Rich And Miserable defeated the toughest field he has faced during his current six-race win streak, taking a $30,000 Great Northeast Open Series trot in 1:51.3 on a 'sloppy' surface on Sunday, June 16 at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
Muscle Diamond was first to the top, with Such An Angel and Moonshiner Hanover falling in behind before the :27 quarter. Rich And Miserable, an Explosive Matter gelding, was moved from fourth by driver Tyler Buter, a four-time winner Sunday at Pocono, shortly off the first turn, but was extended before clearing to the lead just before the :55 half.
Such An Angel and Matt Kakaley came back out to challenge through the backstretch, and those two had their own private duel from the five-eighths past the 1:23.1 three-quarters and on through the stretch. Rich And Miserable went on to grab a neck advantage on the wire. Muscle Diamond was another three-and-three-quarter lengths back in third. 3-2 favourite Homicide Hunter, who won the Breeders Crown in sloppy conditions at Pocono last fall, trailed most of the way and could do no better than sixth.
The 1:51.3 mile in the off conditions matched three previous accomplishments of 9-5 second choice Rich And Miserable–his own lifetime mark, the fastest trot mile of the year at Pocono, and the North American season’s record. Todd Buter trains the dramatically-improved four-year-old for Buter Farm Inc., Lynette Buter, and William and Carol Fuhs.
For the second-straight night, five drivers accounted for all thirteen races–Buter with his four, George Napolitano Jr. with three, and two each for Simon Allard, Eric Carlson, and Jordan Stratton.
13 more horses changed hands via the claiming box Sunday, with $253,500 invested in sharp horses. One of those claimed was the veteran Atta Boy Dan, who became the first horse to be taken three times for the Pocono record claim price of $40,000.
(with files from PHHA/Pocono)