Sophomore stars were out in full force at Harrah’s Chester Racetrack on Monday afternoon, as the oval hosted a quartet of $200,000 PASS finals
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Driver David Miller doubled up in the finals thanks to scores with Big Bad John in the colt and gelding pace and Caitrin Hall in the filly trot.
Big Bad John overcame early interference to win his rich tilt in 1:49.4 for trainer Ron Potter. The son of Western Hanover-Trulyawork Of Art, who was sent off as the 3-5 favourite, was one of many pacers bothered shortly after the start by a breaking Custard The Dragon. Miller managed to gain the pocket with Big Bad John, and they stalked Hugadragon through early fractions of :25.3 and :54.2 before pressing that leader to the three-quarter pole in 1:22.1. A :27.2 final quarter was good enough for Big Bad John to win by 1-3/4 lengths over Hugadragon in 1:49.4. Mystic Desire came on late to finish third.
Winchester Baye Acres Inc of Ocala, FL owns the 15-time winner, who improved this year’s record to 7-0-1 in 10 starts while pushing this year’s earnings to $443,982. He’s now a career winner of $666,732.
Miller also clicked with Caitrin Hall, who turned a two-hole trip into a 1:54.3 victory. The Tony Alagna-trained daughter of Tom Ridge-CR Oh Suzanna sat behind Cedar Dove through fractions of :28.1, :58 and 1:26 before using :28.2 speed to haul down that front-stepping foe in the final strides. The margin of victory was a head for Caitrin Hall over Cedar Dove, with Action On George finishing third.
Patrick Graham of Pittsfield, IL owns the five-time winner, who has put together a 3-1-1 record in 11 starts this season. The $159,884 she has stashed away this season has lifted her lifetime earnings to $306,209.
Foxy Lady and driver Yannick Gingras did a number on the pacing fillies they faced in their $200,000 assignment. The daughter of Real Desire-Judy Is A Fox led the field through fractions of :26.4, :55.3 and 1:23 before using a :28-second closing panel to win by 2-1/4 lengths in a career-best clocking of 1:51. The 3-5 favourite defeated Mikayla Rose and Strike An Attitude.
Ronnie Burke trains the pacing lass for Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, JJK Stables LLC and Phillip Collura. After going 2-for-11 in her rookie year she has bounced back with a 5-for-12 campaign in 2011. Her lifetime earnings are just shy of $460,000.
One afternoon removed from his victory in the Legends Day Trot at Clinton Raceway, John Campbell guided Opening Night to a 1:54.4 score in the colt and gelding trot. The Jim Campbell-trained son of Broadway Hall-Rare Elegance enjoyed a pocket trip behind Big Rigs. That tempo-setting foe led the field through fractions of :27.2, :56.2 and 1:25 before Opening Night went into sprint mode. Opening Night’s :29.3 closing panel was enough to earn the colt the 1-1/4 length score over Big Rigs, with the show dough going to Magnum Kosmos.
Sent off at odds of 6-1 in the rich event, Opening Night improved his 2011 record to 4-2-1 in 11 tries for the Runthetable Stables of Montvale, NJ. The $100,000 payday lifted his lifetime earnings to $462,208.