from Harness Publicists across North America

Friday’s (August 29) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Yonkers Raceway, Saratoga Gaming and Raceway, Vernon Downs, Scioto Downs, Batavia Downs, and the Van Wert, Ohio Fair.

Percee Angus and American Lane score at Yonkers

Yonkers, NY — Percee Angus and American Lane earned Yonkers Raceway accolades, winning Friday night’s co-featured $40,000 Open Handicaps.

Percee Angus (Pat Berry) took it the distance in the weekly distaff derby, stepping around the returning Benear (Jeff Gregory) before holding sway over that rival in 1:54. Leaving from post position three, “Percee” led through intervals of :27.2, :56.1 and 1:24.4, disposing of a parked-out longshot Carousel Frame (Jim Pantaleano) just before the three-quarters.

Percee Augus owned a 1-1/2 length lead turning for home, then beat the 2-1 choice by a half-length. Twin B Tiara (Greg Grismore) rallied up the cones to grab third, with Best Chance Hanna (Pat Lachance) and Miss Galvinator A (Stephane Bouchard) completing the cashers.

Percee Angus, a 6-year-old daughter of Blissfull Hall co-owned by Frederick and Anita Fialkow, returned $9.00 (third choice) for her sixth win in 27 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $25.60, with the triple returning $527.

The week’s marquee trot saw 11-10 favorite American Lane (Dan Dube) get caught four-wide early, then make the lead passing a :28 opening quarter-mile. He moved right along through a :57.1 intermission and 1:27 three-quarters, chased by 23-1 pocket pursuer Yankee Nola (Pantaleano).

American Lane’s 1-1/4 length advatange off the final turn was a length at the wire, which he found over “Nola” in 1:56.3. Winnin’ Image (Bouchard), No More Gold N (Keith Kash, Jr.) and San Remo Kosmos (Grismore) also made money.

For American Lane, a 6-year-old Primrose Lane gelding trained by Carl Cito, Jr. for co-owners David Scharf and Jerry Silva, it was his ninth win in 26 ’08 tries. He returned $4.20, with the exacta paying $53.50 and the triple paying $359.50.

Friday’s program also included the $31,700 Goalie Jeff Pace, a New York Bred event for 2-year-old colts and geldings. The trio of events, at $10,600, $10,600 and $10,500, respectively, were won by Blazing Sakra (Bettor’s Delight-Sakra Beauty), owner M5 Racing Stable/trainer Dave Dewhurst/driver Grismore, (first life win) 2:00.4/$7.50; Outta My Head (Bettor’s Delight-Beamer), co-owners (trainer) Paul Kelley, Linwood Higgins, William Donovan/driver Jason Bartlett, (life-best) 1:58.2/$4.60; and Seattle Moon (Riverboat King-Romancing The Sea), owner Winbak Farm/trainer John Stark, Jr./driver Gregory, 1:58.3/$3.90.

— Frank Drucker

Saratoga Open to Armbro Barrister

Saratoga Springs, NY — The classy veteran trotter Armbro Barrister made a triumphant return to Saratoga Gaming and Raceway on Friday, rolling to an impressive victory in the featured $15,000 Open Trot while covering the mile in 1:55.4.

Dave Oxford photo

Armbro Barrister captured the $15,000 Open Trot at Saratoga in 1:55.4.

Starting from post four with Jay Randall at the lines, Armbro Barrister was intent on making the lead in the Friday feature, repelling an early bid from Pablo Angus (Brian Allen) to take the feature race field through a solid opening quarter in :27.3.

The son of Malabar Man marched uncontested on the front through middle fractions of :57.3 and 1:26.2, turning back a minor first-over challenge from Prime Interest (Frank Coppola, Jr.) to enter the stretch with a five length lead before coasting under the wire 6-1/2 lengths the best.

Armbro Barrister returned $5.90, $2.60, and $2.70 for the victory. Pablo Angus paid $3.30 and $2.10 for second, while Prime Interest brought in $2.60 for third.

Owned by Earl Scheelar, Kelk’s Inc., and trainer Ray Schnittker, Armbro Barrister has visited the winner’s circle 44 times during his illustrious career, amassing over $695,000 in lifetime earnings. The son of Malabar Man, out of the Balanced Image mare Armbro Rocker, has gotten his picture taken seven times in 2008, with a seasonal bankroll in excess of $114,000.

— Michael Costanzo

Holme Fora Cuddle takes Vernon feature

Vernon, NY — Holme Fora Cuddle began her reign as queen of the pacing ranks with a 1:54.3 victory in Friday night’s $9,000 featured eighth event at Vernon Downs.

Trainer Rick Plano, a Frankfort native who began his driving career here back in the late 1970s, did the teaming as Holme Fora Cuddle rallied from sixth at the half to become a serious contender at the top of the stretch. The 6-year-old New Zealand-bred continued to race aggressively in a :27.3 final quarter and won by a head over another on-rusher, Miss Robin’s Magic, in the week’s top Miracle Mile test for female sidewheelers.

The determined effort marked the second local score in as many starts for the quick-footed mare, who earned her 1:52.4 record in California last year. Her Vernon victory last Friday was in 1:53. Christopher Schick owns the career winner of $46,437.

Friday’s tally was the second of the week, seventh at the meet and 4,990th overall for Plano, who has achieved notable success at Ohio’s Northfield Park and, more recently, on the California circuit.

Red-hot driver Josh Marks picked up three more tallies (Choo Choo Chick, Giveittoemstraight and Artachebythenumber) during Friday’s nine-race program to take over the meet’s dash-winning lead from Jimmy Whittemore, 67-65. Having missed 27 programs at the start of Vernon’s 55th season, the 25-year-old reinsman has amassed his win total in just 33 programs. He’s tops in triples at the Downs this season with nine.

Artachebythenumber’s 1:56.2 tally was his seventh at Vernon this season, tying him with fellow pacers Basilio Blue Chip, Western Tsunami and the trotter Hanger Pride N for most local equine tallies thus far in 2008.

Drivers Chuck Connor, Jr. (Pose For Me and Chattanooga) and Jack Rice (Worldly Possession and Jolly Scott) each chalked up a pair of victories during the program.

— Jim Moran

Pegafest impressive in Scioto Downs victory

Columbus, OH — Pegafest prepped for Ohio Super Night with an easy 1:59.4 trotting win on a sloppy track at Scioto Downs on Friday night. Trainer-driver Jack Dailey sent the daughter of Pegasus Spur to the front at the start and she jogged to a 5-3/4 length win.

Dailey was giving his filly a final race before Ohio Super Night on Sept. 6 which will feature eight Ohio Sires Stakes championships. Pegafest has already earned a spot in the final for sophomore trotting fillies.

Hope’s Cavecricket closed strongly in the stretch to get second money while Reel Me Over trotted steady to finish third.

Pegafest went off at 2-5 odds for owners Kimberly Dailey, Michael Kirby, and Paul Thiesing.

A few races earlier, before a rainstorm turned the track sloppy, Keystone Sable won in 1:55 in a wire-to-wire performance for Jeremy Smith. It was the fifth win of the current Scioto meet for the Western Hanover mare.

— Dean A. Hoffman

Jack Sparrow is victorious again at Batavia

Batavia, NY — For the third week in a row, Michael Calimeri’s popular trotter Jack Sparrow took home the top prize in the $9,000 featured Open Trot on Friday night at Batavia Downs Gaming.

Being assigned the outside post and getting away last and having to trot three deep around the last turn wasn’t enough to stop the 5-year-old son of Humorous Harry from scoring his 11th win of the season and his 20th win over the last two years.

Once again in rein to driver/trainer Jim McNeight, Jack Sparrow bided his time at the back of the pack as the front running The Midas Man (Ron Beback, Jr.) put up early numbers of :28.3 and :58.4. The 2-year-old Batavia Downs track record holder, Hitwiththeladies with Kevin Cummings, were up to take the lead at the three-quarters in 1:28.2 but Speed Pilot with Robby McNeight and Jack Sparrow were both trotting up a storm as the field of six square gaiters made their final swing.

Down the lane Speed Pilot took over command but it was short lived as Jack Sparrow ($4.00) trotted right on by to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:58.3. Speed Pilot held the second spot and Zapphappy Kash with the Hall of Famer Clint Galbraith came on for third.

A pair of veteran reinsmen had hat tricks Friday night. Dash leading driver Kevin Cummings extended his lead over Ray Fisher, Jr. by winning the three races while Ron Beback, Jr. scored with three horses that he trains as well. “Rockin Ronny” is well ahead in the trainer standings.

— Todd Haight

Another track record in Van Wert

Van Wert, OH — A new track record was established for the second night in a row on Friday at the Van Wert County Fair in Van Wert, Ohio during its ten-race program.

Look At That (Ilooklikemymom-That Lady’s Hot) broke the track record for 2-year-old gelding trotters with a mile in 2:03.2. Jay Cross drove the gelding for co-owners Dale Leu and Jim Mulinix. Mulinix is also the trainer of Look At That.

Jeff Grimes’ Draft Bunny (Precious Bunny-Dunachton Clara) captured the fastest split of the 3-year-old filly pace in 2:01.1. Kevin Hough piloted Draft Bunny and Barbie Conner is the trainer. Rayjean Beauty (Expensive Scooter-Rayjean Angel) took the other division in 2:05.1 for owner-trainer Toni Langhann. Chad Peter was in the sulky behind Rayjean Beauty.

Chad Peter also had the winning drive in the lone division of the 3-year-old filly trot with Sister Kathy (Pegasus Spur-Credit Card Katie) in 2:05.3. Chad Williamson trains Sister Kathy and Fred Freppel pays the bills.

— Bill Peters