Tetrick & Buck I St Pat set new world record in Maxie Lee

Taylor, Gold, Basen and Fuller’s Buck I St Pat mounted an incredible come from behind effort to win the $250,000 Maxie Lee Final at Harrah’s Chester Casino and Racetrack on Sunday, May 25.

Buck I St Pat, a 5-year-old daughter of Jailhouse Jesse, finished one length ahead of Man About Town (Ron Pierce) in a new world record for trotting fillies or mares on a five-eighths mile track, 1:52.2, with Tim Tetrick in the sulky. It was another neck back to Before He Cheats (Brian Sears), in third.

Equally impressive as the finish time of the race was the way in which Buck I St Pat won. The race unfolded with American Lane (Cat Manzi) quickly seizing the lead in an opening quarter mile of :27.3, as Buck I St Pat settled into fifth. Manzi took hold of American Lane and slowed the pace, passing the midway point of the mile in :56.4.

At the halfway mark, Tetrick moved Buck I St Pat to the outside and began a long, first-over rally, with Before He Cheats moving out from sixth to follow her cover.

Buck I St Pat was unable to flush cover and was forced to continue first-over as the pace picked up, with American Lane continuing to lead past the three panel mark, in 1:24.3.

Finally, Buck I St Pat had worked her way into contention entering the final turn, and by the time the field straightened out for the stretch drive the Mickey Burke-trained mare had wrested command and began to inch away.

Before He Cheats, who had benefited from the cover trip given by Buck I St Pat, tried to gain ground through the lane but could not keep up.

At the wire, Buck I St Pat held sway by one length, with a late closing Man About Town (Ron Pierce) nailing Before He Cheats at the wire to earn the place spot.

Tim Tetrick was lavish in his praise for Buck I St Pat, who trotted the second half of the mile in :55, en route to her world record of 1:52.2.

“She’s an amazing mare,” Tetrick said. “She does everything right, and she wants to win every time she goes out there.”

Tetrick added that he had concerns that his mare would be able to last after such a long, first-over journey.

“Especially with the second best horse in the race getting a trip behind us. I really wasn’t sure she would win until she crossed the wire.”

Brian Sears, the driver of Before He Cheats, was gracious in defeat, and also had good comments for the winner.

“I got a good trip,” Sears said. “She (Buck I St Pat) trotted right away in the stretch. She was obviously at the top of her game.”

Buck I St Pat registered her eighth win of the year in 10 outings with her victory in the Maxie Lee Final, and elevated her lifetime earnings to $874,613. Sent postward as the odds on choice of the large crowd, she returned $3.40 to win.

The former world record, 1:52.4, was set by Mystical Sunshine, just last year at Pocono Downs, and Sunday's effort made Buck I St Pat the fastest female ever to trot on a five-eighths mile track. (Chester)

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