Racing Roundup: Friday, August 22, 2008
August 22, 2008,from Harness Publicists across North America
Friday’s (August 22) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Batavia Downs, Scioto Downs, Saratoga Gaming and Raceway, Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs and the Defiance County Fair.
More Late Closers at Batavia Downs
BATAVIA, NY — 2 year-old New York bred colt and gelding pacers made their second appearance at Batavia Downs Gaming this season, this time in Late Closer action. There were three divisions with purses of over $10,000 each.
Seattle Moon who took home the top prize by assuming command at the quarter pole and never looking back winning by 4-1/4 lengths in 1:59.2. John Stark Jr was at the controls, he trains as well.
Touch of the Past ($4.20) and Ray Fisher held off Silent Hill with Doug Ackley by a head to take the second Late Closer of the evening in 2:00.1.
The third late closer went to an in the right place at the right time Outa My Head who grabbed the racetrack when leader Devil’s Corner (Kevin Cummings) went off stride at the top of the stretch and went on to a one length score over Top Dog Nicholas and Carl Surdyk in 2:00.1.
— Todd Haight
Built By Lindy takes Scioto feature trot
COLUMBUS, OH — Built By Lindy, a 3-year-old half-brother to the noted stallion Lindy Lane, trotted away with the feature trot on Friday at Scioto Downs for trainer-driver Kenny Kidd. He won by 2-1/2 lengths in a time of 1:58.2 for the mile.
Pegafest held for second while MJʼs Miss Chip rallied for third place.
It was the second win in 10 starts this season for the Dream Vacation gelding and brought his career earnings to $46,205 for Buckeye Racing LLC of Newark, Ohio.
On the 10-race Scioto card, driver Kyle Ater scored four driving wins while Brett Miller had a driving triple.
— Dean A. Hoffman
Biggest Big Bertha enjoys Tioga homecoming
Nichols, NY — Biggest Big Bertha enjoyed her first start back home at Tioga Downs on Friday night after a brief visit to Mohawk.
Fred Brown photo
Biggest Big Bertha scored his tenth victory of the season and fifth in five starts at Tioga Downs.
The 7-year-old Little Steven daughter was sent off the gate from post position five by driver Bruce Clarke to challenge heavy favorite Dreamsicle. Halfway through the first turn Dreamsicle made a break and was out of the race. Clarke kept Biggest Big Bertha to her business through 27.1, 55.1, and 1:23 fractions before kicking home in 29.2 to stop the timer in 1:52.2. The win was the tenth victory of the season and fifth in five starts at Tioga Downs. Corey Braden and Phyleon got up for second, while Todd Ratchford and Holme Town Girl were third.
Toni’s Wink and Howard Parker won the first of two divisions of the Kindergarten Classic for freshmen trotting fillies in a new lifetime mark of 2:00.2. It was the second win in three starts for the daughter of Cr Commando out of the Lindy Lane mare Pauls Wink. Toni’s Wink is owned by Joie De Vie Farm LLC, Peter Barbato, and T A Abramo. The trotting filly has banked $12,500 for her connections.
On Broadway De Vie (Broadway Hall- Malkaseltzer) won the second division in 2:01 for driver Howard Parker over Lady Of Love and Lindy Of My Dreams. On Broadway De Vie is owned by Joie De Vie Farm LLC.
— Dustin Ross
Dynamic duo saves best for last at Vernon
VERNON, NY — The dynamic Josh Marks-Tracy Brainard duo saved the best for last during Friday night’s 10-race program at Vernon Downs.
Marks, the track’s second-leading dash-winning driver, steered Houndbeach to a 1:54 triumph in Friday’s $8,000 featured ninth race, then bounced back with a 1:55.4 victory behind the pacer Lord Maximus N in the evening’s final event.
Brainard, the meet’s top trainer with 63 wins in 57 programs, conditions both sidewheelers.
Current dash driving leader Jimmy Whittemore and Rick Plano also chalked up two wins during the program, the former scoring with the trotters L’argent Hall and Oh What A Night, and the latter visiting the winner’s circle with the pacer Holme For a Cuddle and the trotter Attika.
— Jim Moran
Pablo Angus takes top Saratoga trot
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Pablo Angus visited the Saratoga Gaming and Raceway winner’s circle for the third time in four local appearances leading every step of the way to take the featured $15,000 Open Trot on Friday in 1:57.2.
Owned by Mario Bourgea and trained by Bert Belanger, Pablo Angus has gotten his picture taken in four of his last six starts, finishing no worse than second in each of his last eight outings. The 6-year-old son of Fortuna Winner boasts a lifetime record of 24 wins from 101 appearances, with career earnings in excess of $467,000.
— Michael Costanzo
Defiance County Fair defies obstacles to race
HICKSVILLE, OH — The Defiance County Fair at Hicksville, Ohio survived a mid-afternoon rain which rendered a “slow” track condition and a power failure midway through Friday night’s twelve-race program to complete the fair’s racing. The fair’s signature races, the Kermit Peter Trot and the Gene L. Vance Memorial Pace, were the feature races of the evening.
Strike A Mac (BJ’s Mac-Striking Beauty) took the faster division of the Kermit Peter Trot in 2:07.2. The 5-year-old gelding is leased, trained, and driven by Kim Pluta. Owner-trainer-driver Mike McCarty captured the other division with the 5-year-old stallion George’s Vacation (Dream Vacation-Armbro Katydid) in 2:08.1.
The Pluta Stables’ Pocket Money (Zest For Life-Racy Pockets) won the faster split of the Gene L. Vance Memorial Pace in 2:04.2. Kim Pluta is the trainer and driver of Pocket Money. Pluta also won the second division with Cajon Bubba (Straight Path-Herricane Hensall) in 2:06. Pluta also trains the five-year-old gelding, and Denise Vass pays the bills.