Royalton Star and driver Andy Shetler turned in the fastest mile of the 80-day race meet at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. The duo stopped the timer in 1:50.1 to earn top honours in the $23,000 Invitational Pace Saturday, May 15

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Shetler had Royalton Star primed and ready for the featured event at the start. The six-year-old son of Threefold left briskly for the front end from Post 4, appearing to have the top spot in his sights. However, a blur from the far outside suddenly changed the course of Royalton Star as last week’s Invitational winners Robin I Scoot and Trace Tetrick rallied hard from the outside to secure the top spot from Post 9.

After passing the quarter-mile marker in :26, racing fans knew they were in for a fast mile. The tempo of the race didn’t let up on the backside with Robin I Scoot passing the halfway point in :54.3, keeping everyone relatively in straight-line formation except for the back of the pack. Royalton Star kept right on Tetrick’s helmet, not allowing Robin I Scoot to scoot away from the field around the final turn as he did in the prior week’s competition.

In the stretch, Shetler tipped Royalton Star out and started working on a big final quarter, pacing by Robin I Scoot and rallying home in :26.4 to grab the win by three and one-half lengths. Rocket Fuel and Dan Shetler, who followed Royalton Star the entire mile, moved in for second over Robin I Scoot, who held on gamely for third on the inside.

“He [Royalton Star] is a good horse and he’s been racing pretty well all year,” said Shetler. “He just had a perfect trip tonight. He has always thrown in big last quarters, and tonight, the trip just worked out well.”

The latest victory for Shetler behind Royalton Star was his 994th career trip to the winner’s circle. Shetler has been the regular driver of Royalton Star for the past two years. He has connected for 11 of Royalton Star’s 31 career wins.

Owned, trained, groomed, and shipped by 77-year-old Max Shaw of Lyons, Ohio, Royalton Star earned his first win of 2010. He also established a new personal best record, lowering his previous mark of 1:50.4 taken last year at Indiana Downs. Royalton Star is now just shy of $250,000 in lifetime earnings for Shaw, who is also the breeder.

Shaw still ships to numerous tracks in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana from the Fulton County Fairgrounds in Wauseon, Ohio. He bought Royalton Star’s mother, Cinder Sandy, and raced her successfully to earn $68,000 prior to moving her to the brood mare ranks. The mare is a half-sister to Cinder Lane Sam, the standout Ohio bred that earned more than $600,000 during his career.

(Hoosier Park)