from Harrah’s Chester Casino & Racetrack

Chester, PA — It wasn’t easy — and in fact the issue became very interesting in the last 30 yards or so — but prohibitive favorite Cruiser Weight and driver Tim Tetrick led every step of the way to prevail by a short head in capturing the $40,400 Dana Irving Memorial Final at Harrah’s Chester on Monday, July 23.

The 3-year-old pacer, who won both his Irving elimination divisions on the way to the final, is now nine for 14 lifetime and has earnings of $65,063.

World Wide Racing Photos

Cruiser Weight (#1) holds off Bret’s New Journey at the wire.

Cruiser Weight left from post position one and was put into gear early by Tetrick, accounting for the first quarter in :27.1 while holding a length advantage over Bret’s New Journey and driver Tony Morgan. Second choice Lesters Wester pulled first over approaching the :56.1 half-mile and briefly engaged the top two, but faded as Cruiser Weight hit the three-quarter mark in 1:24.3.

Cruiser Weight was set down for the drive by Tetrick with a 1-1/2 length lead, but Morgan and Bret’s New Journey found new life in the passing lane and began to eat quickly into the leader’s margin. In the end, it was a question of what would come first, the wire or Bret’s New Journey. The wire — and Cruiser Weight — won, with Bret’s New Journey a narrow second and Sam’s Delight parlaying a rail trip the entire way into third-place money.

The winner is owned by the Warren Racing Stable in partnership with trainer Dylan Davis.

“He (Cruiser Weight) had two good eliminations where he got a little cover and then moved on,” explained Tetrick. “Today, we got to the top and he went well, although I had to gather him a bit down the stretch when he got a little rough-gaited. He fit this series really well, though.”

For Tetrick, whose July stakes resume includes driving victories in the $1 million Meadowlands Pace and Harrah’s Chester’s marquee event, the $300,000 Ben Franklin Pace, it’s been a heady few weeks.

“I’m waiting for someone to pinch me and wake me up. Things are really going well right now.”