Mack Lobell - 2CT
Pompano Park, which along with Rosecroft Raceway is the only racetrack to have presented a Breeders Crown event in each of the first three seasons, was the site of the 1986 Two-year-old Colt Trot. Workaholic and Express Ride, the winners in this division in 1984 and 1985, both went on to win seasonal honors, and the One More Time Stable was hoping that Mack Lobell, a colt which many observers felt was the best freshman they had ever seen, would be able to keep the streak intact.
Trainer Charles Sylvester, whose enormous success with freshman trotters had not extended to Breeders Crown competition, had the Lana Lobell-bred son of Mystic Park on edge for the final start of his initial campaign, and driver John Campbell, who had not won a Breeders Crown in 1986 after capturing four in 1985, handled the colt perfectly. Avoiding several breaking colts around the first turn, Campbell steered Mack towards Buckfinder, who had made the front at the quarter, and with a wicked burst of speed, Mack Lobell trotted to the lead. With much of the field outclassed or off stride, there would be no outside challengers, and Campbell downshifted the son of Mystic Park through a :31.4 third panel. As they turned for home, the top pair had opened a dozen lengths on the field.
O'Donnell wheeled Bucktinder out halfway down the stretch for the final challenge, but Mack hit overdrive at the eighth pole, trotting his last quarter in a blistering :28.2 to complete the circuit in 1 :59.1. The valiant Buckfinder was a length back, and, eventually, Nevele Olympian crossed the wire third. Mack Lobell would be the only Crown winner of 1986 forbdth
Sylvester, whose odds-on pupils Armbro Fern and Britelite Lobell had lost heartbreaking contests at Canterbury and Freehold in the previous weeks, and Campbell, and would become the third straight winner of this race to also cop divisional honors.
Owners
One More Time Stable
Trainer | Driver
Chuck Sylvester | John Campbell
