Trevor Ritchie wasted no time making the front in Monday’s $50,000 final of the In Free Trotting Series at Mohawk Racetrack with Lady Laker, and once the filly cleared to the lead it was game over for everyone else.
The two-year-old daughter of Lockkeeper-Hyercast, who was three-for-three coming into Monday’s assignment, made it a clean sweep in the In Free Trotting Series following her wins in the preliminary legs of the event.
Lady Laker chopped out panels of :28.3, :58.2 and 1:27.3 for Ritchie, who was forced to stave off a late challenge from the pocket-sitting Antsy Dancey en route to the score by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:57.1.
Antsy Dancey was next best, with third prize going to Bostonz Credit.
“We were pretty happy with her,” said driver Trevor Ritchie from the winner’s circle. “She was a little more aggressive tonight with the side rolls on, which usually goes against what normally would happen, but, anyways, it worked.
“It is a worry (that Lady Laker might make a break) to be honest with you, because two of the three times I’ve raced her, she made breaks on me in the post parade,” he added. “Tonight she rolled out of there a little stronger than I would have liked so I was a little nervous going into that first turn.”
The 1:57.1 victory goes down a new series record, erasing the former standard of 1:58.1. Ritchie set that record, as well, with the Harald Lunde-trained Prada Hall in the 2007 edition of the In Free Trotting Series.
Allen Tomlinson trains Lady Laker for owner/breeder David Vanderhyde of Cedar Springs, MI. The $25,000 payday boosted the rookie’s earnings to $51,850.
(With quotes from WEG)
To view results for Monday’s card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.