By Jay Wolf
9/23/04

Perretti Racing Stable and John Rizzo's Royal Mattjesty paced to a 1:50 victory in the $102,750 Magical Mike for older pacers on Thursday afternoon at the Delaware County Fair. "This horse is a warrior," said driver John Campbell. "He set a world record as a two-year-old and is still going strong as an aged horse. That's tough to do in this day and age. He's gotten better as he's gotten older." Soho (Brian Sears) went right to the lead from post four and took the field to the opening quarter in a quick :26.1. Peruvian Hanover (Ron Pierce) pulled the pocket past the first quarter and was the new leader at the :54.3 half-mile marker with Royal Mattjesty now first over in second place. These two dueled side-by-side with Royal Mattjesty getting a neck in front on the outside at the 1:21.4 three-quarter pole. Royal Mattjesty opened up a length and a quarter advantage at the top of the lane, then drew off to a two and a half length triumph. Soho rallied in the lane to pick up the second place money, while Peruvian Hanover had to settle for third. For Royal Mattjesty, a five-year-old Matt's Scooter stallion, this was his seventh victory in 25 starts this year, with his share of the purse taking his 2004 earnings to $679,386. The clocking of 1:50 was a national season's record for an older pacing stallion on a half-mile track.