by Darrell Wood, publicity director, Colonial Downs

New Kent, VA — Lolique and trainer/driver John Wagner upset heavily favored Buck I St Pat in a $40,000 Invitational Trot on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 18) at Colonial Downs. The race was the richest non-Virginia bred event on Colonial’s fall calendar.

Colonial Downs photo

Lolique surged past Buck I St Pat in the stretch to score in 1:56.4.

Buck I St Pat, sent off at odds of 1-9, came first over at the top of the stretch and seemed in perfect striking position to defeat four other trotters. Roger Hammer’s Vivid Photo, who had wins here in ’06 and ’07 in a similar race, cut the first three fractions in :28.3, 1:00.1 and 1:29.3 over a ‘sloppy’ track on a cool, damp afternoon.

Buck I St Pat, with Tim Tetrick, the country’s top driver by purse earnings aboard, eased past Hammer’s tiring trotter with three-sixteenths left. Lolique, quietly trotting behind Buck I St Pat with a cover trip, surged past the 6-year-old mare in deep stretch and crossed the wire in 1:56.4. Buck I St Pat did get second, 1-1/4 lengths behind the winner, while Man About Town took third. Vivid Photo hung on for fourth and R U Watching was fifth in the five-horse field.

Lolique, co-owned by Dr. Scott Woogen and Pamela Wagner, won for the fourth time in his last six starts. The 6-year-old Tagliabue gelding pushed his ’09 bankroll over the $260,000 mark with his 12th win of the year and 27th lifetime triumph.

Colonial Downs is dark Monday, but will host a 10-race card Tuesday at 5 p.m.