Mister Big is huge in U.S. Pacing Championship
August 4, 2007,by John Pawlak, marketing director, USTA
East Rutherford, NJ — Joseph Muscara’s Mister Big was far back early, came second-over on the final turn, and out-paced Maltese Artist and the favored Lis Mara to win the $342,000 U.S. Pacing Championship at the Meadowlands on Saturday with David Miller in the sulky. The time of the mile was 1:47.4, a life mark.
In the early scrum for the lead, Boulder Creek (Tim Tetrick) cut the first fraction, :25.3, and then could only watch when Mypanmar (Tony Morgan) sped to the lead on the backstretch, reaching the top just before the half-mile pole, timed in :53.3.
At that point, the even-money favorite, Lis Mara (Brian Sears), made his move and led the way to the three-quarter pole, reached in 1:21.3. At that point, Mister Big was racing second-over, behind Total Truth.
David Miller then called on the son of Grinfromeartoear, who responded with a big final move and defeated Maltese Artist, Lis Mara, and Total Truth, in that order. The margin of victory was a half length.
“I’ve raced him three times and he’s raced good each time,” David Miller said. “He’s a real nice horse and loves to follow his cover, and will give you one big effort. I wasn’t too sure when Brian (Brian Sears, driving Lis Mara) cleared and took off. He (Lis Mara) went to the fence, dug in, but we got the job done.”
Mister Big, who was a longshot winner in the $650,000 William Haughton Memorial Final last month, dropped his mark by three-fifths of a second, to the delight of his owner: “He was the highest priced horse at the sale, and I expected him to be good, but not this good,” Joe Muscara said. “I’m really happy with him, and the family is having a good time.”
Mister Big is trained by Virgil Morgan, Jr., who has charge of about 35 horses owned by Muscara. Bred by Kentuckiana Farms, Mister Big won his 10th race in 19 tries this year, and has now won $1.23 million in three years at the races.