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Bella Bellini and Lady Chaos added their names to the list of three-year-old trotting fillies who have won a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes (PASS) event this season, taking the two divisions for the third preliminary leg at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono during the Sunday (June 6) card.
The Bar Hopping filly Bella Bellini posted a clocking of 1:53.1, a fifth off her lifetime best, but it was her last quarter of :26.3 which really drew the eye. Bella Bellini sat fourth while You Ato Dream, who won in the first two legs of the PASS, led the field to a :27.1 quarter, then yielded to favoured Anoka Hanover a first-round prelim winner as she trotted to the half in :57.2. The pacesetter passed three-quarters in 1:26.2, but by that time Bella Bellini was roaring up uncovered at her with Dexter Dunn, and the two fillies went at each other with fury all the way to the wire, where Bella Bellini beat her game rival by half a length.
The Dragon Again gray horse Gray Dragon made it two straight over 2019 Meadowlands Pace winner Best In Show on Tuesday afternoon (May 18) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, again acting as a pocket rocket to catch the pacesetter, this time in 1:50.1, in one of three $15,300 feature races.
Best In Show, who was favoured at 3-5 in his second race of the year to Gray Dragon’s 6-5, made the lead around his archrival in :27.1, then posted fractions of :55 and 1:22.4, the latter coming as Blu Crew ranged first-over. That one could not sustain his bid, and the stretch battle ensued between the familiar rivals, with Gray Dragon having the stronger turn of late step by a half-length for driver Mark MacDonald, trainer John Butenschoen, and Emerald Highlands Farm. Gray Dragon is now perfect in three starts at Pocono, and keeps his eligibility in his present class.