from the PHHA/Pocono

Wilkes-Barre, PA — The Bettor’s Delight mare Twinkle, used very hard to get the early lead and under attack most of the mile, nevertheless dug down to take a 1:52.2 victory in the $17,500 distaff featured pace Tuesday night (Aug. 21) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

Driver Eric Carlson left the gate hard with the even-money favorite, but she had to pay a :26 price to get by JK Jazzitup, who took full advantage of track geometry from her inner starting position. Once on the lead, Twinkle had to deal with a steady grind through middle markers of :54.3 and 1:22.4 from second choice Princess Fabulosa, who never found a tuck from her outside starting berth in the field of seven and had to spend life on the rim.

Twinkle finally was able to shake Princess Fabulosa off, but then soon on the scene was Truth And Liberty, who had followed along second-over and then tipped wide for the drive. At the midstretch point it looked like Truth And Liberty might get by Twinkle, but the pacesetter dug down deep and produced enough to withstand the closer by a nose.

Ross Croghan is the trainer of the winner of $186,629 for the Let It Ride Stable and Mr. Dana Parham.

This weekend will see the final preliminary action of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and the Pennsylvania Stallion Series, along with the last prelim date of the Great Northeast Open Series. Pocono will host a $30,000 fast-class GNOS trot on its Sunday card. After this weekend action, the final point status of the major contenders will be known, and on Tuesday (Aug. 28) there will be the post draw for both the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes finals for 3-year-olds and the Great Northeast Open Series finals, the latter to be conducted at the distance of 1-1/4 miles, with both of the series highlighting an outstanding card to be raced at The Downs on Sunday (Sept. 2).