Pocono: Tequila Monday, Crystal Fashion stout in Great Northeast Open Series races

The chalk ruled the roost in the two $30,000 Great Northeast Open Series tests on Sunday night at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, with Tequila Monday bagging the mare pace and Crystal Fashion claiming the trot.

Tequila Monday improved to three-for-three in the series, leading through fractions of 26 2/5, 55 1/5, and 1:23 on her way to a 1:50 2/5 tally for driver Tyler Buter. Apple Bottom Jeans (Corey Callahan) was the runner-up from the pocket, and Delightfulmemphis (David Miller) took third.

A 5-year-old American Ideal mare, Tequila Monday is trained by Hunter Oakes for owners Northfork Racing Stable and Chuck Pompey. She picked up the 24th win of her career, and she has now earned $853,462. The 3-5 choice, Tequila Monday paid $3.40 to win.

Crystal Fashion (Tim Tetrick), last year's Beal Memorial and Canadian Trotting Classic champion, picked up his first win of 2019 in the trot, stopping the clock in 1:53. Crystal Fashion was third at the 28 1/5 opening quarter, but would brush into the lead on the way to the 57 second half. He would then click off three-quarters in 1:25 1/5 before he drew off to prevail by 2 1/4 lengths over Muscle Diamond (Andrew McCarthy). Early leader Moonshiner Hanover (George Napolitano Jr.) was the third-place finisher.

Jim Campbell trains Crystal Fashion, a 4-year-old Cantab Hall gelding, for owner Fashion Farms LLC. He made his 14th appearance in the winner's circle, and he has now banked $1,277,509. Sent off at 1-2, Crystal Fashion returned $3.00 to win.