Pilgrims Toner, trained by Frank Catalfamo and driven by Brian Sears, equaled the world record of 1:48.2 in winning the $24,000 Open Handicap Pace Saturday, May 29
at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
The 1:48.2 clocking also equaled the fastest mile ever paced at the Northeastern Pennsylvania five-eighths mile track. Shadow Play, at the time a three-year-old colt, won an Adios elimination race at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs on August 8, 2008 with David Miller in the bike. Shadow Play and Miller also won the Adios a week later at the track that hosted the event while construction of a new racino was taking place at The Meadows.
Pilgrims Toner tied the world aged pacing gelding mark on a five-eighths mile track owned by Fake Denario N with Tony Morgan in the bike and set in 2008 at Harrah’s Chester Downs.
OK Braveheart, driven by Jim Morrill Jr., took the seven-horse field to the opening panel in :26.2 before Sears came first up near the three-eighths pole. OK Braveheart still led at the half with Pilgrims Toner inching closer. It was just past the half that Pilgrims Toner assumed the lead for good, getting to the three-quarters in 1:21 and drawing away from the rest of the field.
Second went to Four Trumps A (Larry Stalbaum), seven lengths back with third-place going to OK Braveheart.
Owners of the six-year-old gelding include Joseph Spezio, Patrick Daley, Robert Mills and Frank Catalfamo, all of New Jersey. This was the ninth win in 19 starts this season for Pilgrims Toner.
Not to be outdone, Brighten Up produced the second fastest mile trot in the history of the Northeastern Pennsylvania racetrack and in the process set a new world record for aged trotting mares. Driven, trained and owned by Joe Pavia Jr., Brighten Up stopped the timer in 1:52.1.
The five-year-old trotting mare, also owned by Paul Molter of Westport, Connecticut, was on the front end for the entire mile, leaving from the six-hole in the six-horse field and getting to opening split in :27.3, half in :55.3 and three-quarters in 1:23.2. The race was for $25,000-$30,000 claiming trotters.
Brighten Up went off stride a short distance from the wire but had a several length lead at the time. The mare survived an inquiry.
“I wasn’t concerned with any records and I grabbed her near the wire and she broke,” said Pavia Jr. after the race. “I probably could have gone faster.”
The time was just a tick off equaling the fastest trot ever of Macho Lindy (Larry Stalbaum) set in 2008. Buck I St Pat held the mark of 1:52.2 set at Harrah's Chester.
A field of nine is set for the $250,000 Lynch finals next Saturday. It will include Fancy Filly, Feeling You, Ruffles Kiss, Sammys Magic Girl, A And GS Princess, Native Doll, No Bad Luck, Sand Windsor and All Heart Gal.
Feeling You, a Lynch supplemental entry of $15,000, won her sixth straight race with a 1:51.1 time, beating Native Doll by a length and three-quarters. She’s undefeated at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs and is now four-for-four at Pocono. She was driven by Jim Morrill Jr. and is trained by George Berkner.
Fancy Filly, trained by George Teague Jr. and driven by Brian Sears, also won in 1:51.1 and is two-for-two in 2010.
Ruffles Kiss, trained and driven by Pavia Jr., was a Lynch elimination winner with a time of 1:51.4. She’s now won two straight on the season.
(Pocono Downs)