Sevruga matched the fastest time ever trotted on a five-eighths-mile oval with a romping win in a Preferred Trot at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs on Sunday night. The race carried a purse of $25,000.
Sevruga (SJs Caviar-Stunning Lindsey), a five-year-old gelding from the Julie Miller barn, left from post position No. 6 in a field of seven as the 1-5 favourite. Driver Andy Miller sent him to the front before the quarter, and as he clipped off fractions of :264, :55.4, and 1:22.4, the rest of the field faded from view. Sevruga trotted home five and a half lengths in front in a stunning 1:50.3. Upfront Billy, in second, and Traverse Seelster, in third, picked up the minor awards.
Sevruga’s time of 1:50.3 matched the mark set at Pocono just eight nights ago by Uncle Peter as the fastest ever time trotted on a five-eighthS-mile oval. It also sets the track and world record for aged geldings trotting on that distance track. The previous world mark was 1:50.4.
Sevruga, owned by KDM Stables Corp., won for the eighth time in 14 races this season. The victory was the 25th of his career and put his lifetime earnings at $635,091.
In other Sunday night action at Pocono, Rock N Soul outfinished Economy Terror in the stretch in a duel between million-dollar mares, winning a Preferred Handicap Pace for mares in the process. The race carried a purse of $25,000.
Leaving from post position No. 6 in a field of seven, Rock N Soul (Rocknroll Hanover-Artchitecture) left early and led at the quarter only to cede the lead to Economy Terror in the front stretch. The two stayed in that order until the stretch, when driver Matt Kakaley guided Rock N Soul, trained by Ron Burke, up the inside passing lane to win by a neck over Economy Terror in a career-best 1:49.4. Bullet Point was right with the top two at the line in third.
Rock N Soul, owned by Weaver Bruscemi, Burke Racing, and Frank Baldachino, won for the fourth time in 13 races this season. It was the 21st career victory for the six-year-old mare, pushing her lifetime earnings to $1,012,935.
(Pocono Downs)