The classy Cantab Hall gelding Crystal Fashion added to his double millionaire bankroll with an easy victory in the $22,500 Open trot under cold, windy, moist conditions at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Saturday afternoon.
Jordan Stratton, the leading driver at Yonkers and the veteran’s regular pilot in his last few races, let Meladys Monet and Scirocco Rob argue through a :27.3 opening fraction, then moved outside under the wire first time and had command by the :56.3 half. When the pair reached the three-quarters in 1:25.3 and opened some distance on his nearest rivals, it was all over but the shouting, and Crystal Fashion stayed clear despite drifting out a little, winning in 1:53.4 for the team of trainer Jim Campbell and Fashion Farms LLC.
Jacks Legend N yielded for the pocket, then took off like a rocket when shown the Pocono Pike and outfooted recent import Braeview Bondi A by three-quarters of a length to take the top $19,300 conditioned pace in 1:52.1. The Bettors Delight gelding has now won two in a row for trainer Josh Green, who is also co-owner of the winner of $499,576 with Rich Lombardo Racing LLC, David Kryway, and Eric Good; the victory was driver Jason Bartlett’s fourth of the day.
The features for Sunday’s 5:00 p.m. program at Pocono are a $13,000 distaff pace and a $12,800 trot; on Monday, Memorial Day, there will be a 12:30 p.m. card featuring three divisions of high-class Pennsylvania-sired three-year-old trotting colts in a Sire Stakes event, plus aspiring sophomores in Stallion Series action. The program pages will be available at the PHHA website.
(PHHA / Pocono)