Memento Mori sets a world record in ISS 2YOCT

LEXINGTON, Ky.— Steady handling from Scott Zeron helped keep Memento Mori (Chapter Seven) flat gaited as he catapulted off a pocket ride to post the fastest mile ever by a 2-year-old trotting gelding in winning the second of four harness racing divisions for the $320,000 International Stallion Stakes, for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings, on Friday (Oct. 4) at The Red Mile.

With 2-5 favorite Happy Jack B (driven by Ake Svanstedt) bolting for the lead from the pylon post, Scott Zeron settled Memento Mori into the pocket on the move to a :28 first quarter. Happy Jack B scurried up the backside to stretch the field behind him and clock a :55.1 half, though he slowed the tempo rounding the final turn. Big Shoes (Yannick Gingras) launched an attack first over coming to three-quarters in 1:24 but stalled spinning into the stretch while Happy Jack B hit the accelerator again and Memento Mori tried to shake free from a tight pocket. Zeron gave Memento Mori a clear path and held his charge together as he bobbled in stride but promptly smoothened and gathered momentum to collar Happy Jack B at the line by a half length. Big Shoes finished third and Go Boom (Mattias Melander) sat a pylon trip for fourth.

MEMENTO MONI REPLAY

“[The connections] were high on him all year,” Scott Zeron said after the race. “Seems like we had seconditis for awhile. He’s been learning as he goes. Last week was the first time they pulled his shoes and they did it again today. Obviously, we finally had a trip – if you watch him close, he’s always been a little too far back charging at the end.”

Memento Mori clocked a 1:51.4 mile to eclipse the track and world record established back in 2019 by Real Cool Sam, who trotted a 1:52.1 mile to set the mark for freshman trotting geldings. The mile was also three-fifths of a second off the record for 2-year-old trotting colts set in 2020 by Southwind Tyrion, but just over a second slower than the fastest-ever mile by a trotting 2-year-old of 1:50.3 set by the filly Mission Brief in 2014.

A gelding by Chapter Seven, Memento Mori won his second race from 10 starts and has now banked $134,276 for owners Thestable Memento Mori and Hutchison Harness LLC. Eric Patalan trains the gelding who paid $11.38 to win.

Onajetplane (Walner) (Andy McCarthy) soared forward as the tempo slowed and coasted to a 1:52.2 victory in the first division of the ISS colt trot.

The Rogue Prince (Tim Tetrick) steamrolled to the lead after a :28.4 first quarter and sped up the backside to a :55.4 half. Though the headstrong leader started to sputter midway around the final turn and slowed the tempo, prompting Andy McCarthy to angle Onajetplane off the pegs from fourth and launch his bid for the lead. Onajetplane flew past The Rogue Prince after three-quarter in 1:24 and got the jump on his foes in the stretch. Onajetplane strolled over the line a 1-3/4-length winner over Tactical Dynasty (Yannick Gingras), who gave chase second over turning for home. Civilian Drone (James MacDonald) rallied from near last for third and Elan Hanover (Todd McCarthy) rallied for fourth.

ONAJETPLANE REPLAY

“We were able to take [shoes] off for three of his starts now – he won two of them and was pretty unlucky in the Mohawk Million; didn’t get the greatest of trips,” trainer Noel Daley said after the race. “He’s fine with it and has great feet.”

A colt by Walner, Onajetplane won his third race from eight starts and has now earned $232,780 for owners Noel Daley, Sjoblom Racing Inc., L. A. Express Stable LLC and Mr. Joonas Jarvinen. He paid $5.10 to win.

Gap Kronos S (Ake Svanstedt) pushed past galloping Go Dog Go (Todd McCarthy) in the stretch to snag the third ISS division for trotting colts in 1:51.4.

Go Dog Go grabbed the lead to a :28.2 first quarter and kept the speed hot up the backside to click by a :55.4 half. Svanstedt pulled Gap Kronos S out of fourth and marched forward uncovered through the final turn while Go Dog Go appeared strong on the helm. By three-quarters in 1:24.1, Go Dog Go spun for home on a loose lead before getting wobbly gaited again in late stretch. He broke stride inside the final eighth and ducked inside to avoid traffic all while Gap Kronos S kept his momentum and glided by to a three-length win. Following a disqualification of Go Dog Go from second to sixth for violation of the breaking rule and interference, Hidalgo (Yannick Gingras) took second with Mehshuggah (Scott Zeron) third and Monserrate (David Miller) fourth.

GAP KRONOS S REPLAY

Ake Svanstedt trains Gap Kronos S, a colt by Face Time Bourbon, for owner Bruni Racing Team Inc. He won his third race from six starts and has now earned $91,395. He paid $7.72 to win.

Super Chapter (Dexter Dunn) delivered as the 1-5 favorite in the final division of the ISS colt trot, stopping the clock in 1:52.

Dunn planted Super Chapter onto the point moving for a :27.4 first quarter but yielded for a pocket ride behind Maximus Mearas S (Scott Zeron) into the backside. Maximus Mearas S maintained control to a :55.4 half while Dunn waited to strike with Super Chapter until the far turn. Super Chapter rushed to the lead moving around the final turn and gained separation on Maximus Mearas S plodding through three-quarters in 1:24.2. The Marcus Melander trainee had the race sealed in the lane and strolled in a 3-1/4-length winner over Maximus Mearas S while Chat Room (Yannick Gingras) came from second over for third and Hey Porter (David Miller) saved ground for fourth.

SUPER CHAPTER REPLAY

“We got two really nice colts this year, this one and Maryland,” Melander said after the race. “Hopefully they can stay sound and healthy the rest of the year and we can have some fun.”

Winning his fifth race from eight starts, Super Chapter has now earned $376,230 for owners Jeff Snyder and Arthur Pronti. The Chapter Seven colt paid $2.66 to win.

Division one of the ISS was named “The Six Pack” sponsored by the Six Pack Syndicate and Deo Volente Farms. Division two was named “The Muscle Hill” sponsored by Southwind Farms, division three was named “The Walner” sponsored by the Walner Syndicate and division four was named “The Tactical Landing” sponsored by Hickory Lane Farm and the Tactical Landing Syndicate.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Ray Cotolo, for The Red Mile