by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Editor’s Note: Visit the USTA Cyber Circuit Page, where the video replay will be posted.

Freehold, NJ — One More Laugh withstood an early challenge from Delmarvalous and rolled to a wire-to-wire 1:50.3 stakes and track-record win in Monday’s (Sept. 6) $300,000 Cane Pace at Freehold Raceway.

The Cane Pace, for 3-year-old pacers, is the first jewel in the Pacing Triple Crown.

One More Laugh won the Cane Pace in a stakes and track-record 1:50.3.

Starting from post No. 1, favorite One More Laugh and driver Tim Tetrick protected their inside position from Delmarvalous going around the first turn as the leaders paced the opening quarter-mile in :26.2. Delmarvalous eventually settled into second place behind One More Laugh, who went unchallenged from there on his way to a 4-1/4 length victory. Rockin Image, who used a three-wide move to get within 1-1/4 lengths of One More Laugh at the top of the stretch, was second and Urgent Action was third. Delmarvalous finished fourth.

“I thought I had the best horse and I had the rail, which is a great starting spot on a half-mile track,” Tetrick said. “I just used it to my advantage. I got to go a little easy middle half and in the middle of the last turn I called on my horse and he really responded.”

One More Laugh, who earlier this year won the $1 million Meadowlands Pace at the Meadowlands, has won five of 11 races this year and earned $1.07 million for trainer Ray Schnittker, who owns the gelding with Mathias Meinzinger and Jerry Silva.

The previous Freehold track record of 1:50.4 was shared by Cane Pace winners Art Official (2008) and Vintage Master (2009) along with I’m Gorgeous, who equaled the mark in last week’s Cane Pace elimination race.

USTA/Ken Weingartner photos

One More Laugh’s connections celebrate in the winner’s circle.

“That was probably as good as (One More Laugh) has raced all year,” said Schnittker, who won a Pacing Triple Crown race for the first time. “Once he got (Delmarvalous) in the two hole, I thought he was in control of the race.

“He’s going into the fall as good as you can go, I guess.

The second jewel in the Triple Crown, the Little Brown Jug, is Sept. 23 at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in central Ohio.

“Hopefully we’ll draw the rail there,” Schnittker said, laughing.

Earlier on the card, Rock N Soul won the $130,000 Shady Daisy for 3-year-old filly pacers by a nose over Full Picture in 1:53.1. Dancin Barefoot was third.

Rock N Soul, driven by Yannick Gingras for trainer Ron Burke, has won two of 13 races this year and earned $182,479. She is owned by the Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Frank Baldachino, and Howard Taylor.