Dismissed and sent away at odds of more than 22-1, Inukchuk Chuck and driver Mark Schullstrom made every pole a winning one en route to a 2:01.2 victory in the $9,000 AHDC trot at Freehold Raceway on Saturday (Feb. 19) and in doing so Schullstrom enjoyed his third career driving victory.
After starting from the two-hole Schullstrom sent his charge immediately to the lead and they fronted their competition by the first stanza in :29.4. Once in command, Inukchuk Chuck showed the way by the half in a soft 1:01.4 but he braced for challenges from King Cast (Jonathan Ahle) and Masster Blue (Tony Beltrami). At the three-quarters John Calabrese had the betting favourite Allindotime three-deep around traffic and up to challenge Inukchuk Chuck for command as the aforementioned challengers began to fade.
When the field rounded to final turn Allindotime and Inukchuk Chuck were heads apart and they remained side by side through the deep stretch all the way to the wire. It took a photo to determine the winner but when the picture was discernible it showed that Inukchuk Chuck was clearly the winner. Joe Faraldo garnered the show dough with Gemini Eddie.
The race winner, a nine-year-old Muscles Yankee gelding, is owned by his driver and trained by Dawn Anderson. He paid $47.20 for the win.
(AHDC)