Royalton Star showed true guts and determination en route to capturing Tuesday’s $24,000 Invitational Pace at Hoosier Park for driver Andy Shetler

. The pacer overcame several obstacles to score the victory in a time of 1:53.4 - just one-fifth of a second off the lifetime mark he set one week earlier.

Starting from post three in the eight-horse affair, Royalton Star faced a pair of obstacles – a sloppy track and a class jump that pitted him against the track’s tougher pacers.

The five-year-old, Ohio-bred son of Threefold altered tactics by getting away in the middle of the pack while Vapor In The Wind march the field to the quarter pole in :28.1. Roxies Big Guy was on the move shortly past that marker, and he hung up the next panel in :57 seconds.

Roxies Big Guy was immediately challenged and then overtaken by Rocket Fuel, who quickly came under pressure from a hard-driving Royalton Star. Those two matched strides past the three-quarter pole in 1:24 before Royalton Star pulled away to win by a one-length margin. Rocket Fuel was second and Roxies Big Guy finished third.

“I thought this horse (Royalton Star) would be good on a big track,” said Shetler. “He has come some pretty big last halves up at Northfield. He’s perfect to drive and you can drive him any way you want. He loves cover, and he also loves to come from behind. I didn’t want to leave with him last week, but had no choice. He raced really well tonight.”

Royalton Star, who was sent off at 8-1, now has six wins under his belt in nine starts this year. He races for owner/breeder/trainer Max Shaw of Lyons, OH.

“He (Royalton Star) has always been on a smaller track until last week,” said Shaw. “I figured he would do better on a bigger track because he’s a pretty big horse. He’s always been gutsy. So far, I’m real happy with him.”

Shaw bought and raced Royalton Star’s mother, Cinder Sandy, who earned $65,000 during her career. The Look Sharp mare is a half-sister to Cinder Lane Sam - the tough Ohio-sired Nobleland Sam gelding that garnered more than $600,000 during his career.

“This is the most money he (Royalton Star) has ever won in one race, and the biggest race he’s been in other than the Ohio Sires Stakes final as a three-year-old,” said Shaw. “He was fifth in the final and came back a day and a half later to win at the Wauseon Fair (Fulton County Fair) in 1:54.2. That is our home fair and we always try to support the racing program there.”

Royalton Star now has 23 career wins in 55 career starts. He has boosted his career earnings to more than $88,000.

(Hoosier Park)