by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

East Rutherford, NJ — Sweet Lou made it eight wins in a row Saturday (Aug. 2) by capturing the $257,700 U.S. Pacing Championship by open lengths over State Treasurer in 1:47.2 at the Meadowlands.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Sweet Lou made it eight in a row in the U.S. Pacing Championship at The Meadowlands.

Ron Pierce and Sweet Lou started from post seven and were in third place, behind Bettor’s Edge and State Treasurer, as the field reached the opening quarter in :25.4.

Sweet Lou powered to the front with a move up the backstretch and led the field to the half in :53.1.

From there, Sweet Lou was never threatened. State Treasurer pulled out from second in the stretch, but was unable to make up ground on Sweet Lou. State Treasurer was second, 1-1/2 lengths behind the winner, and Thinking Out Loud was third.

It was Sweet Lou’s fifth consecutive win in less than 1:48, which is the most by any pacer in history. He paid $2.80 to win.

Sweet Lou, a 5-year-old who has won eight of 11 races this year and 30 of 66 in his career, is trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Larry Karr, and Phil Collura.

“He’s unbelievable,” Pierce said. “He’s just a super horse.”

Pierce said the world record of 1:46.4 for the fastest race mile in history wasn’t on his mind heading down the stretch.

“Ronnie didn’t say ‘go for it’ so I didn’t go any more than I had to,” Pierce said. “If I would have started chasing him, there’s no question he probably would have paced in (1):45.”

Sweet Lou, who was the Dan Patch Award winner for best 2-year-old male pacer, upped his career earnings to $2.90 million.