Wilkes-Barre, PA — Dragon Said and Alluneedisfaith N were the crowd’s top two choices in Saturday’s (June 11) $17,500 featured pace at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, and they fulfilled the bettors’ expectations precisely — but not until a hard stretch duel saw Dragon Said claim victory in 1:50.1.

Jason Bartlett sent Dragon Said away quickly to take some sting out of Alluneedisfaith N, who was also bound for the front. Alluneedisfaith N and George Napolitano Jr. ultimately cleared through a :26.4 quarter before rating relatively soft middle fractions of :55.2 and 1:23.1.

Bartlett tipped Dragon Said out at the top of the stretch to try to gun down Alluneedisfaith N, and the Well Said gelding gradually ground his way past his game rival to post a neck victory, stepping his own back half in :54.3.

After a fierce duel, Dragon Said (#3, foreground) just collared Alluneedisfaith N to win the Saturday feature at Pocono. Curtis Salonick photo.

Dragon Said has now won all three of his starts since coming to Pennsylvania — one at Harrah’s Philadelphia and two at Pocono — for trainer Jenn Bongiorno and owner Robert Devine, and he has raised his lifetime bankroll to $307,637.

Bartlett and Bongiorno combined for three winners on the Saturday card; Napolitano posted a driving triple, as well.

In the $17,500 trotting feature, the Explosive Matter gelding Rich And Miserable made it two straight in high-level conitioned company at Pocono while boosting his earnings to $$630,339 after a 1:54.1 victory. Rich And Miserable followed the cover of Marion Gondolier to the :27.2 quarter, then pressed on to the lead at the three-eighths and got a moderate middle pace of :56.3 and 1:25.2. Marion Gondolier tried up the Pocono Pike and Lady’s Image made a late charge, but Rich And Miserable was not threatened in winning for driver Tyler Buter, trainer Todd Buter, and the partnership of Buter Farm Inc., Lynette Buter, and William and Carol Fuhs.

Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and Stallion Series action for 3-year-old trotting colts will highlight the Sunday (June 12) card at Pocono. First round winners That Ole Bar Stool and Dandy are in separate $66,554 divisions of the Sire Stakes; the former, a winner in an All-Stars contest when last at Pocono, may have a slightly harder task in that he drew in with fellow All-Star winners Ducasse and Kosher Mahoney. First post for Sunday’s card is 5 p.m.; program pages are available on the PHHA website.