Pilgrims Chuckie equaled the world record of 1:53 for a three-year-old trotting colt on a five-eighths mile oval in winning an $86,245 division of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes
Monday night at Pocono Downs.
Trained by Scott Andrews and driven by Mike Lachance, Pilgrims Chuckie finished 5-1/4 lengths ahead of Cassis, with the show dough going to Freedom Ridge.
“I could have gone at least a second faster,” said Lachance following the race. “My colt had a big night and he won easily.”
Pilgrims Chuckie, a three-year-old Broadway Hall colt, took the lead just before the half and was really never threatened the rest of the way. This was the first win in four starts this season.
Explosive Matter, with Ron Pierce in the sulky, established the world mark at Harrah’s Chester Racetrack in 2009. The previous track mark at Pocono Downs was owned by Caviar Crown (1:53.1). He established that record on June 12, 2009.
It was a big sire stakes night for Andy and Julie Miller. The husband-wife team won the first $85,844 division with Mystery Photo. It was a wire-to-wire victory with a time of 1:54.2.
Leaving from the six hole, Miller went right to the front and took the eight-horse field to the opening quarter in :28, half in :57.3 and three-quarters in 1:25.3. Kirty Dream challenged Mystery Photo down the backside but wasn’t able to get by the Mystery Photo, who finished 2-1/2 lengths ahead of Kirty Dream. Cant Lose finished third.
“I was happy with the race,” said Julie Miller. “We got the lead rather easily and I knew from there on we’d be tough to beat. Our colt was solid to the wire.”
Andy Miller also drove Red Light to a sire stakes victory in the final division. Red Light, trained by Erv Miller, just got up at the wire over On The Tab in 1:54.4. Third was race favourite and 2009 Breeders Crown winner, Pilgrims Taj, who had a rough time of it during and prior to the race.
Pilgrims Taj was breaking in the post parade and also during the warm-up period. Mike Lachance got the colt to stay flat during the race, but he took a lot of air in coming first up and never really challenged Red Light.
“It was a real good night, especially for owner Dave Prushnok (BTU Stable),” said Andy following the race. “I thought I had a good shot of winning this race. Pilgrims Taj took a lot of air and had a rough night.”
(Pocono Downs)