Spagnola trainee in lifetime best win

Crystal Sphere (Conway Hall) recorded a harness racing lifetime best victory in the $10,500 featured trot at Saratoga Casino and Raceway on Thursday night.

A winner last week in a career best 1:58.3, the Margaret Spagnola-trained four year old drew post position one and was the public's 4-5 favorite on Thursday night.

Frank Coppola Jr. made an early move to the lead after coming away third and powered up to take over approaching the quarter pole. After a bit of a middle half breather, Crystal Sphere stepped away from his rivals to prevail convincingly in 1:58.1.

It was the fourth win of the season for Crystal Sphere who is owned by the Our Blue Streaks Stable of Saratoga Springs and Dave Spagnola of Ballston Spa.

Coppola piloted three winners on the Thursday card as he also drove young trotter Tropical Storm Bi (Equinox Bi) to an easy win earlier in the night to move that three year old's career record to five for six and claiming trotter Need Help Here to an upset victory late in the card.

Live racing continues on Friday night at the Spa with first post time set for 7:05pm.

Mike Sardella