Pocono: David Miller sweeps Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for 2-year-old colt trotters

After winning the Empire Breeders Classic final for 3-year-old pacing colts and Roll With Joe for open pacers at Tioga Downs this afternoon, David Miller moved on to The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono where he would drive all three winners in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action for 2-year-old colt trotters this evening. Each division carried a purse of $54,785.

The first group was scratched down to a field of four, and Miller would put 1-9 choice Scirocco Rob on point through fractions of 27 4/5, 58, and 1:27 2/5. Pocket-sitter Max's Beast (Andy Miller) offered a bid in the lane, but Scirocco Rob held him off to prevail by half a length in 1:55 3/5. Garnet (Matt Kakaley) was the third-place finisher.

John Butenschoen trains Scirocco Rob, a gelded son of Explosive Matter, for owners Lewis Whitaker Jr. and Kathleen Whitaker. Scirocco Rob, who was taken out of the Standardbred Horse Sale for $20,000, has a pair of wins from five attempts, and he has now banked $69,250. Scirocco Rob is out of the Lindy Lane mare Fun At Parties, making him a half-brother to the likes of Decolletage (Cantab Hall, $163,954). He paid $2.20 to win.

Miller would then team with trainer Jim Campbell and owner Fashion Farms LLC. to complete the sweep, both in upset fashion. Patent Leather was their hope in the second split, but he was the longest shot on the board at 11-1. He got a second-over trip behind Peter Haughton Memorial runner-up and favored Samo Different Day (Yannick Gingras), though, then pounced late to score by a neck in 1:54 2/5. Lawmaker (Anthony MacDonald) took third.

Patent Leather is a Broadway Hall colt who broke his maiden in his third start and has now earned $37,392. Patent Leather was bred by Virginia Louthan and is out of the Earl mare Designable ($483,457). He returned $24.80 to win.

All eyes were on Haughton Memorial winner You Know You Do (Gingras) in the final flight, and he was sent off at 1-9 in his first start since winning that event on Hambletonian Day. You Know You Do didn't mind his manners, though, breaking stride past the start and taking himself out of contention. That left Hockey Hanover (Wilbur Yoder) in the lead through stations of 28 3/5, 59, and 1:28 2/5, but Crystal Fashion and the "Buckeye" came up the passing lane from the two-hole in the lane and nailed Hockey Hanover in the final stride for a nose victory in 1:56 4/5. Quality Kemp (Kakaley) finished third.

The victorious gelding by Cantab Hall has a record of 2-2-2 from six efforts, and he has now put away $72,582. Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc., Crystal Fashion was a $100,000 purchase at the Standardbred Horse Sale, and his dam Window Willow (Tagilabue) is a full sister to Lolique ($1,091,435). Crystal Fashion, sent off at 7-1, paid $16.80 to win.