The Saturday (June 15) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows, Buffalo Raceway, Vernon Downs, Tioga Downs, The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono and Saratoga Casino Hotel.

Nitro Seelster springs 13-1 upset in Meadows $20,000 pace

Washington, PA — Stranded in mid-move when his cover ducked back to the cones, Nitro Seelster did the heavy lifting himself and pulled off a 13-1 upset in Saturday’s (June 15) $20,000 Open Handicap Pace at The Meadows.

Nitro Seelster overtook 4-5 favorite Windsong Leo in the shadow of the wire and downed him by a neck in 1:50. Chris Gooden photo.

Nitro Seelster was following the first-over cover of Real Peace when that rival dived back to the rail to exploit an opening. But Nitro Seelster and Tony Hall persevered, overtaking 4-5 favorite Windsong Leo in the shadow of the wire and downing him by a neck in 1:50. Real Peace earned show.

Sarah Andrews trains Nitro Seelster, a 9-year-old Camluck-Strikes Again gelding who now boasts a lifetime bankroll of $324,763, for Sandbur Farms and Valarie Sutton.

Aaron Merriman, Mike Wilder and Hall each piloted three winners on the 13-race card.

Live racing at The Meadows resumes Monday, first post 1:05 p.m.

— Evan Pattak, for The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association

Buffalo Raceway

“He raced huge at Tioga Downs last week so I expected he’d be good here tonight,” said driver Drew Monti of Southern Palms. His prediction was spot on. Southern Palms was indeed good after rolling to a 1-1/4 length victory over the heavily favored Majestic Kat in Buffalo Raceway’s featured $13,000 Open Trot in 1:59.3 on a rainy Saturday night. Finishing a solid fourth last Sunday in Tioga’s Open Handicap Trot, Southern Palms got the perfect pocket journey over the sloppy surface as Majestic Kat (Billy Davis Jr.) splashed out the fractions of :29.4, 1:00.3 and 1:30.3. In the stretch, Southern Palms ($12.80) moved to the outside and cruised on past Majestic Kat to score the win. Lougazi (Ray Fisher Jr.) took the third place money. “I wanted to be forwardly placed,” Monti said of getting the garden spot. “I knew Jack Rice’s horse (Majestic Kat) was going to be tough but we’d make a serious run at her.” Owned by Mike Torcello and trained by Gerry Sarama, it was the second victory in 12 tries for the 6-year-old gelded Southern Palms (RC Royalty-Pacific Elegance). The win boasted his seasonal winnings to $27,840 and $294,571 lifetime.

— Brian Mazurek

Vernon Downs

Spoiler Alert (Truman Gale) won the featured trot ($5,000) at Vernon Downs on Saturday (June 15). Cash N Chrome (Claude Huckabone III) went to the front and led to a first quarter in :28.2. Spoiler Alert ($6.00) took over as they went around the first turn. As Spoiler Alert headed for a half in :57.3, Bluffton (Homer Hochsetler) put on the pressure. Spoiler Alert , who is owned by Jeffrey Hayes and trained by Misty Carey, led to three-quarters in 1:26.1. Spoiler Alert opened up by two lengths in the stretch but Bluffton came charging late. Spoiler Alert would dig in deep and held on to win by a head in a seasonal best of 1:56.1. Bluffton had to settle for second. Schwarber (Claude Huckabone Jr.) finished third. Spoiler Alert is a 5-year-old gelding by Chapter Seven. It was his second win this season and career victory number nine. Gale had two winners on the night. His other win came with Under The Bus ($6.00). Leading driver John MacDonald drove three winners on the night. He finished first with Wild Damage Blues ($2.50), Jas Going Away ($6.40), and Bay Sky ($5.30). Vernon Downs returns to live racing for a special Father’s Day matinee with a 10 race card on Sunday (June 16) with a post time of 1:05 p.m. For more information go to www.vernondowns.com.

— John Horne

Tioga Downs

Prairie Panther (Wally Hennessey) captured the Open Pace Handicap ($12,000) at Tioga Downs on Saturday (June 15). Music Is Art (Jim Taggart Jr.) led the group to a first quarter in :26.2. Prairie Panther ($3.40), who is owned by trainer Mike Deters and Laurie Poulin, took the lead as they went by the stands for the first time. He set the pace as they hit the half in :55.1 and three-quarters in 1:23.1. As they reached the stretch he put on the after-burners and cruised to a 5 length win and a seasonal best time of 1:50.4.  Motown N (Jeff Long) was second with Americanprimetime (Mike Merton) finishing third. Prairie Panther is a 5-year-old gelding by Royal Millennium.  It was his sixth win this season.  He now owns 27 career victories. Jack Rules (Andy Santeramo) won the Open Trot Handicap ($12,000). Tag Up And Go (Mike Merton) led the group to a first quarter of :28.0 and the half in :58.0. BJ Lorado (Jim Taggart Jr.) would take over before hitting three-quarters in 1:25.3. Jack Rules ($28.20), who is owned DJS Stables and trained by Santeramo, was third after three-quarters.  He went three-wide down the stretch and held off the late charge of second place finisher Prairie Fortune (Jim Meittinnis) to win in a seasonal best of 1:55.0. Tag Up And Go held on for third. Jack Rules is a 5-year-old gelding by Crazed. It was his seventh win this season. He now has 22 career wins. Wally Hennessey drove four winners on the night. He won his other races with Campbellini ($5.70), Celebrity Lover ($3.00) and Groovey Kid ($9.90). Tioga Downs returns to live racing on Sunday (June 16) featuring three divisions of the New York Sire Stakes for sophomore pacing colts and geldings. The 13-race card also features the return of wiener dog races. Post time is 1 p.m. For more information go to www.tiogadowns.com.

— John Horne

The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono

Owner/trainer Antonia Storer swept each $17,500 feature on Saturday night (June 15) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono – one at each gait, and one with each Napolitano brother, the 1-2 drivers at the track. On the trot, Anthony Napolitano was drove the Deweycheatumnhowe gelding Optimist Blue Chip, to a 1:53.1 win which was a lifetime best. Optimist Blue Chip crossed the wire first by 2-3/4 lengths over Rock Of Cashel, with the favorite raising his career earnings to $213,928. On the pace, George Napolitano Jr. steered the Delmarvalous gelding Nine Ways to a one-length victory over a determined Santiago Style. The win increased his bankroll to $213,406.

— PHHA/Pocono

Saratoga Casino Hotel

In A Single Bound (Roll With Joe) has begun to establish himself as a force in the Open Pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel this season and on Saturday night (June 15), the Monica Krist trainee scored his third win of the year against the track’s top pacers. Leading driver Billy Dobson took In A Single Bound back early as the fractions in the $15,000 feature were sizzling. Following an early speed duel, the race’s favorite Deetzy emerged with the lead but after pacing his first half in :54.4, In A Single Bound was right alongside to pressure the favorite heading towards three-quarters. In A Single Bound cleared the lead and by the time the other closers shifted gears, they were too late. In A Single Bound recorded his third Open Pace victory this season, stopping the timer in 1:52.3. Lachie Maguire N (Bruce Aldrich Jr) who was involved in the early tussle for the top came flying in the stretch after shaking loose and wound up as the runner-up in the feature. Maxdaddy Blue Chip (Jordan Derue) closed to be third. In A Single Bound paid $7.10 to win and led an exacta and triple that came back $63.50 and $276, respectively. Dobson, who has an overwhelming lead in the driver standings as he seeks his seventh local driving title, piloted three winners on the Saturday card. Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon at Saratoga with a first post time of noon.

— Mike Sardella