Lanson, Buck I St. Pat win Allerage Older Trots

Allerage action for older horses got underway Saturday afternoon at The Red Mile and Lanson was on top of his game once again, despite galloping in the post parade. Lanson took control of the $133,200 race before the half and then held off the late rally of Michaelrowyourboat to win in 1:54.1. Buck I St. Pat was able to pick up a second-over trip from just past the half and easily trotted past pacesetter Classic Lane to score in 1:54.

 

Driver Mike Lachance and Lanson started from post seven. While Lanson has plenty of gate speed, Lachance decided to allow the rail-leaving ABC Mercedes and John Campbell, and Claudius Augustus, driven by Dan Shetler, to take the early lead. Once they settled at the quarter in :28.1, Lachance shot Lanson to the front and they were in control before breaking the beam at the half in :56.3.

 

On the last turn Lanson opened up, and if not for the late rally of Michaelrowyourboat, they would have won by a large margin.

 

Don Swick trains Lanson, a 5-year-old gelded son of Self Possessed, for Royal Wire Products Inc. The victory was the seventh in 18 starts this year for Lanson, and pushed his career earnings over $350,000.

 

Swick was asked about Lanson's habit of running instead of trotting in the post parade. "This is something he started last spring. This year we said if he wants to run in the post parade, we'll let him run. Mike (Lachance) doesn't mind it, so we let him do it."

 

Classic Lane set the first three fractions (:28.3, :57 and 1:26.1) before beginning to feel pressure. Tim Tetrick tipped Buck I St. Pat off her cover at the top of the homestretch and she coasted home to win for the ninth time in 16 starts this season.