The Friday (Sept. 20) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Vernon Downs, Tioga Downs, Hollywood Dayton Raceway and Plainridge Park.

Painite takes featured trot at Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY — Painite (Leon Bailey) charged late to take the $5,000 featured trot at Vernon Downs on Friday.

Painite got by to win in 1:57. Fotowon photo.

East To Cincy (John MacDonald) went to the front and put up all the early numbers (:27.4, :58, 1:27.3). Haveitalltogether (Chris Long) got the lead in deep stretch. Painite ($21.20), who is trained by Bailey for owners Donn Lewandrowski and Gail Farrell, looked like she was shot out of a cannon. Just when it looked like Haveitalltogether was going to win, Painite got by to win in 1:57. Haveitalltogether had to settle for second. East To Cincy was third best. Painite is a 10-year-old mare by Plesac. It was her fourth win this season and the 31st victory of her career.

Art Angel Baby (Claude Huckabone III) captured the $5,000 featured fillies and mares pace. Talbot Chanel (John MacDonald) laid down all the early fractions (:26, :54.4, 1:23.4). She had the lead as they turned for home. Art Angel Baby ($11.00), who is owned by Chad Lennon and trained by Huckabone III, was fourth after three-quarters. She would wear down second place finisher Talbot Chanel to win in 1:53.1. Best American Chic finished third. Art Angel Baby is a 6-year-old mare by Sagebush. It was her fourth win of the season and 21st win of her career.

Owners Donn Lewandrowski and Gail Farrell teamed up with trainer-driver Leon Bailey to win three straight races. Their other two wins came with Artic Belle ($12.20) and Tiger Boudoir ($29.40).

— John Horne

Tioga Downs

Truth And Liberty (Mike Simons) captured the $11,000 featured Fillies & Mares Open Pace at Tioga Downs on Friday. Truth And Liberty ($3.80) went to the front and led to the first quarter in :26.4. She put up a :28.4 second quarter to hit the half in :55.3. She continued to control the pace as they hit three-quarters in 1:23.4. Truth And Liberty, who is owned by Fairy Horsemother and trained by Simons, led by three lengths as they made the turn for home. Gigi From Fiji (Wally Hennessey) tried to come late but Truth And Liberty was too strong and won in 1:52.3. Gigi From Fiji had to settle for second with K J’s Caroline (Jim Taggart Jr.) getting third money. Truth And Liberty is a 7-year-old mare by Total Truth. It was her 10th win this season and she now owns 45 career victories.

Leading driver Wally Hennessey continued his dream season with five wins on the evening. He got his wins with Unimpeachable ($12.80), Cinnabar Hall ($6.40), The Big Muscle ($4.00), Rollingndiamonds ($4.10), and Here We Go Again ($4.50). Mike Simons drove three winners on the evening. He got his other victories with Meadowbranch Vicki ($2.60) and Soho Hanover ($2.70).

— John Horne

Hollywood Dayton Raceway

Gone Girl has had an outstanding 2019 season, earning just under $100,000, but never seems to get much respect at the betting windows. Although she has won seven times on the year in 27 tries, the 5-year-old daughter of Dragon Again is usually dispatched at double digit odds and Friday night was no exception. At odds of 21-1, Gone Girl upset her peers in the $16,500 Open Mares Pace at Hollywood Dayton Raceway. Driver Tyler Smith sat second behind pace-setting Allbeastnobeauty (Dan Noble) through fractions of :27, :55 and 1:22.3 before pouncing on the leader and overtaking her in mid-stretch. Gone Girl paced the mile in 1:51, her seventh sub-1:52 effort in her last eight starts for owner-trainer Mark Gillenwater. Favored Up Front Flor Ida (Brett Miller) rallied from far back to capture the show bounty.

— Hollywood Dayton Raceway

Plainridge Park

Patience was a virtue for Nick Graffam on Friday afternoon as he waited until the right time to shake free and win the $12,000 conditioned trotting feature at Plainridge Park. Count On Rosey (Todd O’Dea) and Hs Marcia (Drew Campbell) took turns on the lead before and after the first quarter that went in :27.4. Once seated on the point, Hs Marcia looked strong through subsequent panels of :56.1 and 1:26. By that last station, Graffam pulled Happy Hooligan off the pylons and started a forward march. Although still 2-1/2 lengths off the lead, Happy Hooligan continued to work and methodically shortened the distance between himself and Hs Marcia. Heading into the lane, Graffam continued to drive and Happy Hooligan continued to gain ground and eventually nipped Hs Marcia at the wire by a neck in 1:57.1. Happy Hooligan ($6.80) scored his third win of the year for owner Francis Healy and Natalie Michaud. Mike Graffam trains the winner.

— Tim Bojarski