Dover, DE — Crystal Fashion paid instant dividends to his new connections with a 1:53.2 win in Tuesday’s (Nov. 30) $25,000 Open Handicap Trot at Dover Downs.

Crystal Fashion (white headgear) lifted to just prevail in Tuesday’s Open Handicap Trot at Dover Downs. Fotowon photo.

Northern Express and Russell Foster blasted from the wings of the gate to control a fast :27.1 quarter and continued to lead the field to the half in :56.1 with 6-5 favorite Swansea content to sit in the pocket. Meanwhile, Montrell Teague moved Crystal Fashion off the rail from sixth and marched up the backstretch uncovered and in attack mode. Northern Express braced for the challenge and maintained a narrow lead to three-quarters in 1:24.4, but in deep stretch stretch, Crystal Fashion powered to the lead, winning by a head for new owner EVM Racing LLC. Northern Express fought gallantly but finished second; Swansea and Tim Tetrick finished third.

Crystal Fashion, a 6-year-old Cantab Hall gelding trained by Chuck Crissman Jr., paid $6.40 to win.

Corey Callahan led all drivers with five wins on the card.

A rare phenomenon happened in the third race, when a triple dead heat for second occurred. Sweet Gisele, Sasha’s Legacy and Rewrite The Stars shared in the place photo, 8-1/4 lengths behind 1-2 winner Summering.

Racing at Dover Downs continues on Wednesday (Dec. 1) with Soho Burning Love A tackling Scuola Hanover in the Mares Open Pace, along with a $1,447.23 Pick-4 carryover. Post time is 4:30 p.m.