by Paul Ramlow, USTA Internet News Manager

Lexington, KY — A pair of Allerage Farms races for older trotters were among the featured races on Saturday (Oct. 23) at The Red Mile.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Lucky Jim won the $143,600 Open Trot in a time of 1:51.1.

The $143,600 race for open trotters was captured by Lucky Jim and driver Andy Miller in a time of 1:51.1. The Julie Miller trainee, owned by David and John Prushnok and William Gregg, was a winner for the sixth time in 13 season’s outings, lifting his 2010 bankroll to $489,144 and taking him over the $1.6 million mark lifetime.

Enough Talk and Ron Pierce cut the fractions in this race, taking the field to the quarter in :27.2, the half in :55.1 and the three-quarters in 1:23.4.

Lucky Jim sat fourth on the wood for the first half, then came first over heading to the three-quarter pole. He passed Enough Talk down the stretch, then had to withstand a challenge from eventual runner-up Hot Shot Blue Chip (David Miller) to post the victory by three-quarters of a length. All Cantab (Jody Jamieson) was third and Enough Talk faded to fourth.

“I just wanted to relax him to the rail early there,” said Andy Miller. “I got away fourth but I would have rather been second or third. At the half he gave me an inkling that he wanted to go, so I moved him in the turn. We came up next to Enough Talk and when we moved into the turn he took off.”

“Last year he made my job easy,” said trainer Julie Miller of Lucky Jim. “This year has been more challenging. I’m so proud of the horse and I’m glad we had the opportunity to come here this year.

“We still have the American-National (on Nov. 13 at Balmoral Park). Based on how he raced today, I think we will go.”

In the $74,000 event for open mares, Buck I St Pat got second over cover from stablemate Southwind Wasabi on the final turn, then cleared to the front when that one broke stride in the stretch on her way to a 1:51.1 victory.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Buck I St Pat was a 1:51.1 winner for Tim Tetrick.

Buck I St Pat, an Ohio-bred 7-year-old mare by Jailhouse Jesse out of the Speed In Action mare Name It Something, is owned by Howard Taylor, Edwin Gold, Abraham Basen and Ron Fuller. She won for the eighth time in 18 starts this year, and for the 48th time in her career. Her season’s earnings improved to $645,695. Tim Tetrick was in the bike for trainer Ron Burke.

Windsong Soprano and driver Ron Pierce protected the rail and cut fractions of :27.3, :55.1 and 1:23.3. Buck I St Pat got away fifth, then followed the live cover of Southwind Wasabi who came first over heading into the final turn.

Southwind Wasabi cleared to the front at the top of the stretch and looked to be holding off a hard charging Buck I St Pat before she made a break and fell out of contention. From there it was an easy win for Buck I St Pat as she crossed the wire in 1:51.1. Windsong Soprano came back to finish second, four lengths behind the winner, with Autumn Escapade third for David Miller.

“We’ve been blessed,” said breeder/co-owner Ron Fuller in the winner’s circle. “They (Ron Burke and his crew) have done a marvelous job with her. We’re going to Balmoral on the 13th (of November for the American-National). With the Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, that will be her last start this year. We hope she’s going to race next year and we’ll try (to breed her via) an embryo transplant if I can convince my partners.”