All-age trotting record tied in Caesar’s Trotting Derby

It’s Academic (Uncle Peter) equaled the fastest harness racing mile ever trotted at Harrah’s Hoosier Park and became a double millionaire by posting an outstanding 1:50.3 win in the $210,000 Caesar’s Trotting Classic for aged trotters at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Friday night (Sept. 22nd).

Driver Dave Miller, who was taking his fourth win on the card, blasted straight to the front with It’s Academic and led through an opening quarter in a snappy 26.2. Pretender (Dexter Dunn), who started fifth, stayed out and was in hot pursuit and he took over on the engine then led the field past the half in 54.2 with It’s Academic content to ride the pocket and Take All Comers (Tim Tetrick) racing third.

Gingras kept the pedal to the metal and Pretender clicked off a 28.0 third quarter while the top three opened a gap on their seven other rivals. Miller popped the pocket with his six-year-old stallion and It’s Academic drove away from his rivals, trotting a 28.1 kicker for the track record equaling open length victory.

Take All Comers rallied up the pylons for second and Lovedbythemasses (Todd McCarthy) rallied for third, nailing Pretender at the wire.

Miller said that his intent was to race on or near the front from the outset. “I was just going to have him ready to leave,” he explained. “If they were going a lot harder, I was going to go to plan B. It worked out good. He got to the lead, big quarter, then he got covered up. That’s basically all I wanted.”

It’s Academic, trained by Ron Burke, was winning for the eighth time in 13 starts this year and the $105,000 winner’s share raised his earnings to more than $2.1 million for owner Brad Grant of Ontario, Canada.

IT’S ACADEMIC REPLAY

Miller had plenty of plaudits for the new double millionaire. “He’s a real gentleman on and off the track,” he said. “He’s got a big heart, a lot of desire, and I just admire him.”

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

by Garnet Barnsdale, for Harnesslink