from Harness Publicists across North America

Sunday’s (August 31) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Tioga Downs, Scarborough Downs, and the Stoneboro, Pa. Fair.

Biggest Big Bertha beats the boys at Tioga

Nichols, NY — Biggest Big Bertha and Todd Ratchford moved up to take on the boys in the $10,000 Winners Over Pace at Tioga Downs on Sunday afternoon after dominating against the best girls on the grounds.

Fred Brown Photography

Biggest Big Bertha (#7) gets a head in front to win on Sunday at Tioga Downs.

The outcome proved to be the same as the 7-year-old daughter of Little Steven was sent from the gate in an opening quarter of :28. Heavy favorite Frankyluvsmeatbals and Rick Plano tried to move to the front past the three-eighths pole but Ratchford would not relinquish the lead. The duo raced through fractions of :55.3 and 1:23.4 before Biggest Big Bertha put away Plano, but Real Protection was ready for a stretch duel with the lady after sitting in the garden spot.

Sean Mcaleese urged Real Protection down the stretch, but could not get past Biggest Big Bertha on the front in 1:52.3. Real Protection finished second, while Presidential Skam and Kyle DiBenedetto got up for third.

It was the 11th win in 24 seasonal starts for Biggest Big Bertha, who is trained by Patty Harris for owner Marilee Keene.

Winbak Dimensions and Jimmy Marohn, Jr. had their usual Sunday afternoon reservations in the winner’s circle following the $13,000 Open Handicap Pace. The duo scored their third straight victory in Open competition at Tioga Downs with a mile of 1:52.3.

It was the seventh win in 15 starts on the season for Winbak Dimensions, who is trained by Jim Perry for owners William Heinz and Jack Heinz.

— Dustin Ross

Maineiac Matt dominates at Scarborough Downs

Scarborough, ME — Maineiac Matt continued to display impressive form on Sunday as the 3-year-old standout in the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stake program revisited the Scarborough Downs winner’s circle after spending the better part of the past two months scorching the ovals of Maine’s agricultural fair tracks.

EJS Photography

Maineiac Matt and driver Michael Graffam enjoy a leisurely romp to victory on Sunday at Scarborough Downs.

The pride and joy of the Michael Graffam Stable barely broke a sweat during the balmy Labor Day weekend performance. He set all his own fractions in Sunday’s $9,997 MSBS split while making every pole a winning one en route to an open lengths victory timed in 1:57.3.

The win was the 13th career victory for the Maine-bred son of Merrilywerollalong from only 16 lifetime starts and comes fresh off a state of Maine record setting clocking of 1:55.1 just last weekend at the Windsor fairgrounds.

Maineiac Matt, owned by the partnership of William Arnold, Timothy Arnold and Richard Shaw, paid $2.10 across the board as the prohibitive bettors’ choice and will next appear in stakes competition on September 14 at the Farmington Fair.

Pembroke Blitz and driver Heath Campbell provided an upset of sorts in the second $9,997 MSBS division on Sunday as the 5-2 second choice tracked all the good early speed of the heavily favored Terry’s Star Dragon (Michael Graffam) to overtake the front-runner during a stirring duel through the storied Scarborough stretch in an identical clocking to the first stakes flight — 1:57.3.

These two native son pacers have combined to form a robust rivalry during their first two years of raceway competition with Terry’s Star Dragon still enjoying the edge in head-to-head combat, having tallied five wins to Pembroke Blitz’s two when the two rivals have lined up behind the same starting gate.

All three Maine-bred Standardbred stars have their eyes set on the inaugural edition of Maine Sire Stakes Super Weekend (October 11 and 12) when all eight MSBS division championships will be decided over a two-day period at Scarborough Downs with total purses for the weekend expected to exceed $500,000.

— Michael Sweeney

Freshmen in action at Stoneboro Fair

Stoneboro, PA — A total of 10 Pennsylvania Sire Stake races were held at the Great Stoneboro Fairgrounds in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, all for 2-year-old trotters and pacers.

The day was kicked off by a $5,337 division of the 2-year-old colt trot. Columbia County (Sierra Kosmos-Keystone Delicacy) won his seventh race in 14 starts for owners John and Michelle McMullen, scoring in a lifetime best 2:03.3. Bryce Truitt drove the winner for trainer John McMullen. In the second division, TV Kisses was a winner for Timmy Offutt in 2:08.4. Joe and Karen Offutt own the TV Show Kosmos-Leona Kosmos filly, and Joe Offutt does the training.

Filly trotters were next on the track, with victories going to NF Ritzie (Tom Ridge-Royal Roz) and Bank Star (Banker Hall-Classofninetyfive). NF Ritzie trotted in 2:09 for trainer/driver Harold Brocklehurst and owner John Hurtgen. Bank Star, with Truitt at the lines, scored in 2:07, giving the McMullens their second win of the day.

Ryan Zidek photo

Stately Art’s 2:01 clocking was the fastest mile of the day.

Timmy Offutt’s second driving win of the day came in the first division of the freshman colt pace, behind DVC Firm Believer, a colt that he co-owns with Ryan Knott. Joe Offutt trains the Quentin Hanover-DVC Iblievenangles colt, who has now won nine of 14 on the year. The second colt pacing split was won by Stately Art, a son of Arturo-Stately, trained by Bob Krenitsky. Dave Brickell catch-drove the six-time winner for owners Bob and Barbara Krenitsky. The winning time was 2:01, the fastest mile of the day. In the third division, Red Hot Scandal went wire-to-wire for driver Roger Hammer. Owned by the Dunn Stable and trained by Boots Dunn, Red Hot Scandal (Real Artist-Scandalize) paced the mile in 2:01.2, the fastest win of his career.

The day ended with three divisions of the frosh filly pace for state-breds. Miss Valley won the first division for Brickell, pacing in 2:04.3. Jim Brewer owns and trains the Allamerican Native-Yankee Valley filly, who is now four of 10 on the season. Joe Offutt earned his third training win and first winning drive of the day, as Ashley’s Pride was able to grind out the final half-mile on the outside and get up over Real Espresso (Hammer) in the final strides for a 2:02.4 victory. Samuel Stoltzfus owns the filly, a daughter of The Panderosa-Matt’s Filly. Hammer reached the winner’s circle in the final race, guiding Bell On Wheels to a 2:02.3 win. Hammer also owns and trains the Western Hanover-Bellys Up filly.

— Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission