The newly-renovated $300,000 Max Hempt Memorial is part of a stakes-filled card at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Saturday afternoon, and trainer Eddie Dennis is hopeful that his colt is ready for a big mile. Hellabalou returns to the races for the first time since capturing the Adios on July 31 at The Meadows. "I trained him a trip on Friday [August 13] in 1:55," said Dennis of Hellabalou, who drew post six but will start from post five with the scratch of American Courage due to sickness in the now eight-horse Hempt on Saturday. "With back-to-back 1:49 miles, he needed to be refreshed. You don't have to do very much to keep them tight." Hellabalou has graduated from longshot to top contender over the course of the last month, catching the public's eye with his 81-1 Meadowlands Pace elimination victory on July 10. Even after taking an Adios elimination handily, the Sweet Lou-sired colt was a generous 6-1 in the final that he captured in a career-best 1:48 4/5 clocking. "I'm happy being a longshot," said Dennis, clearly enjoying the run Hellabalou has put him on this year. "He had a breathing issue as a 2-year-old that we got cleared up. That's the major difference this year." With health issues resolved, Hellabalou has won three of his last four starts this year and banked $308K on the season for owner Eric Good. His tactical early speed has been a bonus throughout his recent success, but Dennis believes his colt can win in other ways too. "I think if they cut the pace like they did in the Milstein the other night [August 14] he could come off-the-pace and win like Charlie May," said Dennis. "I also think if he gets the opportunity, he can cut one out and win on the front-end." ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter The Hempt has three divisions with the leading money winners this year going for the $300,000 prize in race 11 of 14 on Saturday afternoon. The field is stacked, with Meadowlands Pace winner Lawless Shadow (post one) returning from Canada following a pair of tough trips in Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series action. The Shadow Play-sired colt has Mark MacDonald back for the driving assignment. Last year's champion Perfect Sting has not exactly had an ideal season to date, yet there's no reason to believe he couldn't get a major victory in the Hempt. Perfect Sting was most recently second in the Cane Pace at the Meadowlands and drew well, landing post four in the eight-horse field. Cane Pace champion Rockyroad Hanover is one of two Tony Alagna trainees in the Hempt, and with post six, was the better drawing, as stablemate Abuckabett Hanover landed post eight. Rockyroad Hanover was lightly-raced as a 2-year-old but has blossomed nicely this year. He was a solid second behind Hellabalou in the Adios and then a 1:48 1/5 winner on Hambletonian Day. Rounding out the field for the Hempt are Southwind Gendry (post two), Chase H Hanover (post three), and I'll Drink To That (post seven). The Sun Stakes card at Pocono gets underway at 12:30 p.m. and offers just over $2 million in purse money. Free past performances, video, and full-card analysis, as well as live video for the entire event can be found here.