WILKES-BARRE, PA — Pilgrims Chuckie equaled the world record of 1:53 for a three-year-old trotting colt on a five-eighths mile oval in winning an $86,245 division of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Monday, June 14th at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
Trained by Scott Andrews and driven by Mike LaChance, Pilgrims Chuckie finished five and one-quarter lengths over Cassis (Tim Tetrick) with third going to Freedom Ridge (David Miller).
“I could have gone at least a second faster,” said LaChance following the race. “My colt had a big night and he won easily/”
Pilgrims Chuckie, a three-year-old Broadway Hall colt, took the lead just before the half and was really never threatened the rest of the way. This was the first win in four starts this season.
Explosive Matter, with Ron Pierce in the sulky, established the world mark at Harrah’s Chester Downs in 2009. Previous track mark at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs was owned by Caviar Crown (1:53.1) and established June 12 of last year with Dave Palone driving.
It was a big sire stakes night for Andy and Julie Miller. The husband-wife team won the first $85,844 division with Mystery Photo. It was a wire to wire victory with a time of 1:54.2.
Leaving from the six hole, Miller went right to the front and took the eight-horse field to the opening quarter in 28, half in 57.3 and three-quarters in 1:25.3 with No. 5 Can’t Lose (Corey Callahan) sitting second and No. 2 Premier Event (David Miller) second and third for the first-half of the mile.
But it was No. 4 Kirty Dream (Eric Goodell) challenging Mystery Photo down the backside but not able to get by the winner, who finished two and one-half lengths ahead of Kirty Dream and two and three-quarter lengths over Can’t Lose with the final time of 1:54.2.
“I was happy with the race,” said Julie Miller. “We got the lead rather easily and I knew from there on we’d be tough to beat. Our colt was solid to the wire.”
Andy Miller also drove Red Light to a sire stakes victory in the final division. Red Light, trained by Erv Miller, just got up at the wire over On The Tab (Marcus Johansson) as the two trotters battled right to the wire in a thrilling photo finish. Time of the mile was 1:54.4.
Third in this race was favorite and 2009 Breeders Crown winner Pilgrims Taj, who had a rough time of it during and prior to the race with LaChance in the bike
Pilgrims Taj was breaking in the post parade and also during the warm-up period. But LaChance got this one to stay flat during the race but took a lot of air in coming first up and never really challenged Red Light.
“It was a real good night, especially for owner Dave Prushnok (Btu Stable),” said Andy following the race. “I thought I had a good shot of winning this race. Pilgrims
Taj took a lot of air and had a rough night.”
About Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs
Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, owned by the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut, is one of the most distinctive and spectacular entertainment, gaming, shopping and dining destinations in Pennsylvania. Situated on 400 acres in Plains, Pennsylvania, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs is currently home to 55,000 square feet of gaming space including 2,500 slot machines and electronic table games, a variety of dining and shopping options, nightlife, entertainment and live harness racing eight months out of the year. Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs is within easy access of New York, Philadelphia, New Jersey and Delaware. More information is available by calling 1.888. WIN IN PA (1.888.946.4672) or visiting mohegansunpocono.com.