Driver Kevin Wallis called an audible guiding the Donato Hanover gelding Mystical Wynn around the final turn at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, and the change in strategy helped provide the route to a 1:55.4 victory in the Tuesday (Oct. 1) $15,000 trotting feature.
Wallis and Mystical Wynn sat third most of the way behind favored pacesetter Bella Ava and pocketsitter Bag O Chips, who suffered broken equipment during the mile. Wallis started to tip his trotter outside midturn to mount a late charge, but when Bag O Chips went to the outside at the same time, Wallis headed back to the inside to utilize the famed Pocono Pike, and through the lane Mystical Wynn was able to edge Bag O Chips by ¾ of a length after a protracted battle.
Robert Baggitt Jr., in charge of a hot stable currently, trains the five-time winner in just fourteen lifetime starts for Kelly Walker Stable LLC.
The $14,000 co-feature for pacing mares boiled down to a stretch battle between favored Jewels Forreal and Modesta, both of whom had been no worse than third in their last five starts without winning. It was the So Surreal mare Jewels Forreal who was able to post the victory in this contest, winning over Modesta by a length in a lifetime best 1:50.3. Marcus Miller drove the winner of $239,188 for trainer Bob Cleary and owner William Donovan.
Anthony Napolitano took driving honors on the night with four visits to the winner's circle.
(PHHA/Pocono)