Wilkes-Barre, PA — The Dragon Again stallion 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 in 1:50.1 in one of three $15,300 feature races.

Gray Dragon scored in 1:50.1 in one of three $15,300 feature races. Curtis Salonick photo.

In the contest for pacing males, Best In Show, who was favored at 3-5 in his second race of the year to Gray Dragon’s 6-5, made the lead around his rival in :27, then posted fractions of :55 and 1:22.4, the latter coming as Blu Crew ranged up first-over. That one could not sustain his bid, however, and the stretch battle was 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 still has eligibility in his present class.

The distaff pacers were topped by the Roll With Joe mare Turnthefrownaround, who was uncovered from before the half for driver Matt Kakaley but still showed enough energy to catch front-stepping favorite Rose Run Victoria by a half-length at the end of a 1:51.1 mile. That clocking gave Turnthefrownaround a new mark for trainer Ron Burke and her ownership of Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Phil Collura.

Toughest late in the feature trot was Magnificent Seven, a son of Chapter Seven who rallied off cover to catch the very game pacesetter Can’t Say No in 1:55, making all three features decided by a half-length. Magnificent Seven has now won twice in his last three starts for trainer Ed Hart and the ownership of Richard Gutnick, Joseph Lozito Jr., T L P Stable, and Ted Gewertz.

Racing resumes on Saturday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. with three $30,000 divisions of the Pennsylvania All-Stars for 3-year-old trotting colts spotlighting some of the best horses in that division. Further, the Rainbow Pick-5 carryover pool will be $64,357.85 and there will also be a Pick-4 carryover exceeding $2,400. Program pages will be available at the PHHA website.