by Ellen Harvey, Harness Racing Communications

East Rutherford, NJ — Trotting free of the field in the deep stretch, Buck I St Pat (Tim Tetrick) won the $100,000 Perretti Farms Matchmaker for open class trotting mares on Saturday afternoon (August 7) at the Meadowlands in the time of 1:51, a track record. The winner also was given a free breeding to any Perretti Farm stallion.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Buck I St Pat (Tim Tetrick) won the $100,000 Perretti Farms Matchmaker in the time of 1:51.

Buck I St Pat laid well off the early pace set by Autumn Escapade (David Miller) who got to the quarter in :27, but was soon overtaken by Elusive Desire (John Campbell) at the three-eighths-mile marker. Those two held the lead to the :55 half but soon yielded to Yursa Hanover (Daniel Dube) just past the half. Yursa Hanover showed the way to the 1:23.1 three-quarters, with Windsong Soprano following her and settling in behind.

As the field straightened out in the stretch, Buck I St Pat was on the move three wide and soon trotted up to challenge and then passed the leaders about five lengths before the wire to win by 1-3/4 lengths. Windsong Soprano (Ron Pierce) got up for second and Jersey As (George Brennan) was third.

“She’s as good as she’s ever been, strong, loves her work,” noted driver Tim Tetrick after the victory. “When the money’s down, she shows up, boy.”

Asked if the mare might soon be retired, he commented, “I hope not, I’m going to bat for her coming back another year. She’s fun to drive and man, I hope she doesn’t go away.”

Aside from the $100,000 purse, there is a nice prize from the race’s sponsor, Perretti Farms.

“Whoever wins the race, they get a choice of any Perretti Farm stallion,” said Perretti Farms Marketing Manager Bob Marks.

“They won last year and chose Muscles Yankee and that choice is intact,” he said. “This year she won another breeding and hopefully she can come back again next year and win another one.”

Buck I St Pat is trained by Ron Burke and owned by Howard Taylor, Ed Gold, Abe Basen and Dr. Ron Fuller.