Pocono: Sweet Lou the fastest ever on a five-eighths track

Sweet Lou continued his form spree for catch-driver Ron Pierce in taking down the $500,000 Ben Franklin in a world record 1:47 mile. The five-year-old was put in a rare position of battling stablemates through much of the opening three eighths of the mile.

Bettor’s Edge left alertly from the inside and Allstar Legend from post two elected to leave as well, forcing Sweet Lou three deep for the entire opening quarter paced in a wicked 25 2/5 seconds. Pierce was able to get the favorite around Allstar Legend coming into the stretch but was parked for three-eighths before clearing Bettor’s Edge. Sweet Lou rattled off fractions of 53 3/5 and 1:20 1/5 with Allstar Legend lingering on the rim and eventually elimination winner Domethatagain sweeping wide to challenge.

Captaintreacherous, the two-time Pacer of the Year, started from post eight and after leaving slightly at the start elected to take back. He followed the move of Domethatagain belatedly but never threatened.

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In the stretch, Sweet Lou responded to urging as Bettor’s Edge with Matt Kakaley came along the inside and in mid-stretch loomed a serious threat. In the end Sweet Lou had a 26 4/5 final quarter in him to score.

Bettor’s Edge was second and Foiled Again rallied inside for the show spot ahead of Domethatagain. Captaintreacherous finished fifth in the nine-horse field.

Pierce confessed afterwards that the race unfolded nothing like he expected. “I didn’t think Scott (Zeron) would leave (Allstar Legend), especially with Bettor’s Edge starting from the rail,” Pierce said.

“He’s a great horse, two fingers to drive. There was no way he was getting passed,” Pierce said.

Sweet Lou heads next to the Meadowlands for the William Haughton Memorial. The victory pushed his career earnings above $2.5 million and his winning streak to five for owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Larry Karr and Philip Collura.