Wilkes-Barre, PA — The Donato Hanover gelding Crossfit made it two straight and four of his last seven when he won the $12,800 trotting feature Tuesday afternoon (Sept. 1) 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 pace-setting Striking Encore from the backstretch onward, with Crossfit finally separating himself from his hard-trying rival by 3-1/2 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 conditioned 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 Harrah’s Philadelphia in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final for his division. Here George Napolitano Jr. put the talented 3-year-old on the lead and let him ramble in :26.4, :55.1, and 1:22.1 in the victory for trainer Robert Cleary and owner 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 Ake Svanstedt for Stall Droad AB, may be one to keep an eye on for further development.

The best of the Pennsylvania-sired 2-year-olds will be on full display at The Downs this Saturday afternoon for their Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final card. Among the finals, the consolations, and the overnight races, $1,286,000 in total purses will be offered at Pocono Saturday. A more detailed preview of the card is upcoming.