Lucky Chucky dominates in 1:53 in Colonial

A huge crowd got drenched when they joined Lucky Chucky in the winner's circle following his 1:53 world-record performance in the $500,000 Colonial Trot on Sunday at Harrah's Chester.

 

By the time they left the winner's circle, the rain had stopped and a rainbow had appeared, prompting driver John Campbell to say, "That's a Troy Sylvester rainbow behind us," remembering the late son of Lucky Chucky's trainer and co-owner, Chuck Sylvester, who died in August 2009.

 

Lucky Chucky's 1:53 clocking by 8 1/4 lengths over the Harrah's Chester track labeled "good" equaled the world mark, which was shared by Explosive Matter and Pilgrims Chuckie.

 

Cassis started from post eight and driver Tim Tetrick fired him off the gate and to a quick lead. John Campbell also left strongly with Lucky Chucky and had his choice of dropping in third at the pylons, behind the rail-leaving Temple Of Doom, or going on.

 

Campbell continued on. "(Tetrick) grabbed him up like he wanted to have cover," the driver later said, and  Lucky Chucky was on a clear lead by the time the quarter-mile fraction was posted (:28.1).

 

From there Pilgrims Taj challenged first-over, but no one really threatened Lucky Chucky. He broke the beam at the half (:57.3) and three-quarters (1:25.2) and then opened up at least eight lengths on the field. "He just kind of coasted through the stretch," Campbell confirmed.

 

Lucky Chucky, the runner-up in the Hambletonian to Muscle Massive, who skipped the Colonial, now has two wins and two seconds in five starts this season, with his career earnings topping $1.3 million with his Colonial victory. He's owned by SGS Partners (which includes Chuck Sylvester and his daughter, Amy), Lindy Racing Stable and Perretti Racing Stable.