by harness publicists across North America

Friday’s (March 5) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Yonkers, Pompano Park, Cal-Expo, The Meadows and Buffalo Raceway.

YONKERS, NY— “Hobbles?! I don’t need no stinkin’ hobbles!”

If Master Pine could talk, that’s what we surmise he would have said Friday night after easily winning Yonkers Raceway’s co-featured $32,000 Open Handicap Trot.

The win maintained Master Pine’s perfect 2010 resume and gave Jason Bartlett a sweep of the evening’s co-features.

Sent right to the lead from post position No. 3, the 8-5 favorite had nary an anxious moment. He led at every pylon, eventually whipping a closing Victor’s Vicky (Jordan Stratton) by two lengths in 1:58.2. Beach Nut Brand (Jeff Gregory) was third.

For Master Pine, a 7-year-old Master Lavec gelding trained by Julie Miller for co-owners Mark Moger and Albert Delia Jr., he returned $5.20 for his fourth win in as many ’10 tries.

Friday night’s co-featured Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace saw odd-on On the Glass go from first-up to first home.

Leaving from the post No. 5, On the Glass used a :27.2 third quarter to dispense with the suspense, going up and over Little Mermaid N (Jim Pantaleano). She went on to whip Perfectionist (Stephane Bouchard) by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:54. Little Mermaid N was third.

For On the Glass, a 4-year-old state-bred daughter of Art Major trained by Ron Burke for co-owners Joe Di Scala and Cynthia Lynn Massari, she returned $3.10 for her fourth win in seven seasonal starts.

Friday night also included the third and final preliminary round of the Hopeful Pacing Series for 3-year-old fillies (note that last week’s second round was snowed out).

In a pair of $10,000 events, the first and faster winner was Dragon Princess (Cat Manzi, $3.30) in 1:57. The daughter of Dragon Again, trained by Darren Cassar for owner Barry Charles, went by the early, loose leader O Lucky Me (Gregory) before winning by a couple of lengths. Briefly (Steve Smith) was second.

The second grouping was won by Angelino (Stratton, $12), who picked off Brightest Star (Brandon Simpson) late in a life-best 1:58.4. The Western Hanover lass is co-owned by (trainer) Dylan Davis and Warren Racing.

The finals for both genders of the Hopeful are scheduled for next Friday (fillies, $46,900) and Saturday (colts/geldings, $49,700) nights, respectively.

— Frank Drucker

Pavia’s Friday night streak continues

Pompano Beach, FL — The latest streak of winning at least one race each Friday night in South Florida now stands at three for Joe Pavia Jr. The March 5 program saw him rein in the winners of the top two races on the card at the Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park.

Lap Time Photo

Esmeralda Semalu, trained and driven by Joe Pavia Jr., returned to sharp form with a 1:52.2 score in South Florida on March 5t

In the $15,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace, Pavia’s Florida stable leader, Esmeralda Semalu, was back on her best game with a dominant front end win. The 6-year-old Electric Stena-Anemone Semalu miss was in command all the way, posting the fractions of :27.3, :57, 1:24.3 and 1:52.2. Bling saw a three race win streak end in the track’s top weekly mares event but she would eventually nose out Major Trap for the place position.

The win pushes the career bankroll of Esmeralda Semalu to more than $350,000 for the BJR and AGC Stables of Florida. In the same race, the Pavia outfit sent out Billie Blue Chip with Matt Kakaley subbing in the bike to a fourth place finish for the 2009 Pennsylvania Sires Stakes 3-year-old filly pace champion.

Pavia’s recent streak of Friday night wins this season at the Isle could have only two more weeks to go as his plan calls for most of his stable to be shipped north to Pocono Downs on March 20.

— Frank Salive

Claudius Augustus reigns again at Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — Open Handicap trotters, racing for a purse of $6,100, were featured at Cal-Expo on Friday night (March 5), on which Claudius Augustus got the hat-trick.

Owned by Debbie Budahn, Claudius Augustus won ($2.80) by a neck, in 1:56.3, a seasonal best and his 18th career victory in just 37 starts. Easter Call, who was used early in the swift opening quarter, was a terrific second, and The Windsurfer finished another 3-3/4 lengths farther back, in third.

— Scott Ehrlich

Swan Image takes Meadows $25,000 trot

Washington, PA — First-over forever, Swan Image persevered until he collared the front-ending Wind Surfer and captured Friday’s $25,000 Preferred Handicap Trot at The Meadows.

With Wind Surfer enjoying a moderate 58-second front half, victory seemed like mission impossible for Swan Image, who was 6 lengths back in fifth at the half. But when Brett Miller sent Swan Image on his uncovered bid, the 7-year-old Balanced Image-Swan Lake gelding gamely wore down the leader and edged past around the final turn.

Swan Image downed Wind Surfer by 3/4 lengths in 1:55.3, with Rose Run Keepsake a rallying third. John Billings III trains Swan Image, who pushed his career bankroll to $494,767 for Larry Roman.

The final four races on the scheduled 15-race card were canceled due to problems with track lighting.

— Evan Pattak

A Work In Progress takes the Open Handicap Trot at Buffalo

Hamburg, NY — In the $9,000 Open Handicap Trot, A Work In Progress, a 6-year-old chestnut gelding by SJ’s Caviar out of the Lindy Lane mare Angela Lane, won in a season’s best 1:59.3 to register his third win of the year for owner Betty Tauber of East Brunswick, N.J. at Buffalo Raceway, Friday night. (March 5)

Trained by the meets top trainer Sherri Holliday, A Work In Progress ($6.20), received a perfect pocket trip by reinsman Trent Tharps, who was filling in for regular driver Ken Holliday.

As the field of seven hit the top of the stretch, A Work In Progress had the lead, and a :29.2 last quarter-mile put the winner 2-3/4 lengths ahead of second place finishers Hello Carlo and driver Russell Swartz. Northfield invader Celebrity Yank (Pat Melloy Jr.) came in third.

“He raced great tonight,” said Tharps. “I didn’t even have to pull the plugs”.

The $4,500 share of the winning purse boosted A Work In Progress’ season bankroll to $16,380 and $115,919 lifetime.

— Sam Pendolino