by PHHA/Pocono

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Major Uptrend has now won four consecutive races and is a nose away from having won eight straight, after he made the 181-mile ship from Dover, Delaware, to The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono a profitable one Saturday night, taking the $25,000 winners-over pace in 1:50.

Curtis Salonick photo

Major Uptrend has now won four consecutive races and is flourishing in the barn of Tim Crissman.

Trainer Tim Crissman acquired this horse to condition in early Feb. and quickly found his key to success, which mostly has been to go to the front and improve on that position. During his time with Crissman, he’s led at every call past the quarter except in a nose defeat to Limelight Beach last month.

In fact, he is possessed by Crissman Inc., in which Tim is part-owner, in combination with Niss Allen Inc. since March 26 and that ownership team 3-for-3 with the sharp pacer.

Driver Tony Morgan, who is now six-for-six teaming with Crissman behind the royally-bred winner Somebeachsomewhere-Tricky Tooshie, rushed the favorite towards the lead after the quarter but was kept out by ironically Limelight Beach, who forced Major Uptrend to the half-mile in :53.2.

But from there, Major Uptrend was in command, winning by 1-1/4 lengths over Orillia Joe, who had set the Pocono seasonal standard of 1:49.4 from the pocket in this event last week, but had to come first-over here. Major Uptrend went over $350,000 in career earnings with the victory.

The top trotting event of the night was a $16,500 conditioned contest, which saw the Crazed gelding Crazshana trained by Jeff Bamond Jr., having to go first-over and trot his last half-mile in :56.3 in his 2017 debut. He still had enough left to defeat pacesetting ABC Muscles Boy by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:55.1 for driver Eric Goodell.

Crazshana also broke an earnings plateau with his win, eclipsing the $250,000 lifetime bankroll mark for Bamond Racing LLC.