Sweet Lou continued his sizzling win streak as he held off stablemate Bettors Edge in a 1:47.2 track record triumph in the $250,000 Dan Patch Invitational at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday, August 8.
Harness racing's hottest pacer earned his ninth win in a row and sixth consecutive in sub-1:48 fashion for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Lawrence Karr and Phillip Collura.
Sweet Lou was driven by Ron Pierce for trainer Ron Burke in the 21st edition of Hoosier Park’s signature race.
Ricky Macomber Jr. hustled Bettors Edge off the gate from post seven and cleared to command over Carols Comet and Aaron Merriman while Sweet Lou and Pierce tucked into third. Bettors Edge blazed past the opening quarter mark in :25-seconds before Pierce made his move with Sweet Lou.
The overwhelming 1-5 favourite swept to the lead and reached the half in :52.4. Meanwhile, Heston Blue Chip and Corey Callahan advanced first over with a parked-from-the-start State Treasurer and Jody Jamieson three-wide.
Sweet Lou continued to lead the field past three-quarters in 1:20.1 and turned for home. Heston Blue Chip only made it to the leader's wheel and posed no threat in the stretch, but Bettors Edge was ready to pounce from the pocket in a bid to steal the spotlight from his barn buddy. However, Sweet Lou held off the persistent Bettors Edge by half a length in a sprint to the wire. Carols Comet followed six and a half lengths behind in third. Thinking Out Loud and John Campbell finished fourth while Dancin Yankee and Tyler Buter earned the final paycheque in fifth.
The former track record of 1:48.1 was held by 2010 Dan Patch Invitational winner Shark Gesture.
"I felt very good with the way things were shaping up [in the first turn]," said Pierce after the race. "I was very surprised to look over when we straightened up down the back to see them lined up behind me on the outside so I figured I better shoot to the top here and just get control of the race. Once I did, I thought I gave him a breather, but you look at the clock and that isn't much of a breather at all. He was just going so fast so easy that I was amazed to tell you the truth. The hair was standing up inside my helmet. The horse is just amazing. And then in the lane, Bettors Edge just kept coming and coming and coming. Usually I've been shaking him and getting away from him, but today he just kept coming. What a race he went, he was very impressive."
Sweet Lou, a five-year-old son of Yankee Cruiser out of the Falcons Future mare Sweet Future, surpassed the $3 million career earnings mark with his 31st victory.
The favourite paid $2.40 to win.
The victory capped off a sensational night for Pierce, who also earned a pair of earlier wins on the card to lead his team to victory in the $20,000 East Meets Midwest Drivers’ Challenge.