Pocono feature goes to Princess Fabulosa

WILKES-BARRE PA – Princess Fabulosa had gone six straight tough trips before she raced in the $17,500 featured distaff pace at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono Tuesday night – and all she could come away with was four seconds and two thirds. The game daughter of Well Said again had a difficult journey at The Downs, but this time she was able to get to the wire first in 1:52.

Brett Miller guided the favorite to a midpack tuck as Juxta Cowgirl went to the lead in the 26.4 opening quarter. Miller had the Princess out and rolling before the 56.2 half, and she continued to steadily gain raw through and past the 1:24 ¾ pole.

It wasn't until deep stretch that Princess Fabulosa finally put away the stubborn pacesetter, but she then had to worry about second-over Juslikeaqueen, who finished well but came up a head short, with Juxta Cowgirl another half length back in third. The persistent winner, now with a bankroll of $227,190, is trained by Mark Silva and owned by Lewis Whitaker Jr. and Charles Rowe.

In a pari-mutuel event for two-year-old pacing fillies, Brett Miller sent the McArdle – Lionness Hanover filly Queen Of The Pride to the lead past the ¼, got intense pressure from first-over challenger Lady Driver down the backstretch and through the turn, but had a 27 last quarter in reserve to leave that foe 1½ lengths behind at the finish. Her time was 1:56 in her pari-mutuel debut, though she had gone two ticks faster in a baby race six days ago for trainer Kevin Lare and owner Frank Chick.

Two Pocono "longshot specialists" were the winning team behind $58.80 upsetter Dunn Dealin in the sixth race – Jim Taggart Jr., whose third $50+ winner tied him for the meet lead with Anthony Napolitano, and trainer Judy Welty, the first conditioner to have a pair of bombers to her credit in 2018.

That makes four $50+ winners in the last three cards at Pocono – after the win price totals of the entire card on Sun Stakes Saturday elimination night was $60.40!

From the PHHA/Pocono Downs