LEXINGTON, KY–Driver Andrew McCarthy sat patiently with Grand Teton while This Is The Plan blazed around The Red Mile and surged by all his competitors in the stretch to take the second of two harness racing divisions for the $225,000 Crawford Farms Tattersalls Pace, sponsored by Al & Michelle Crawford, in 1:48.1 on Sunday, Oct. 7.
Ideal Feeling circled past This Is The Plan to lead heading through a :26 opening quarter but soon lost the lead as This Is The Plan sprinted back to the top heading to a :53.2 half mile.
This Is The Plan widened his lead circling the final turn as Ideal Feeling chased from second and Dorsoduro Hanover advanced gradually from first over into third. Past three-quarters in 1:20.1, This Is The Plan slowed into the stretch and lost the lead to Dorsoduro Hanover sliding by first over.
Grand Teton, from third over, came charging through the center of the course after Dorsoduro Hanover and eased past nearing the wire. Odds On Lauderdale, from last, rushed for third while This Is The Plan held fourth.
A colt by A Rocknroll Dance, Grand Teton won his third race from 16 starts and his eighth from 28 overall, earning $454,152 for owner Diamond Creek Racing. Jimmy Takter trains the $9.60 winner.
American History vaulted off cover and seized victory at the wire to take the other division of the Tattersalls in 1:48.3.
Thinkbig Dreambig took the lead with Hayden Hanover in second and Done Well third. Past the quarter in :27.1, Thinkbig Dreambig continued his speed to the half in :54.4 while Courtly Choice, from fourth, tipped first over and supplied cover to Stay Hungry heading into the final turn.
Courtly Choice drew closer passing three-quarters in 1:21.2 but stalled into the stretch while Thinkbig Dreambig dashed towards the finish. Stay Hungry moved three wide and American History four wide while Done Well weaved through competition and into contention late. American History had the most speed late to get a neck up on Stay Hungry in second while Done Well edged out Thinkbig Dreambig for third.
Returning $17.40 to win, American History won his eighth race from 17 starts this season and his 11th from 21 overall, earning $592,065 for owners Brittany Farms LLC, Marvin Katz and American History Racing. Andrew McCarthy drove the Tony Alagna trainee.
By Ray Cotolo, for The Red Mile