Speedster Cooler Schooner Returns
World record holder Cooler Schooner made her first start since her shocking 1:51.3 win at Mohegan Sun Pocono against Pennsylvania Sire Stakes foes at Harrah's Philadelphia on Friday afternoon.
Driver John Campbell timed the gate perfectly with Cooler Schooner in her $84,328 division and sprinted to an effortless four-length lead by the :26.4 opening quarter. A Perfect Gem (Marcus Miller) tried to stay with her in the pocket and finally got close to the precocious pacesetter by the :55.4 half.
Cooler Schooner looked to be labouring on the lead as Designed To Be (Andy Miller) made it to the leader's wheel by the 1:25 third station and showed no signs of going away. Down the lane, the fillies both showed determination but Cooler Schooner stayed game and held on by a charted head in a track record time of 1:54.2, with Designed To Be staying for second and A Perfect Gem two and a quarter lengths back in third.
Jim Campbell trains Cooler Schooner, now a winner of three starts in seven outings, for Fashion Farms of New Hope, PA.
There were three PASS divisions and the other two went to driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Jimmy Takter. In the first division, Honor Thy Daughter cleared to the lead at the 3/8 mark for Gingras and held on for the 1:57 score winning by a length over Global Magic and Juniata Hanover for Brittany Farms of Versailles, KY, Marvin Katz of Toronto and Al Libfeld, Pickering, Ont.
Brittany homebred Lifetime Pursuit made good on her 1-9 selection in the final PASS division to win in 1:57.3 by two lengths for Gingras and Takter over longshots 61-1 Anonyme Hanover (Matt Kakaley) and 26-1 Ruby (Marcus Miller).
In addition to PASS action, Harrah's Philadelphia hosted Historic Series events for two-year-old pacers, with Tim Tetrick teaming both Debutante Stake winners Tyra (1:53.2) and McVita Bella (1:53.3). In addition, Fashion Farms' Sometimes Said (1:52.4, John Campbell) along with The Lunch Pail (1:51.3, Andy Miller) and Allstar Partner (1:52.2, Corey Callahan) won their respective Goshen Cup events for two-year-old male pacers. Trainer John Butenschoen scored a stakes double with McVita Bella and Allstar Partner.