from the PHHA/Pocono

Wilkes-Barre, PA — LMC Mass Gem overcame a double jump in class, post eight, a sloppy track, and being parked three-eighths of a mile before getting the top, surmounting the adversity to post a 1-1/4 length 1:56.3 triumph in the $17,500 featured trot Sunday (June 10) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

The Muscle Mass gelding is certainly in the winning groove right now, having taken two straight, three of his last four, and seven of 15 2018 starts. Here he defeated Crosbys Clam Bake, who also brushed off covering extra real estate to photo out favored sophomore Whats The Word, facing elders after two straight in the Sire Stakes.

Simon Allard, a five-time winner on the night, guided the winner of $215,805 for trainer/brother Rene, the meet leader who added three to his total Sunday, and the partnership of Bruce Soulsby, VIP Internet Stable, Kapildeo Singh, and Earl Hill Jr.

Three $17,000 co-features sported two fields of trotters and one of pacers. The first trot was taken by the Glidemaster gelding Joey Pro, who had an explosive last eighth to see him come from fifth to take a 2-1/2 length victory in 1:57.1 for driver Matt Kakaley, trainer John Hallett, and owner Mark Wamp.

In the other, the brothers Allard combined with another son of sire Muscle Mass, the gelding Zagster, who raced to command at the three-quarters, then held off a late charge by Critical Mass to take a photo victory, also in 1:57.1. Zagster has now won $165,489 for Allard Racing Inc. and Kapildeo Singh.

In the pacing contest, Xpert Bayama grabbed the lead quickly for driver Matt Kakaley, then scooted home in :56 to complete a 1:54.2 victory while 2-1/4 lengths to the good. The victorious altered son of Up The Credit has won three of his last five for trainer Ron Burke and the omnipresent duo of Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi.