Pocono: Crystal Fashion first in Beal Memorial, Manchego suffers first lifetime loss

Tactics are always essential in major stakes races, and driver Tim Tetrick put Crystal Fashion where he needed to be in the $500,000 Earl Beal Jr. Memorial at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Saturday night. The son of Cantab Hall did the rest, driving by pacemaker Six Pack late for the mild upset.

In a race that saw the 15-race winning streak of Manchego go by the board, Tetrick didn't spend much time worrying about that rival as he sizzled Crystal Fashion to the front in a blistering 26 2/5 opening quarter before yielding to the previously-unbeaten sophomore Six Pack and driver Ake Svanstedt.

As the early action unfolded Manchego stayed on the outside and looked uncomfortable doing so, with Yannick Gingras patiently guiding her up as the pace slowed to 55 4/5 at the halfway mark, with Six Pack in control and Manchego beginning her assault.

On the backstretch Manchego still appeared locked on a line but continued to press the leader through a solid 27 2/5 third quarter. Crystal Fashion was in the pocket at the time and Tetrick was poised.

"I knew there was a passing lane, and he was good in it last week," said Tetrick.

When Manchego finally broke stride late on the final turn, Tetrick had the option to come to the outside and his gelding took the bit and responded to aggressive urging to get the measure of a determined Six Pack nearing the wire. The mile was a personal-best 1:51 4/5 for Crystal Fashion, who won for the third time in six starts this year.

Six Pack finished second after racing with pressure pretty much the entire trip. Lawmaker, the early leader, saved ground and squeezed in for third. Evaluate suffered a long trip parked most of the way behind Manchego and salvaged fourth, with Fashionwoodchopper the final check-getter.

Fashion Farms purchased Crystal Fashion for $100,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale in 2016 from the Hanover Shoe Farms consignment.

"I'm not sure where we'll go next," said Jim Campbell, the winning trainer. "He's eligible to the Dancer, but there's a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes a few days later at Harrah's Philadelphia, so we'll see."

Sent off at 9-2, Crystal Fashion returned $11.40 to win. With the $250,000 first prize, Crystal Fashion more than doubled his career bankroll.

Manchego's trainer Jimmy Takter was disappointed with the result.

"Yannick (Gingras) said he could've gone by Six Pack whenever he wanted on the backstretch. He had a ton of horse and didn't pull the earplugs, but he couldn't get her straightened out, and I'm not sure why," said Takter.Derick GiwnerFiftydallarbill won for the first time outside Indiana

There was also a $75,000 Beal consolation raced on the card, and it was won by the division's defending Breeders Crown champion Fiftydallarbill in a 1:52 1/5 clocking. Driven by Brett Miller, Fiftydallarbill cleared into the lead going to the 56 3/5 half, and after a 1:25 three-quarters, he came home in 27 1/5 to beat a passing lane-attacking Moosonee (Tetrick) by half a length. Scirocco Rob (Scott Zeron) was the third-place finisher.

William Crone trains Fiftydallarbill, a Swan For All colt, for owner John Barnard. This was the tenth victory of Fiftydallarbill's career, and he pushed his earnings to $553,747. He was the 1-5 favorite and paid $2.60 to win.

"I think we proved we belong with this mile," said Barnard.

Fiftydallarbill, who is not eligible to the Hambletonian, will go back to Indiana to compete in the sire stakes there, and still has the Canadian Trotting Classic and Breeders Crown to come against open foes.