WILKES-BARRE, PA – The Donato Hanover gelding Crossfit made it two straight and four of his last seven when he won the $12,800 harness racing trotting feature Tuesday afternoon at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono while equaling his mark of 1:54.2.
Andy Miller sent the favored winner first-over and had a battle-royal with pacesetting Striking Encore from the backstretch onward, with Crossfit finally separating himself from his hard-trying rival by 3½ lengths at the finish. Trainer Susan Marshall co-owns the winner of $129,160 with John Marshall.
The Sweet Lou sophomore gelding Tito Rocks won a "nw2" pace in a clocking faster than usual for the class – 1:50, by far a lifetime best, and a good tightening mile that he'll need on Sunday, when he has post five at Philly in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship for his division. Here George Napolitano Jr. put the talented three-year-old on the lead and let him ramble in :26.4, :55.1, and 1:22.1 in the big victory for trainer Robert Cleary and Royal Wire Products Inc.
Also impressive was the Muscle Hill – Possessed By Lindy freshman trotting colt Lindysmusclemania, who ran his lifetime tab to 2-for-2 despite the outside post eight and covering the mile in 1:55, a personal best. The strong colt, trained and driven by Ã…ke Svanstedt for Stall Droad AB, may be one to keep an eye on for further development.
The ream of the Pennsylvania-sired two-year-olds will be on full display at The Downs this Saturday afternoon for their Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship Card. Among the Championships, the consolations, and the overnight races, $1,286,000 in total purses will be offered at Pocono Saturday. A more detailed preview of the Championship card is upcoming.
From the PHHA / Pocono Downs