Meadowlands: Lather Up with another world record in Sam McKee Memorial

Lather Up put forth his second world record performance in three starts with a 1:59 2/5 victory over 1 1/8 miles in the $230,200 Sam McKee Memorial for free-for-all pacers on Saturday at the Meadowlands. Earlier this season he matched Always B Miki's all-time record of 1:46 in winning the Graduate Series final.

Driver Montrell Teague blasted to the front from post nine, going into the turn in a 25 1/5 opening quarter. He then managed the tempo with a half in 53, three-quarters in 1:20 2/5, and mile in 1:46 3/5. He fended off a first-up challenge from McWicked and a late bid at the rail from This Is The Plan, who finished third and second, respectively. Dorsoduro Hanover also stayed on for fourth.

“He doesn’t make mistakes, and not too many horses.can beat him in the country - and I thought that as a 3-year-old,” said stable manager George Teague. “But when you start messing up, you start messing up. Unfortunately, he threw a couple of races that I couldn’t explain. So it took a little while, some tinkering, and we got him back on par.”

He is now seven-for-10 on the year, with earnings over $500,000 after taking the lion’s share of this purse.

“In six days he goes out to Hoosier, and then 10 days later hopefully the Roll With Joe,” said Teague. “And I think on from there to Canada for the Canadian Pacing Derby.”

The 4-year-old by I’m Gorgeous has now earned over $1.5 million lifetime from 35 starts and 22 wins for owners/breeders Gary and Barbara Iles.