids at his home track, but is truly appreciative and honored to race in the larger stakes events at any of the tracks. “At Pocono, on Saturday, it means a lot to me to be there. On that day, everybody wants to be there, and I’m very happy to get that opportunity. I think you have THE best horses in the country racing that day in several classes, and just to be there and be a part of it, that’s what we work for. We strive for that. I’m very happy to get the opportunity.”
Mike and I’ll Have A Double will have company on the long ride to Pocono. “I’m bringing my caretaker, Kim Farmer, and my wife, Heather. We’re up there for the whole weekend because we have a couple trotting fillies in the Stallion Series on Sunday. It’s going to be a great weekend and I can’t wait!”
