Wilkes-Barre, PA — Rich And Miserable defeated the toughest field he has faced during his current six-race win streak, taking a $30,000 Great Northeast Open Series trot in 1:51.3 over a sloppy surface on Sunday night (June 16) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

Rich And Miserable earned his sixth straight win and gave Tyler Buter part of a grand slam on Sunday at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono. Curtis Salonick photo.

Muscle Diamond was first to the top, with Such An Angel and Moonshiner Hanover falling in behind him before the :27 quarter. Tyler Buter moved Rich And Miserable from fourth by Tyler Buter shortly off the first turn, but the pair were extended a bit before clearing to the lead just before the :55 half.

Such An Angel and Matt Kakaley came back out to challenge up the backstretch, and those two had their own private duel past the 1:23.1 three-quarters and on through the stretch, with Rich And Miserable able to go on for a neck advantage at the finish.

Muscle Diamond was another 3-3/4 lengths back in third, while 3-2 favorite Homicide Hunter — who won the Breeders Crown in sloppy conditions at Pocono last fall — trailed most of the way and could do no better than sixth.

The 1:51.3 mile over off conditions matched three previous accomplishments of 9-5 second choice Rich And Miserable: his own lifetime mark, the fastest trotting mile of the year at Pocono, and the North American season’s record. Todd Buter trains the 4-year-old Explosive Matter gelding for Buter Farm Inc., Lynette Buter, and William and Carol Fuhs.

Buter led all drivers with four wins, while George Napolitano Jr. had three, and Simon Allard, Eric Carlson and Jordan Stratton notched two wins apiece.