By Kimberly French, Hoof Beats Editor
East Rutherford, NJ — It appeared Lather Up
barely broke a sweat as he paced his way into the history books with a 1:46
mile on Saturday evening (July 6) at The Meadowlands en route to his 20th
career victory in the $250,000 Graduate final for 4-year-old pacers.
Only Always
B Miki, at age five in 2016 at Red Mile, has ever stopped the clock as
swiftly. The mile also broke the previous mark of 1:46.4 for a 4-year-old
pacer, held jointly by stallion Warrawee Needy in 2013 at The Meadowlands and
gelding Dr J Hanover in 2017 at Mohawk.
Steered by Montrell Teague, the son of I’m
Gorgeous-Pocket Comb enjoyed the perfect pocket journey behind Indiana
champion Always A Prince (Brian Sears). That rival established torrid fractions
of :25.3, :52 and 1:19.1 prior to being overhauled by Lather Up.
The winner defeated a hard closing This Is The Plan (Yannick
Gingras) by 2-1/4 lengths and Backstreet Shadow (Tim Tetrick) to procure his
record-setting triumph. After his early efforts, Always A Prince held gamely
for fourth.
Owned by his breeders, Gary and Barbara Iles, Lather Up is
conditioned by Clyde Francis. He entered this contest after a costly break at
the half-mile pole in the $500,000 Ben Franklin final at The Downs at Mohegan
Sun Pocono on June 29 caused him to finish ninth.
“I knew we were going to go a crazy mile,” said Montrell Teague.
“When I popped the pocket and my horse just sprinted I knew we were in a very
good position. He throws in a couple bad races here and there but we showed how
good he really is tonight.
“It’s monumental; it’s amazing. Wiggles (2015 Horse of the Year
and Teague standout Wiggle It Jiggleit) never did anything like that, but hats
off to how good Lather Up really is.”
“George (Teague) has always told me this horse is capable of a
(1):46 mile,” said Gary Iles. “He’s been telling me that for the last two
years. We have had some bad goes but he has said he really is that good. Of
course, now we know he is. I saw those fractions coming up and I saw Montrell
and knew where he was sitting and was very confident it was going to be a win.”
Lather Up has now amassed more than $1.18 million from 33
lifetime trips to the gate and sports a record of 8-5-0-1 for the season.
He paid $14 to win as the third choice in the wagering, while
This Is The Plan paid $6.40 to place. Backstreet Shadow was $6.60 to show.
Atlanta marches to world record victory in Graduate
By Kimberly French, Hoof Beats Editor
East Rutherford, NJ — Atlanta (Yannick Gingras)
took the overland route to claim a world record triumph in 1:49.1 in the
$250,000 Graduate final for 4-year-old trotters at The Meadowlands on Saturday
(July 6). The daughter of Chapter Seven-Hemi Blue Chip exploded in the lane to
defeat world champion Six Pack (Åke Svenstadt) and Indiana champion Custom
Cantab (David Miller) at the wire.
The time of 1:49.1 was the fastest ever for a trotting mare,
besting the 1:49.2 mark put up in 2017 by Hannelore Hanover at Red Mile. It was
also the fastest trotting mile ever at The Meadowlands.
Leaving from post position four Atlanta was unhurried as
Manchego (Dexter Dunn) led the field of 10 through a swift opening quarter-mile
of :26.2. That mare was overtaken by a first-over Six Pack shortly after that
marker. Six Pack posted fractions of :54.1 and 1:22 as the field turned for
home.
Driven confidently by Gingras, Atlanta commenced her march on
the outside from third place at the top of the stretch to best Six Pack by a
neck in a cavalry charge to the finish line.
“I can’t say I was not worried turning for home,” said Gingras.
“His horse (Svanstedt with Six Pack) kicked clear and I know he’s a tremendous
horse too but this mare is just unreal. She just kept on digging.
“Honestly I thought I was a winner at the eighth pole but his
horse (Svanstedt’s) just kept on fighting and at that point I wasn’t so sure.
When I tipped her off cover I really thought I was going to get him a little
easier than I did but at the end of the day it was two great horses going at it
and we came out on top.”
Owned by Crawford Farms Racing, Brad Grant and Howard Taylor,
the 4-year-old mare is trained by Ron Burke. The 2018 Hambletonian winner now
has earned more than $1.48 million in her career and is a perfect six-for-six
in her 2019 campaign.
Atlanta paid $2.60 to win as the 3-10 public choice. Six Pack
paid $4.20 to place, while Custom Cantab provided her supporters with $7.40 to
show.
