Robin I Scoot was back on top in the week’s featured $23,000 Invitational Pace Saturday, May 8 at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. Driven by Trace Tetrick, the five-year-old Indiana-sired gelding roared down the lane to a two and three-quarter length advantage at the end
in a time of 1:52.2.
Starting the mile on a chilly evening through windy conditions, Robin I Scoot, who is versatile, was asked to lay off the early pace as Royalton Star and Andy Shetler bounded to the top for the lead, clipping by the quarter-mile marker in :27. The pace was starting to slow and Tetrick was out and moving before anyone detected his strategy. Robin I Scoot soared to the front with fire, catching the top spot at the halfway point in :57.1. At that point, the I Scoot Hanover gelding kept the tempo lively and gained a few lengths on the field turning for home.
In the lane, Robin I Scoot did not let up, rolling home to victory over Freddyscooter and Mark O’Mara, who closed in for second. Royalton Star held gamely inside for third.
“They were going pretty slow fractions, and it was just that time to move,” said Tetrick of his big move on the backstretch. “I hoped to get cover, but when I saw that wasn’t going to happen, we went onto the lead. He [Robin I Scoot] swelled up when we got to the front. I wanted to get five or six good steps on the field in the turn because the head wind is bad in the stretch tonight, and I knew it would be hard for them to catch us. I pulled the [ear] plugs at the top of the lane and he was gone.”
Robin I Scoot now has 29 wins in 76 lifetime starts. The former Indiana Horse of the Year increased his career bankroll to more than $527,000 for Shady Lane Meadows of Grabill, Indiana. Dan Perdue, who broke and trained the standout as a yearling, maintains Robin I Scoot at the Darke County Fairgrounds in Greenville, Ohio.
Tetrick had a huge evening, scoring four wins on the night, including a surprise upset in the $23,000 Invitational Trot. Surging by horses in the stretch, Jersey As nipped ABC Mercedes in the final strides of the race to win in a time of 1:56. Gale Warning and Ricky Macomber rallied home well for third. Jersey As paid $56.40, $16.20, and $7.40 across the board as the surprise winner in the race.
“This mare [Jersey As] was supposed to go overseas for a race and because of the volcano in Iceland, nothing was able to get over there,” said Tetrick. “They’ve been prepping her in Florida all winter and just shipped up to Kentucky. She shows in the past trotting home real strong, so it didn’t surprise me she finished so well. All of her [Annette Lorentzon] horses have always been good closers.”
Jersey As is trained by Swedish-born Anette Lorentzon and owned by ACL Stuteri Ab Stable of Paris, Kentucky. The four-year-old daughter of Muscles Yankee picked up the win in her first start of 2010. Unraced at two, she earned five wins in 13 outings at three and made more than $100,000. Her best time was recorded in a division of the Matron Stake at Dover Downs in a time of 1:55.2 for Lorentzon, who is now stabled at The Red Mile.
Tetrick also picked up wins in the $14,000 Open Trot with Motor Inn and Rip Rockin Raider in the claiming ranks earlier in the card. The 23-year-old driver now has 32 wins during the first 32 nights of racing to be among the top three drivers in 2010. He won the leading driver title at Hoosier Park in 2008 at the age of 21, the youngest driver or jockey to ever win a title at the Anderson, Indiana racetrack.
(Hoosier Park)