Red Mile: McWicked, Six Pack cruise impressively in Allerage Opens

McWicked and Six Pack continued their respective love affairs with The Red Mile by winning the two Allerage Farms Open events on Saturday afternoon. McWicked halted the clock in 1:47 2/5 and Six Pack, who won the Kentucky Futurity last year in 1:49 1/5, went 1:49 2/5 today, a North American record for a 4-year-old trotting horse on a mile track.

Brian Sears doesn't often show speed with McWicked, but he did today in the $186,000 open pace, landing in the pocket behind Dorsoduro Hanover (Matt Kakaley) as he clicked off the quarter in 26 4/5 and the half in 53 2/5. Sears guided McWicked two-wide before the 1:21 1/5 three-quarters, and McWicked took over the lead coming off the final bend. From there, McWicked drew off with authority, hitting the wire 4 1/2 lengths in front of a rallying Dorsoduro Hanover (Yannick Gingras). Filibuster Hanover held third.

"Tactically that is not the way I saw that working out at all, but that just shows you how good he is," said Sears.

An 8-year-old McArdle stallion, McWicked is trained by Casie Coleman for owner S S G Stables. This was McWicked's 39th career win, and he has now earned $4,753,342. The 2-1 second choice, he paid $6.20 to win.

"Everybody knows through the years I've always battled foot issues with this horse. It's been a non-stop battle. His first start back this year he won in 1:49, and I was like wow, we're going to have a huge season and then that foot blew right after his first start. I missed about a month, and I had to go into the Mohawk Gold Cup off a month off. It just really messed up his early schedule, but he's back on track now," remarked Coleman. "This horse does have his issues, and this big track and the surface on this track, he absolutely loves it here. He's actually racing with a shoe that you would never race a horse with - a really severe bar shoe right now to heal up this foot he's got. I don't hide it; I put it right on social media. Everyone's seen the foot this horse is working with right now. He's an incredible animal.

"I was not expecting that, and Brian even said 'I wasn't planning to do that.' He said it wasn't shaping up the way he thought it would leaving the gate. When I heard them announcing McWicked leaving the gate and then we're popping the two-hole off a half in 53, I wasn't too sure how that was going to work out, but he was pretty sensational. When I saw the half, I said 'this is going to be another world record,' but then the three-quarters in 21, to come a mile in 47 first-over off that was pretty impressive."

In the $145,000 open trot, Six Pack landed in fourth for trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt while Eurobond (Andy Miller) went to the lead and chopped out the opening quarter in 27 seconds. Eurobond remained in front at the 54 2/5 half, but Svanstedt had Six Pack out and on the move, and he was able to clear to the front on the far turn.

Six Pack opened up immediately after taking over, putting three lengths on Eurobond at the 1:21 3/5 three-quarters, and a 27 4/5 final quarter got Six Pack to the wire 4 1/4 lengths ahead of Lindy The Great (Louis-Philippe Roy). Mission Accepted (Gingras) was third.

"He had been sick a month ago, but in his last race he was good and came home fast," said Svanstedt. "I think he could have broken the world record (1:48 4/5), but he didn't get any help. If he had a little help, he could have done it. He's a little lazy when he's in front. He's a very good horse."

Six Pack is a 4-year-old son of Muscle Mass owned by Svanstedt, Little E-Knutssontrotting, Stall Kalmar Inc., and L Berg Inc. This was Six Pack's 18th career win, and he has now pocketed $1,658,105. He was the 3-2 choice and returned $5.00 to win.