The 2021 harness racing season got underway on Saturday afternoon at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, and while the temperature hovered just above 20°F, the action was hot on the racetrack, at the claiming box, and if your horse was driven by Matt Kakaley. Featured during the curtain-raiser were the first preliminary legs of the Game Of Claims Pacing Series for two divisions: horses with a $25,000 base tag and horses based at $15,000. The claiming prices rise a little in the next two preliminaries -- which may be part explanation for the incredible total of 41 claims during the card. All told, $825,000 worth of horseflesh went home to a new barn after the races as hopefully the right horse for their purchasers to chase after their $50,000 and $30,000 Championships respectively on March 6.