The ABC Garland gelding ABC Muscles Boy went from the bottom conditioned level at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono to the apex in four victorious steps, trotting through the 33 degree chill and overcoming first-over to win by a length in 1:53.3 in the $20,500 handicap trot.

Rene Allard trains the career winner of more than $285,000 in his current hot four-for-four form. Rene’s brother Simon had driven him in his three previous starts – but he booked himself off his brother’s horse and took Panana Republic, the 5-2 second choice, who then proceeded to get into a speedy early battle with favoured B Yoyo, with both of the chalk fading after expending their energy early.

Laying off the duel was driver Tom Jackson with ABC Muscles Boy, who went on to the lead with an eighth of a mile to go, and then withstood hard-charging Wilberforce for Allard Racing Inc. and Earl Hill Jr. The crowd had reservations about “Muscles'" ability to handle the class jump, as he returned $27.40 to win.

(With files from PHHA / Pocono)