Racing Roundup: Sunday, July 20, 2008

from Harness Publicists across North America

Editor’s Note: The USTA Newsroom is pleased to debut “Racing Roundup,” a daily look at overnight result stories from the sport of harness racing.

Sunday’s (July 20) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Ocean Downs, the Honesdale, Pa. Fair and the Billings Series.

Budweiser Pace Series continues at Ocean Downs

Berlin, MD — Ocean Downs hosted two divisions of the second leg in the Budweiser Pace late closer series on Sunday night.

The 3-year-old filly Seboomook Mao is now two-for-two thanks to an impressive stretch run to win by a half-length over 4-year-old gelding Jack’s Pride. The Badlands Hanover-Stonebridge Bliss filly notched her lifetime best mile with a 1:58.1 score and was driven by Wayne Long for trainer/owner Garnet O’Marrow ($7.00).

The second division of the Budweiser Pace was won by 3-year-old gelding Wesmokempeacepipe, driven by Eric Ledford. The Mike Hall-trained son of Ft Apache Hanover-Camryn Rae paced the mile in 1:57.1 ($2.40) to win decisively in wire-to-wire fashion.

“He’s a nice horse, but that was actually his first pari-mutuel win,” Hall said. “He had four wins, all at a fair. He finally put it together, I guess.”

Hall had raced the Rojan Stable’s horse twice during the last week.

“We’ll give him the next week off and then race him in the final (August 3),” Hall explained.

— Jim Whittemore

Freshmen in action at Honesdale

Honesdale, PA — The 2-year-olds were in action at the Wayne County Fairgrounds in Honesdale, Pa., for the second day of Sire Stake racing on Sunday.

Bs Genny, a daughter of Malabar Millennium-Super Generation, opened the day with an impressive victory. The trotting filly made a break behind the gate and spotted the field dozens of lengths, but steadily made up ground throughout the mile and went on to win in 2:10.3 for driver Dave Brickell. Trainer Sue Brickell co-owns the winner with her husband, Dean.

The second $5,264 filly trotting division was won by Tourderail (Donerail-My Oh Moi) and driver Randy Neal. The filly sat a pocket trip behind frontrunning Bank Star (Banker Hall) through the first five-eighths of the mile, then made her move and went right by, going on to the 2:09.1 victory. It was a lifetime best for the filly, owned by Randy and Cliff Neal.

The most anticipated battle of the day was in the third race, a freshman colt trotting division, as Pine Hill Bling and KT Dixie Player met. Each had won four of five starts this season, facing each other only once, at Butler, Pa., with Pine Hill Bling earning the win that afternoon. The two trotted as a team around the last turn, but KT Dixie Player’s inside advantage was too much for Pine Hill Bling to overcome. KT Dixie Player (Sierra Kosmos-KT Troublein Dixe), owned and trained by Ken Weaver, won in 2:05.1, holding on by 2-1/2 lengths for driver Randy Neal.

In the second colt trotting division, Columbia County earned his first career win, trotting in 2:13.2 for driver Bryce Truitt. The Sierra Kosmos-Keystone Delicacy gelding is owned by trainer John and Michelle McMullen.

The final colt trotting division was captured by Naughty Pajamas, a colt by SJ’s Caviar out of Armbro Pajamas. Owned and trained by Joe Offutt, Naughty Pajamas was a winner in 2:07.1 for driver Timmy Offutt. It was the colt’s first career win in his sixth start.

The Offutt Stable made it two in a row on the day when DVC Firm Believer (Quentin Hanover-DVC Iblievenangles) went wire-to-wire in the first $5,266 colt pacing division, scoring in 2:04.2. Timmy Offutt, who trains and drove the winner, co-owns the colt with Ryan Knott.

In the second split, Bruce Kav (Blissfull Hall-Bruce’s Other Lady) went wire-to-wire for owners Cliff and Randy Neal. Cliff Neal was the winning trainer as the colt picked up his first career win in four starts, timed in 2:06 with Randy Neal at the lines for his third win of the day.

A pair of local drivers battled it out in the first division of the 2-year-old filly pace. In the end, Drew Chellis, driving Real Espresso, held off Jim Martin, who was behind Native Sweets, in 2:07.4. Real Espresso (Real Artist-Cafeuccino) won in 2:07.4, breaking her maiden with the victory.

The day concluded with a second $5,367 filly pacing group, with Ashley’s Pride (The Panderosa-Matt’s Filly) scoring in come-from-behind fashion for trainer/driver Joe Offutt. Samuel Stoltzfus owns the winner, who scored in 2:04.

— Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission

Billings action contested in both regions on Sunday

Monticello, NY —Now that the weather is heating up, the County Fair Circuit in the Midwest will play host to a multitude of Billings events, sometimes as many as three in one week.

On Sunday, two Billings splits were contested at the Seneca County Fair in Tiffin, Ohio. When the races were declared official, “Tiny Tim” Miller and Bob “the Lumberman” Troyer each walked away with a victory in Midwest region action. Also that day Dave “Yes It’s True” Offenberg won the Eastern region Billings split at Monticello Raceway.

At Tiffin, Tim Miller, driving favored ABS Speedy Hall, shadowed the pacesetter Kipling Avenue, handled by Bob “I Wanna Sell You A Car” Chapman until the three-quarters, at which point Miller circled the leader and then coasted home an easy eight length winner in a 2:02 clocking. Prime Number, driven by “Lawbook Larry” Farley, finished second while third place went to Lotsa Help, who was in rein to Billings newcomer Gavin “I’m Havin’ Fun” Bixler, who drove in his first competitive event.

The other split at the Seneca County Fair saw Bob Troyer send his veteran trotter Candacraigh to the lead and they made every pole a winning one en route to a one length triumph over Rompaway Ulaine and driver “Congenial Gene” Miller in a time of 2:03.4. Third place went to Tactical, in rein to Billings Midwest point leader Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford.

The Eastern region contest at Monticello Raceway needed a photo finish camera to decide the winner when both Double Strength and Misty Moonlight locked-up in a proverbial stretch duel. At the finish line only a short head separated the two with the former, handled by Dave Offenberg, holding off the latter, who was in rein to Scott “the Driving Doctor” Woogen in a 2:02.2 clocking. Third place went to Rob “Rapid Rail” Krivelin up behind his old warrior Unitas.

— John Manzi

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