Former WEG campaigner Tall Cotton earned his first victory in the U.S. defeating five other Preferred trotters in the $25,000 feature race Saturday night at Pocono Downs.
Drawing the inside post position, favourite Tall Cotton and driver Matt Kakaley got away third behind eventual breaker Tui (Anthony Napolitano) and early leader Zitomira (Jacqueline Ingrassia), who posted a :28.3 first quarter. However, Tall Cotton took over command as the field moved in front of the grandstand for the first time and posted middle splits of :57.2 and 1:25.2 en route to a two length triumph in 1:53.3.
Tall Cotton paid $4.40 to win. Second choice Modern Family and Daryl Bier advanced first over from fourth to place while Photo King and Jim Morrill Jr. followed his cover to show.
The Revenue S gelding was purchased in late 2012 by trainer Ron Burke (as Burke Racing Stable), Weaver Bruscemi, Edwin Gold, and Howard Taylor. He's since earned a pair of top three finishes at the Meadowlands Racetrack to kick off his seven-year-old campaign for his new connections.
The victory was Tall Cotton's 15th lifetime and pushed his bankroll to $358,560.