Crystal Sphere secured a lifetime best victory on a big evening for harness racing driver Frank Coppola Jr. on Thursday at Saratoga Casino and Raceway.
The Margaret Spagnola-trained Crystal Sphere (Conway Hall) trotted past his rivals to set a new lifetime mark of 1:58.3 in the evening's $10,500 co-feature for New York Sired trotters.
The four year old won for the third time this season for Coppola who piloted five winners on the eleven race program.
The race's favorite JS Trotting Bob (Jim Devaux) took the lead around the final turn but Crystal Sphere had little difficulty trotting past to secure the victory. JS Trotting Bob was a clear second while Azucar (Bruce Aldrich Jr) came on to finish third.
The veteran Coppola is having his best season in the sulky in several years and currently sits third in the local driver standings.
Live racing continues at the Spa on Friday night with a first post time set for 7:05pm.
Mike Sardella