Sears And Peck Double In Haughton

Published: August 8, 2009 01:44 pm EDT

One year ago Brian Sears teamed with trainer Greg Peck to win the Peter Haughton Memorial for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings with this year’s Hambletonian favourite Muscle Hill. On Saturday, the duo returned to the winner’s circle at Meadowlands Racetrack for the $523,600 event with Holiday Road leading the way

.

Elimination winner Holiday Road got away fourth from Post 1 while Plan B In Hd (George Brennan) flashed early gate speed from Post 7, but to his outside Wishing Stone (Tim Tetrick) set his sites on the front and rolled past at the :27.3 opening quarter. Plan B In Hd moved back out for the re-take, but the favoured Lucky Chucky (John Campbell) advanced to the lead from third past the half in :56.

From there, Sears gave Holiday Road the signal and the 2-1 second choice ducked into the two-hole at three-quarters in 1:25.3 before rolling up alongside Lucky Chucky. Those two squared off down the lane, but Holiday Road gained the upper hand and drew clear to win in 1:54. The time of the mile shaved a full second off the stakes record previously held by Donato Hanover and Muscle Hill.

Pilgrims Taj (Mike Lachance) finished one and a quarter lengths behind in second forcing Lucky Chucky to settle for third.

“I was kind of on my way and John [Campbell and Lucky Chucky] slide out following George [Brennan and Plan B In Hd],” explained Sears following the race. “The horse did everything I asked. I settled him back down and when I went to put him back down in the hole he responded to me well. He got back in there and relaxed and I was able to save him. No one was really coming that early so I was able to wait pretty long before I pulled him first up and I was really happy with him. He was real confident.

“He’s very mature," continued Sears. "I was very please with him. I scored him down and he seemed sharp and not overly aggressive and I couldn’t be happier. I hope to see you back here later [with Muscle Hill]."

“Its quite and honour and to do it two years in a row,” added Peck. “I’ve been asked a lot about comparing the two, Holiday Road with Muscle Hill, and I don’t know, I think we have to start looking at him like that now. I was saying it was kind of hard to compare, but after today I don’t know.”

Holiday Road now has three wins and a third on his record in four starts for Peck, who shares ownership with Jerry Silva of Long Beach, New York, the T L P Stable of Kearny and Patricia Bolte of Moorestown, New Jersey. The lion’s share of the purse boosted his bankroll to $312,350.

Stay tuned to the SC website for full coverage of harness racing's Hambletonian Day at the Meadowlands.

To view the results, click here.

Tags
Have something to say about this? Log in or create an account to post a comment.