The $300,000 Nat Ray Free-For-All Invitational featured ten older trotters ging the standard 1 mile distance. 9-2 second choice Lanson and 5-1 Glen Kronos battled for the lead around the clubhouse turn through an initial quarter mile of 27 4/5, but driver Andy Miller hustled 3-5 favorite Lucky Jim to the front entering the backstretch taking the turn wide, getting the half in 55 2/5 and 3/4 in 1:23 1/5 while 2 lengths in front of Glen Kronos. Lucky Jim left the rest of the field in his wake through the stretch, opening up to win by 4 1/2 lengths in 1:50 1/5, equaling the all-ages world record for a trotters on a mile track. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to 54-1 Gift Kronos third.
Results Chart
Winning driver Andy Miller said, "He was as good as he has ever been today. He has been great all year. He went a mile in 1:50 1/5 pretty handily today. He is an amazing animal. He's got the Breeders Crown left (on August 22). That is probably it for this year. We will shut him down and get him ready for next year."
Hambletonian won by Muscle Hill
Hambletonian Oaks won by Broadway Schooner
Peter Haughton Memorial won by Holiday Road
Merrie Annabelle won by Poof She's Gone
