Harrah's Philadelphia: Pennsylvania Sire Stakes double for Jim Campbell, Fashion Farms

Trainer Jim Campbell and owner Fashion Farms LLC. sent out two of the three winners, one of whom was Beal Memorial champion Crystal Fashion, in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action for 3-year-old colt trotters on Friday afternoon at Harrah's Philadelphia.

Crystal Fashion, who had been off since handing now-world champion Six Pack a defeat in the Beal Memorial last month at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, settled in the fourth position for Tim Tetrick in the final $56,830 grouping, and watched as Hill Street (Yannick Gingras) zipped to the opening quarter in 28 2/5 and the half in 57 4/5.

Tetrick gave Crystal Fashion his cue to come first-up passing the half, and he had gotten up into second at the 1:25 2/5 three-quarters, and he was able to continue to sustain his drive around the final bend and into the stretch, taking the lead. Mississippi Storm (Brett Miller) came off Crystal Fashion's cover in the lane and chipped into the margin late, but Crystal Fashion won by a measured three-parts of a length in 1:53 3/5. Hill Street faded to third.

A gelding by Cantab Hall, Crystal Fashion scored his eighth career victory, and he has now earned $499,952. The 1-2 favorite, Crystal Fashion paid $3.00 to win.

One division prior to Crystal Fashion, Patent Leather took the Campbell and Fashion Farms LLC. connections to the winner's circle after a 1:53 3/5 performance. Driven by Andrew McCarthy, Patent Leather followed along in fourth and then third while Gemologist (Gingras) set up shop on the lead and cut opening-half panels of 26 4/5 and 57 1/5. Patent Leather would pull first-up past the half, get side-by-side with the pace-setter at the 1:25 1/5 three-quarters, then take over on the far turn. From there, Patent Leather pulled away en route to a 3 1/2 length victory over Exarch (B. Miller). Spee Club (Corey Callahan) finished third.

Patent Leather is a Broadway Hall colt who is now a five-time winner and an earner of $151,936 in his life. He was the 2-1 second choice and returned $6.00 to win.

Both Crystal Fashion and Patent Leather are eligible to the Hambletonian.

Back in the afternoon's first section, both favorites (Lawmaker and Whats The Word) made breaks, leaving it wide-open. Taking advantage was 6-1 shot Scirocco Rob (Callahan), who chopped out fractions of 27, 55 3/5, and 1:24 1/5. Pocket-sitter Make It A Double (Andy Miller) came to the outside in the lane, but Scirocco Rob fought that foe off, winning by a neck in 1:53 1/5. Missle Hill (David Miller) came on to collect third.

John Butenschoen trains Scirocco Rob, an Explosive Matter gelding, for owners Lewis Whitaker Jr. and Kathleen Whitaker. Scirocco Rob made his sixth stop in the winner's circle and he has now put away $186,625. He paid $14.80 to win.