Johnny B Kemp, a two-year-old Credit Winner colt trained and driven by Jimmy Takter, set a new track mark in winning a Breeders Crown prep race
Friday night at Pocono Downs Time of the mile was 1:55.4, bettering the previous record of 1:56 set by Here Comes Herbie (Ray Schnittker) on July 10, 2005.
“My horse was very good,” said Takter. “He never had been in a race with those kind of early fractions.”
The first-half of the mile was controlled by 17-1 longshot Glide To Victory (Tom Jackson), who supplied opening splits of :27 and :56.1. Johnny B Kemp was the new leader at the three-quarter pole in 1:25.2. The colt drew off to win by four lengths over Way Back When (Jim Morrill, Jr.), with the show dough going to Gimme A Good One (Phil Fluet).
“I’m so happy the Breeders Crown is being held here since this racing surface is fantastic,” said Takter.
While Johnny B Kemp was breaking a track mark, Andover The Top, another Breeders Crown eligible, just missed a track record by a fifth of a second in winning the $10,000 trot for two-year-old filly trotters with a time of 1:56.3.
Andover The Top (Dave Palone) had to return to the paddock with broken equipment and refused the gate after returning, causing a recall. But with the help of outrider Terry Scott, Andover the Top left from Post 1 and sat second for the first quarter of the race with Fitness Girl (George Napolitano, Jr.) taking the filly trotters to the opening quarter in :28.1. Palone got Andover The Top into high gear in the front stretch and became the new leader at the half that was timed in :58.1. Three-quarters went in 1:27.2 with Andover The Top on top, and he prevailed by three-quarters of a length over Pilgrims Truffles (Jim Meittinis). Third prize went to Sweet Love (Matt Kakaley).
“She (Andover The Top) got a world of ability,” said Palone in the winner’s circle. “She just lost her composure in those other races when she broke stride. I’m pumped and can’t wait until we race in the Breeders Crown here. This is the fastest five-eighths mile track in the world.”
Ultimate Cameron (Morrill, Jr.) won the $20,000 Open Trot for three-year-old filly Breeders Crown eligibles.
Morrill Jr. sat second with this three-year-old Yankee Glide filly before becoming the new leader at the half and winning in 1:55.1. With earnings of more than $555,380 with the victory, Ultimate Cameron won for the fourth time in nine starts this season after leaving from the one post.
“I’m really happy with the way she raced,” said Bob Stewart, who trains Ultimate Cameron. “I told Jimmy to race her as easily as he could in getting ready for the Breeders Crown. She performed very well.”
Stewart said his prized filly trotter was sick when she finished eighth in the American National at Balmoral in late August.
(Pocono Downs)