by Evan Pattak, for the Meadows

Meadow Lands, PA — Thwarted in his attempted quarter-pole move, J T Luther resettled comfortably at the pylons, exploded down the backside and cruised to victory in the Pennsylvania Fair Championship for 3-year-old pacing colts on Saturday night (Oct. 7) at The Meadows.

Mocha Latte captured the PA Fair Championship for 2-year-old pacing colts, giving Rodney Bolon and Roger Hammer championship doubles as driver and owner/trainer, respectively. The championships, the concluding features of 2006 fair racing in the Keystone State, each carried a purse of $10,000.

Bolon and J T Luther got away third and eased off the pylons near the quarter pole. When Dick Stillings made the same move a fraction sooner with Blissful Luck, Bolon and J T Luther were forced back inside.

J T Luther is more accustomed to racing on top then from a hole, but Bolon said the son of Keystone Luther didn’t sulk when denied the lead.

“Most of Hammer’s horses are pretty easy to drive, so you can stop and start them just about whenever you want,” Bolon said.

Although Hammer regularly drives J T Luther, Bolon had qualified the horse early in his career.

“As a matter of fact, it was the first start he ever had,” Bolon recalled. “I liked him that day, and he’s turned out to be a nice horse.”

The win in 1:55.1 was the 16th in 29 career starts for J T Luther, whose career earnings now exceed $40,000. Blissful Luck was four lengths back in second while Keystone Rideau, coupled in the wagering with J T Luther as the 1-5 favorite, was third.

The quarter-pole move of Mocha Latte was even more eventful; when Adelia’s Groom and Chris Offutt refused to turn him loose, Mocha Latte was stuck outside for the balance of the mile. But when Ray’s Rayzer in third couldn’t pick up the dueling leaders and favorite DVC Done Good experienced traffic problems, Mocha Latte was able to prevail in 1:58.1, a nose better than DVC Done Good. Adelia’s Groom saved show.

“I just drove like Hammer would,” Bolon joked. “This horse kept right on trying and really never let up the whole way. I had an inkling he would keep on going. A lot of horses would pack it in big time, but he kept right on digging.”

Mocha Latte is a son of Real Artist out of the On The Road Again mare Cafeuccino, a popular fast-class pacer who won many races at The Meadows and on the Maryland-Virginia circuit.