Making his local debut, Lubbock ($10.40) used a strong third quarter to his advantage, sprinting clear of the field in a 1:53.1 pillar-to-post performance in Friday afternoon's $32,000 Open Handicap Trot
at Harrah's Chester Casino and Racetrack.
Clearing Autumn Escapade (David Miller) on the first turn, Lubbock was allowed to rate a deliberate front half, making the quarter in :28 and backing down the half to :57.2 seeing that there was no pressure. Straightening away up the backstretch, and with first-over Lolique (Yannick Gingras) making no headway at all, Ron Pierce asked the five-year-old Angus Hall gelding for a bit more trot, and the response was instant, pulling away to three-quarters in a powerful 1:24.4 with Autumn Escapade remaining close in tow throughout.
With Lolique stalling on the far turn, 3-5 favourite Buck I St Pat (Tim Tetrick) edged three-wide and closed strongly, but Lubbock had plenty of reserve in the final yards, prevailing over Autumn Escapade by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:53.1. Buck I St Pat settled for third, while Photo Maxx (Daniel Dube) was an even fourth.
Kirsten Proctor trains Lubbock for owner Joseph Fanelli of Wayne, Pennsylvania. The win was the eight-year-old gelding's eighth win in 13 starts this year pushing his earnings to over $88,000.
(With files from Harrah's Chester)