Hellava Hush ties mark

Hellava Hush and driver Tom Sells tied the all-age track record for trotters at Pompano Park Friday, scoring a 2-length 1:53.3 triumph in the a $17,500 opening round division of the Mack Lobell Trotting Series. The first division resulted in an upset as Muscular and driver Steve Oliwa scored by two lengths in 1:56.1.



In the second division Sells brushed Hellava Hush to the lead after an opening quarter in :27.1 and took command before the half-mile pole in :56.4. Then as they raced down the backstretch, Tweedle Dum (Walter Ross, Jr.) came first-over and following their live cover was Justice Hall (Charles Dillander) to the three-quarters in 1:25. But Sells had Hellava Hush in control, urging the trotter on in the stretch to the easy win as Justice Hall closed well to be second with Tweedle Dum third.



"He (Hellava Hush) is just a pleasure to drive." Sells said after the race. "I just rubbed my whip over his rump down the stretch and he just gives you all he has."



Undefeated in two starts this year, Hellava Hush tied the all-age track record set last year in the Mack Lobell Final by Chucaro Ahijuna and rewrote the older gelding record he set last week in the Mack Lobell Preview of 1:53.4.



Owned by Joseph Chnapko of Livingston, N.J., and trained by William Gallagher, Hellava Hush is a 6-year-old gelding by Lindy Lane. Hellava Hush's time of 1:53.3 was just one-fifth of a second from tying the world record for older geldings that is co-held by Victory Tilly (2000) and Abbey Road C (2004).



The first Mack Lobell division got off to a rocky start as both Dunkster (Kurt Sugg), the 1-9 favorite and Sherrie's Delight (Wally Hennessey) both made breaks as the starting gate pulled away.



Muscular sat third on the inside as the field went to the opening quarter in an easy :29. After a half in :59.2 and a three-quarters in 1:28.1 Dunkster recovered and moved to the lead as the field came down the stretch. But Oliwa was able to get clearance with Muscular, sweeping to the outside and they shot right by Kurt Sugg and Dunkster to win going away. Dunkster was second with Guy Gets Girl third.



It was the fourth win in six starts this year for Muscular, a 6-year-old stallion by Muscles Yankee, who is owned and trained by Dave Mercer of Springfield, Ill.

« Back