Cooler Schooner Heads Freshmen Gal Finalists

WILKES-BARRE, PA— The two-year-old filly trotters contested in a duo of Breeders Crown eliminations of Friday night, with Cooler Schooner headlining the nine finalists with a 1:52.2 gate-to-wire romp in her elimination.

Cooler Schooner got the lead, with Vanity Matters leaving with her to the quarter. Noon Tea Party was racing in third and Demanding Sam was in fourth. Vanity Matters and Harley Momma broke at the quarter in :27.1.

Cooler Schooner was uncontested heading to the half, trotting with a 7 length lead on Scream And Shout in second. Noon Tea Party remained in third and Demanding Sam was fourth through a :55.1 (:28) half.

Scream And Shout began to cut into the deficit down the backstretch, coming to within 4 lengths of command. Noon Tea Party kept up with her in third and Demanding Sam was trotting in fourth. Cooler Schooner remained on top at three-quarters in 1:24.3 (:29.2).

Cooler Schooner winning in 1:52.2
(Ray Cotolo Photo)

Cooler Schooner was under a hand drive turning into the stretch. Scream And Shot remained in second, while Demanding Sam trotting into third and Ruby closed into fourth. Cooler Schooner turned her elimination into a blowout, winning by 10-and-three-quarter lengths in 1:52.2 (:27.4). Scream And Shout finished second, Demanding Sam was third and Ruby finished fourth.

Cooler Schooner ($3.80) is a two-year-old filly by Broadway Hall, out of the mare Pine Schooner by Pine Chip. She is owned by Fashion Farms LLC, trained by Jim Campbell and John Campbell was in the sulky.

“She can just go so easy; nothing surprises me anymore,” trainer Jim Campbell said. “[John] looked like he was just going along where she was comfortable, but after she set that world record nothing surprises me with her. If she keeps her head on straight she can go with anybody. She has to repeat this type of performance next week.”

The Jimmy Takter-trainee and Merrie Annabelle champion Shake It Cerry shined over the clay oval at Pocono Downs, sitting a pocket mile and pulling a slingshot move passed Lifetime Pursuit to win the first Breeders Crown elimination for the two-year-old filly trotters in 1:54.1.

Shake It Cerry and Lifetime Pursuit battled for command around the first turn. Struck By Lindy got away third and Goddess was racing in fourth. Designed To Be went off stride as Shake It Cerry tried to hold command through a :27.1 first quarter.

Lifetime Pursuit was at her throat and cleared the lead heading passed three-eighths. Struck By Lindy remained in third and Goddess was in fourth. Lifetime Pursuit received a heavy breather to the half, trotting to that station in :58 (:30.4).

Shake It Cerry getting by Lifetime Pursuit in 1:54.1
(Ray Cotolo Photo)

Goddess took her shot for Lifetime Pursuit entering the backstretch, pulling first over from fourth. She inched her way into third as Lifetime Pursuit began to pick up the pace at three-quarters in 1:26.2 (:28.2).

Lifetime Pursuit remained unchallenged around the final turn, but Shake It Cerry was one to fear in the pocket. Into the stretch, Shake It Cerry went to the passing lane and began flying towards her barn mate. Shake It Cerry got a narrow advantage entering the sixteenth pole and extended it to half-a-length at the wire, winning in 1:54.1. Lifetime Pursuit finished second, Goddess was third, Struck By Lindy was fourth and Market Rally completes those progressing to the final, having the highest career earnings.

Shake It Cerry ($5.00) is a two-year-old filly by Donato Hanover, out of the mare Solveig by Yankee Glide. She is owned by Solveig’s Racing Partners, trained by Jimmy Takter and Ron Pierce was in the bike.