WILKES-BARRE, PA (September 24, 2010)—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 Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
Time of the mile was 1:55.4, bettering the previous record of Here Comes Herbie (Ray Schnittker) July 10 of 2005. That mile went in 1:56.
“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) with the opening quarter clicked off in 27 and half in 56.1.
Johnny B Kemp was the new leader at the three-quarter mark that was registered in 1:25.2. The two-year-old colt trotter won by four lengths over Way Back When (Jim Morrill Jr.) with third-place going to Gimme A Good One (Phil Fluet).
All six horses in this field are Breeders Crown eligibles.
“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 the one hole and sat second for the first quarter of the race with Fitness Girl (George Napolitano Jr.) taking the young 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 finished three-quarters of a length over Pilgrims Truffles (Jim Meittinis). Third in this race was 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 $544,000 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.
Ultimate Cameron was coming off a big 1:57.1 qualifying win over The Red Mile in Lexington, KY.