Lolique just up in Chester feature
from Harrah's Chester publicity department
Sitting well off a scorching pace, Pamela Wagner and Scott Woogen's Lolique ($16.40) kicked cover on the far turn to just prevail in the $32,000 Open Trot on Friday (June 4) afternoon at Harrah's Chester.
Likeabatoutahell (Ron Pierce) and In Focus (Daniel Dube) dueled relentlessly for the entire circumference of the first turn, neither giving an inch through a :26.4 first quarter, which saw last week's winner hard pressed to clear the front. There would be no breathers for In Focus, however, as Lanson--who was also parked on the first turn--was used to clear before the half, keeping the tempo a grueling one through a :54.4 half mile.
Through the early battle, Lolique was near the rear of the field, moving second-over behind Big Boy Lloyd (George Napolitano) on the bridge turn. As Big Boy Lloyd stoked the fire some more on the backstretch, advancing to within three-quarters of a length of Lanson at the 1:23.2 three-quarter split, Lolique was towed into prime striking position. As Big Boy Lloyd wore Lanson down and eventually took over on the far turn, Lolique kicked three-wide with Looking Hanover (Yannick Gingras) fanning four-wide in the stretch with a good bit of late trot himself. Lolique, however, prevailed by a head, just holding off Looking Hanover in 1:53.0. Big Boy Lloyd was a game third.
Tim Tetrick drove Lolique for trainer John Wagner.
The sub-featured winners-over trot saw Lets Get Serious N (Corey Callahan) turn in a 1:53.1 effort while uncovered, and the finale--a third-level condition pace--went to Oscar Oscar (David Miller) in a scorching 1:49.4.
