Sitting well off a scorching pace, Pamela Wagner and Scott Woogen's Lolique ($16.40) kicked cover on the far turn to just prevail in the $32,000 Open Trot on Friday afternoon at Harrah's Chester
.
Likeabatoutahell (Ron Pierce) and In Focus (Daniel Dube) dueled relentlessly for the entire circumference of the first turn, neither giving an inch through a :26.4 first quarter, which saw last week's winner hard pressed to clear the front. There would be no breathers for In Focus, however, as Lanson--who was also parked on the first turn--was used to clear before the half, keeping the tempo a grueling one through a :54.4 half mile.
Through the early battle, Lolique was near the rear of the field, moving second-over behind Big Boy Lloyd (George Napolitano) on the bridge turn. As Big Boy Lloyd stoked the fire some more on the backstretch, advancing to within three-quarters of a length of Lanson at the 1:23.2 three-quarter split, Lolique was towed into prime striking position. As Big Boy Lloyd wore Lanson down and eventually took over on the far turn, Lolique kicked three-wide with Looking Hanover (Yannick Gingras) fanning four-wide in the stretch with a good bit of late trot himself. Lolique, however, prevailed by a head, just holding off Looking Hanover in 1:53. Big Boy Lloyd was a game third.
Tim Tetrick drove Lolique for trainer John Wagner.
The sub-featured winners-over trot saw Lets Get Serious N (Corey Callahan) turn in a 1:53.1 effort while uncovered, and the finale--a third-level condition pace--went to Ontario-sired Oscar Oscar (David Miller) in a scorching 1:49.4.
(With files from Harrah's Chester)