Gritty victory posted in $100,000 Maxie Lee

Chester, PA — Harness racing trainer Jeff Cullipher said his trotter Lovedbythemasses (Muscle Mass) had to put his “big boy pants on” in Sunday’s (May 29) $100,000 Maxie Lee Memorial Invitational.

From the looks of it, the pants were a good fit.

Parked out from post seven around the first turn and unable to get to the inside for the opening three-eighths of a mile, Lovedbythemasses cleared to the lead on his way to the half and held on from there to capture the Maxie Lee for older trotters by 1-1/4 lengths over favorite Hillexotic in 1:51 at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

Amigo Volo found racing room in the stretch to finish third and Eurobond was fourth.

At the start, Lovedbythemasses found himself fourth as Hillexotic, Mississippi Storm, and Amigo Volo all left the gate quickly to his inside. Driver Tim Tetrick and Lovedbythemasses continued forward as Hillexotic led the field to the opening quarter in :26.4.

After getting to the top, Lovedbythemasses reached the half in :55 and three-quarters in 1:22.3. Hillexotic and driver Yannick Gingras launched their bid to reclaim the front as the leaders rounded the final turn, but Lovedbythemasses dug in and refused to lose.

LOVEDBYTHEMASSES REPLAY

“I knew Timmy wasn’t going to let Yannick just cut it and steal the race,” Cullipher said. “I knew he was going to have to push the issue some. In these kinds of races, you’ve got to toughen up and put your big boy pants on.

“It was exciting. I got a little nervous coming around the last turn, but he’s pretty tough. He’s got the will to win, so it wasn’t going to be easy to get by him.”

Tetrick, who leads all drivers in wins at Philly this year, said the trip around the first turn was cause for concern.

“Most definitely,” Tetrick said. “It’s hard to be out a long way here, but my horse has been really sharp and strong all year. At the quarter pole, I was hoping Yannick would want to sit the two hole. My horse kept marching right along, and he earned that win. My horse was tired in the middle of the last turn. When (Hillexotic) tipped, my horse actually found a little more air and he pinned his ears and said he was going to win this race. And he did.

“My horse was tired, but he deserved it. He had the seven hole and had to work his way all the way to the lead. It was a big mile.”

The victory was Tetrick’s seventh in the Maxie Lee, which began in 2007.

“This is a really lucky race for me; I’ve had a lot of success with it,” Tetrick said. “It’s kind of my home track here, I live 20 minutes away, so I love racing here.”

Lovedbythemasses has won seven of nine races this year and earned $162,980. For his career, the 5-year-old gelding has won 25 of 58 starts and banked $462,009. He is owned by Pollack Racing LLC and Cullipher, who purchased the gelding in January 2021. He was bred by Wade Peconi and Windemere Farms.

“We saw last year that he was a good horse, and he’s come back good so far,” Cullipher said. “It’s been great.”

Sent off as the 5-2 second choice behind 2-1 Hillexotic, Lovedbythemasses paid $7.00 to win.

For complete results, click here.

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA