Lanson coasts to Red Mile win; Buck I St. Pat third

Lanson coasted to an open-lengths victory in the opening race on the Saturday Kentucky Futurity card at The Red Mile, trotting to a 1:54 score in a $5,000 Open. Buck I St. Pat, who sat fifth until approaching three quarters, could not make up any ground after slow first-half fractions and had to settle for third, behind runner-up Gift Kronos.

 

Mike Lachance sent Lanson to the lead from post six and the 5-year-old gelding reached the first reporting station in :29.1. Tim Tetrick had settled in the world-champion mare Buck I St. Pat in fifth and they were still in that position when Lanson reached the half in :58.3. Lachance then let Lanson loose a bit as he reached the three-quarter pole in 1:27.1 before closing out the mile with a final quarter of :26.4.

 

Trained by Don Swick, Lanson is a son of Self Possessed owned by Bill Peshina's Royal Wire Products of North Royalton, Ohio. Saturday's win was Lanson's sixth of the year in 17 starts, increasing his seasonal earnings to $310,140 and career bankroll to $437,631. Earlier this year, Lanson won the Su Mac Lad final at the Meadowlands.