McWicked crushes field in $250,000 Dan Rooney

It was a big harness racing day for driver Brian Sears at Yonkers Raceway Saturday afternoon.

After capturing the $1 million International Trot with Cruzado Dela Noche, Sears then came back in the 11^th race $250,000 Dan Rooney Invitational Pace to win with ease with McWicked.

It was Mach It So (Jason Bartlett) who flew out of the starting gate to take command and then Nuclear Dragon and driver Tim Tetrick came right after Mach It So to control the pace at the first quarter in :27.

As they came past the grandstand the first time, Sear came out with McWicked and started to grind his way towards the leaders at the half mile in :55.3. Following second-over was Bit Of A legend with driver Jordan Stratton.

Then in the backstretch, McWicked was able to overpower Mach It So and take command with ease going to the three-quarters in 1:22.4. From there is was all McWicked as he pulled away in the stretch to win by four open lengths in 1:50.4. Bit Of A Legend was second with Evenin Of Pleasure (Joe Bongiorno) third.

“He always gives a great effort,” Sears said after the race. “I was OK with getting away third and I knew we would have to come first up and he just makes it look so easy. I don’t want to always come first up with him, but today he was OK. He is just so easy to drive.”

A seven-year-old stallion by McArdle, it was the ninth win this year for McWicked. He is trained by Casie Coleman and owned by Ed James SSG Stable of North Boston, NY. He paid $2.90 to win as the race favorite with the scratch of Lazarus from the race on Friday.

McWicked now sports 31 career wins in 90 starts and lifetime earnings of $3.500,376.

By Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink