from Harness Publicists across North America

Thursday’s (August 7) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Vernon Downs, Ocean Downs, The Red Mile, and Scioto Downs, as well as the Attica, Ohio and Honesdale, Pa. Fairs.

Splendid Les repeats at Vernon

Vernon, NY — Splendid Les turned in a repeat victory in the top Miracle Mile trotting class at Vernon Downs on Thursday night.

Competing in the $10,000 featured eighth event, Splendid Les idled directly behind the mile-cutter, Eng-amer Davanti, through three-quarters, and then closed with a flurry to record a three-quarter length decision over the fast closing Butterscotch Swirl. Eng-amer Davanti held on for third.

Thursday’s 1:56.1 triumph resulted in the third Vernon tally and fourth season’s score for the 7-year-old gelding, who is conditioned by former Downs driving champion John Stark, Jr. and owned by the Barnik Racing Stable. The smooth striding son of Angus Hall is now a career winner of more than $171,500.

The textbook score was one of three during the evening for driver Jimmy Whittemore, the meet’s top dash-winner with 60 first-place finishes. While recording his seventh local hat trick of 2008, the talented 24-year-old reinsman also won with the trotter Goldstarlook N, in 1:58.4 for trainer Lonny Hale and owner Harry Nieberg, and with the frosh pacing filly Won Native Night, in 1:59 for trainer Ray Van Dreason and the Scott Hay, Alan Levine and Parsimonious Racing Stable ownership contingent.

Defending training champ Hale harnessed two winners during Thursday’s 10-race program, while driver Josh Marks raised his local win count to 45 with a driving double. Chris Lems also notched two Thursday triumphs.

— Jim Moran

Long sweeps Alan Myer Memorial events

Berlin, MD — William Long has had great success at Ocean Downs, where he was the leading driver from 1988 through 1997.

Long became a noted trainer, but in December of 2006 broke his hip when falling through a barn roof. The 54-year-old horseman returned to the bike on June 28 by piloting 3-year-old Concertino to a $40,000 stakes final win at Rosecroft.

Long, who trains the Tejano-Concert Goer colt at his farm near Ocean Downs, now has two wins with him in the Ocean oval’s Alan Myer Memorial late closer series.

“He’s real easy to handle. He does everything right. He’s a smart colt and just doesn’t usually make any mistakes,” Long said after the young colt he trains for owner Howard Hammond earned his second straight win on Thursday in the second leg of the trotting series ($6.00, 2:03.1).

Long had Sam Belote in the bike for the night’s second division of the series when 4-year-old Blanton, trained by Long and owned by Dale Massey, looked to improve on his second-place finish in the opening leg. The SJ’s Caviar-Kona Kat horse won his first of the year (2:01.4, $7.60) edging 3-year-old filly Discover Gold, driven by John Wagner.

Long assessed Blanton’s trip at the half-mile track. “This is not his best track. He has a little bit of trouble with the turns, but he’s a nice horse.”

Belote had a similar view. “He’s got a few physical problems. His mind wanders sometimes, but he’s a real nice horse.”

Blanton won three races as a 3-year-old in 2007, but was idle from last October until this July.

— Jim Whittemore

Ten lifetime marks set at The Red Mile

Lexington, KY — The 133-year-old historic clay oval, known as The Red Mile, was lightning fast on Thursday, producing an astonishing ten lifetime marks on the 14-race card.

The speed figures were inevitably linked to the fact that many young horses were competing on Thursday night, but are also a testament to the outstanding job done by Track Superintendent Terry Baker and his crew.

Nigel Soult photo

Mystra was a 1:52.2 winner on Thursday at The Red Mile.

The fastest mile of the night was turned in by Mystra, a 3-year-old Art Major-Pastrami Hanover filly, in a $6,000 late closing event for filly and mare pacers. Mystra was perfectly positioned out of the gate by driver Jim Foley behind the heavy 3-5 favorite I’m A Native Two and Dan Shetler. Foley was able to cash in the pocket trip for a :26 last quarter and was able to clear the favorite in deep stretch to win by just over a length in a lifetime best 1:52.2. I’m A Native Two gamely fought to hold the place spot, while Jeff Nisonger and Lavish Lulu were able to maintain the show. Mystra returned $10.40 for the victory, and is trained by Peter Foley for lessee Lynne Foley.

Jim Foley was back in the bike for another victory in a $6,000 late closing event for colt and gelding pacers. It was another perfectly positioned trip, this time a second over, that had Foley’s charge Star Trek Hall sprinting by the competition down the lane to win by two lengths in 1:54.2. Star Trek Hall is a gelded son of Cambest-Sevenish trained by Peter Foley for the All Star Racing Inc.

Foley recently relocated from Sacramento to Lexington in order to further pursue a driving career and to begin working more closely with his father, Peter, on the day-to-day operations of the family stable. However, before leaving California, Jim had begun to establish himself as one of the top up and coming drivers on the Cal-Expo circuit, as he held an average of right around the .300 level.

— Gabe Prewitt

Mattonthechooch destroys field at Scioto

Columbus, OH — Driver Chris Page used his rail position to take the lead from the start with Mattonthechooch at Scioto Downs on Thursday and they drew off to a 15-1/4 length win in 1:52.3.

Mattonthechooch defeated Sweet Sam and Wart for trainer Jeff Amann and owner Matt Amann. The winner was bred by top trainer Jim Arledge.

It was a new lifetime record for the son of Mattcando,who is out of the mare Circleville by Laag. He now has four wins in 21 starts this year and 18 career wins.

— Dean A. Hoffman

Ohio Colt Circuit stakes contested in Attica

Attica, OH — Five North Central Ohio Colt Circuit colt stakes were featured on the seven-race program at the Attica Independent Fair at Attica, Ohio on Thursday.

Ed Greeno, Jr. guided Home Early (Humorous Harry-Earlybird Hanover) to a mile in 2:10 in the fastest division of the 2-year-old colt trot. Ed Greeno, Sr. trains the gelding for EG Trot, HPS Consulting, and James Paul.

Onewinginthefire (Chip Chip Hooray-Details Details) won the other division in 2:13.4.

Windy Dawn (Emile Angus-Sunrise Drive) captured the lone division of the 3-year-old colt trot in 2:07 for trainer-driver Charles Peter. Charles also co-owns the colt with his father Kermit.

Josh Cochran’s Uncle Josh (Yankee Cruiser-Amy’s Cedar) came home first in the only division of the 2-year-old colt pace in 2:07.4. Cochran also trains the ridgling, and Beau Blevins handled the reins on Thursday.

Stand By Yourself (Stand Forever-Nobleland Girl) and driver Charles Wyers toured the Attica oval in 2:05 to gain the victory in the sole division of the 3-year-old colt pace. Clair Umholtz trains the gelding for Kennedy Sports Corporation.

— Bill Peters

More PA Fair races in Honesdale

Honesdale, PA — The three-day meet at the Wayne County (Honesdale) Fair concluded on Thursday with plenty of stake racing action.

At Honesdale, Bell On Wheels (Western Hanover-Bellys Up) won the first $5,367 division of the PA Sire Stake 2-year-old filly pace, winning in 2:04.4 for driver Drew Chellis. Owned and trained by Roger Hammer, the filly won by just under two lengths. In the second division, DVC Fivoclock recovered from a break at the start to cruise to a 2:06.1 win for owner/trainer/driver Dave Brickell. The Quentin Hanover-Cajun Attitude filly won by nearly five lengths.

The Hammer/Chellis combination teamed for another win in the first division of the 2-year-old colt pace with Lahaye. The Real Artist-Keystone Mia colt went wire-to-wire in 2:07.1 with a :28.4 last quarter. Hammer co-owns the pacer with Nevin Gilbert. In the second division, DVC Firm Believer led at every pole and won in 2:05.1 for trainer Joe Offutt and driver Timmy Offutt. Ryan Knott and Timmy Offutt own the Quentin Hanover-DVC Iblievenangles colt.

— Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission