On the heels of a Sunday which saw four sub-1:50 pacing miles, a pair of trotters impressed with miles which both eclipsed the 1:53 mark on Friday (June 11) afternoon at Harrah's Chester

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The featured $32,000 Open Trot went to Pamela Wagner and Scott Woogen's Lolique ($7.20), who scored back-to-back wins in the weekly feature. The seven-year-old Tagliabue gelding was much closer to the pace than usual, stalking co-favorite Lubbock (Ron Pierce) through the first seven-eighths of a mile. As Lubbock came under heavy pressure from Looking Hanover (Yannick Gingras) at head-stretch, Lolique had clear running up the open stretch, just up at the winning post from Lubbock in 1:52.4, the fastest mile for a seven-year-old trotter at Chester. Looking Hanover was third, while Big Boy Lloyd (George Napolitano) holding fourth off a ground-saving trip. The top four were separated by no more than one-half length.

Tim Tetrick drove Lolique for trainer John Wagner.

As impressive as Lolique's 1:52.4 effort was, it was ultimately a mare who would steal the show. Summertime Yankee ($11.00) responded in a $23,000 fifth-level condition trot with a pillar-to-post 1:52.3 mile, the second-fasest at Chester from a distaff trotter, and the fourth-fastest trot ever at Chester. The six-year-old S Js Photo mare was sent right to the front and never looked back, pulling away by a handy two lengths under David Miller for owner/trainer Tyler Raymer. Master Begonia (Yannick Gingras) took advantage of pocket position to hold second, while Spunky Vic (Andy McCarthy) was a stalking third.

Stallion Series draws eight Thursday divisions

The fledgling Stallion Series has had no trouble striking a harmonious chord with Pennsylvania's harness racing community, considering that sixty three-year-old pacing fillies will contest eight $20,000 divisions of the event at Chester on Thursday afternoon. Often compared to the Ontario Sires Stakes' Grassroots series, the Stallion Series is in its second year at the Pennsylvania racetracks, with 2010 being the first year in which three-year-olds have been eligible to compete.

(Harrah's Chester)