Red Mile: Track record clocking for Bettor's Wish in Allerage Farms Open Pace

Bettor's Wish lowered the track record at The Red Mile for a 4-year-old pacing stallion when he took the $150,000 Allerage Farms Open Pace on Sunday afternoon in 1:48 flat.

Driven by Dexter Dunn, Bettor's Wish got away in fourth from post seven while Century Farroh (David Miller) and This Is The Plan (Yannick Gingras) battled to a 27 3/5 opening quarter. Dunn then sent Bettor's Wish to the outside, and he rushed up quickly to overtake This Is The Plan for the top spot.

After Bettor's Wish landed on the lead, Century Farroh attempted a second move out of third prior to the 54 4/5 half, but he was unable to clear Bettor's Wish and got parked out. Century Farroh began to back up before the 1:22 three-quarters, and that set the stage for a two-horse race to the wire between Bettor's Wish and This Is The Plan.

Gingras tipped This Is The Plan to the outside coming off the final bend, but Bettor's Wish accelerated nicely on the lead and maintained control to the finish line, scoring by a length and a quarter. This Is The Plan had to settle for second, and Backstreet Shadow (Tim Tetrick), who was two-wide throughout and caught up in traffic third-over, completed the trifecta.

Trainer Chris Ryder also co-owns Bettor's Wish, a son of Bettor's Delight, with partners Bella Racing Ltd., Fair Island Farm Inc., and Bettor's Wish Partners. Bettor's Wish now has a lifetime record of 22-11-4 from 40 starts, and he sent his earnings to $2,287,883. He paid $5.20 to win as the favorite.

"I didn't pick him out (at the 2017 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale), Chris bought him, but I will tell you that I loved him, and I went right to him after he bought the horse and asked him if we could have a quarter of the horse, or even more if he had any room for us," said co-owner Art Zubrod from Fair Island Farm Inc. "When we show them in the paddock, usually the first time is the best they ever are, but the great ones get better, and he got better every time.

"I've never discussed it with Chris. I don't know if breeding him took any edge off of him. I personally don't think that's true, but he was as good today as he's ever been. I really think this was the best he's ever been today."