A full field of ten 2-year-old trotters competed in the $523,600 Peter Haughton Memorial. 11-1 Wishing Stone was quickest away through a quarter in 27 3/5 seconds while to the outside of 53-1 Plan B in HD who stalked him second on the inside. Down the backstretch, Plan B in HD took over the lead through a half in 56 seconds, battling for the lead with 9-10 favorite Lucky Chucky into the stretch. Lucky Chucky opened up a 1 1/4 length advantage at the quarter pole through 3/4 in 1:25 3/5, but 2-1 second choice Holiday Road, who sat back in fourth early, came through at the 3/16 pole to take over the lead in mid-stretch and easily held off late-running 7-1 Pilgrims Taj by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:54. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to favorite Lucky Chucky third.
Results Chart
Winning driver Brian Sears said, "I had to just settle him back down. When I was about to put him back in the hole, he responded to me well. He stuck back in there and relaxed and I was able to save him. No one was really coming on early, so I was able to wait pretty long before I pulled him first up. He was very confident."
Hambletonian won by Muscle Hill
Hambletonian Oaks won by Broadway Schooner
Nat Ray Invitational won by Lucky Jim
Merrie Annabelle won by Poof She's Gone
