Green River Gorge rockets to 1:49 Hoosier Park triumph

The duo of Green River Gorge and Rick Schaut fired down the stretch to win the $23,000 Invitational Pace Saturday, June 7 at Hoosier Park. The timer stopped at 1:49.0, marking the second fastest mile ever paced over the seven-eighths mile oval.

Charging out of the gate, Green River Gorge took the early lead over the seven horse field like a bullet. Racing past the quarter-mile mark in :25.2, Green River Gorge continued to look strong as he pulled away from the field. Only Travis Lou and driver Jason Dillander could keep up with the quick pace.

At the halfway mark in a time of :52.3, Green River Gorge continued the strong effort as he increased his lead over Travis Lou. Passing the three-quarter mile marker in 1:21.0, Green River Gorge was untouchable as he drew away from the field, earning a new lifetime mark and establishing a track record for older gelding pacers. Chief Silverheels and driver Ross Leonard, who traveled around the track in third, finished five and one-half lengths back in second. Rebelman, controlled by Trace Tetrick, moved up the inside to finish third.

“I knew we were going at a pretty good pace, but I didn’t know we were going that fast,” admitted Schaut. “He (Green River Gorge) finally got some of that Florida weather he likes. I had a lot of horse left around the last turn and was only tapping him to keep his mind on his business. I hadn’t even popped the earplugs yet. I popped them out about halfway down the lane and he was solid to the wire.”

Owned by Mary Dawson of Iaeger, West Virginia, Green River Gorge has earned over $93,000 in his lifetime. The four-year-old son of The Panderosa has won four times in 18 starts this season. He is also trained by Schaut and bettered his previous career mark taken at Hoosier Park in May, which was 1:51.0.

“He (Green River Gorge) gets up and goes to work everyday,” Schaut said. “I like to refer to him as the blue collar horse. He is a pleasure to work around and has a great attitude. We did have a strong head wind in the stretch, but he was up to the task tonight.”

The mile turned in by Green River Gorge is second only to 1998 Dan Patch Invitational winner Pacific Fella, who rounded the track in a time of 1:48.2 for driver Cat Manzi. Only six horses have ever dipped down below the 1:50 time barrier in the 15-year history of Hoosier Park. Green River Gorge is the only horse outside of the Dan Patch Invitational to drop below the time barrier. (Hoosier Park)

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