Drop Red broke his own track record for four-year-old pacing stallions in winning the featured Open Handicap Pace on Saturday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs
. The race carried the night’s top purse of $24,000.
Leaving from post position No. 5 in a field of eight, Drop Red, a 6-1 choice, was sent to the front end early by driver George Napolitano Jr., but he then allowed race favourite Vlos to take the lead around the first turn. The four-year-old stallion from the barn of Robert Horowitz then sat in the pocket while Vlos set nasty fractions. In the stretch, Drop Red easily blew by the leader to win by two and three-quarter lengths in 1:50, one-fifth of a second better than the track mark he set in May of this year. Amillionpennies rallied for second while Vlos faded to third.
Drop Red, sired by Red River Hanover, won for the fourth time in 20 tries this year. It was his 14th career win and his lifetime earnings now top $420,000.
(Pocono Downs)