Racing Roundup: Tuesday, August 5, 2008

from Harness Publicists across North America

Tuesday’s (August 5) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Monticello Raceway, Northfield Park, the Waynesburg and Honesdale, Pa. Fairs, as well as the Billings Series.

Hawaiian Hunk wins at Monticello

Monticello, NY — The fastest clocking of the Tuesday card at Monticello Raceway belonged to Hawaiian Hunk, when Jason Bartlett guided the 6-year-old Jenna’s Beach Boy gelding to a 1:55.3 victory in the afternoon’s pacing feature.

Bartlett, the latest phemon to arrive in New York from the Pine Tree State, who leads all other reinsmen at Yonkers Raceway, also spends a few afternoons at Monticello Raceway and when he does he always makes his presence known.

Geri Schwarz photo

Hawaiian Hunk forged to the lead and then held off five others to win in 1:55.3 for Jason Bartlett.

Driving Hawaiian Hunk here for the second consecutive week — he won last time with the pacer in a 1:57 clocking — Bartlett was content to get away slowly from the five hole and was fifth at the quarter and fifth again at the half, both places some seven lengths behind the leader and race favorite, Talk Forever (Billy Parker, Jr.).

After a first-over move at the midway point, Bartlett got Hawaiian Hunk up to second place at the three-quarters, but they were still two lengths behind Talk Forever. After ranging alongside the leader in the final strides, Hawaiian Hunk forged to the front in the deep stretch and then held off late charges by five others to win by a length in a 1:55.3 clocking. Talk Forever held on for second, just a nose better than Top Flight (Greg Merton), with King Liam (Kyle Di Benedetto) another nose back in fourth place.

Hawaiian Hunk is owned by Reginald Duguay and trained by Scott Blackler. He paid $5.80 for win.

— John Manzi

Northfield hosts Cuyahoga Fair Stakes

Northfield Park raced a special Tuesday card featuring the Cuyahoga County Fair Supersatkes, and the night saw mostly favorites, with a few longshots.

Stakes action began with a pair of distaff, wire-to-wire filly winners. In the $6,590 2-year-old filly trot, Kurt Sugg steered Shady Chip ($3.20) to a 10 length win over Ycantwebefriends and Action Victory. The homebred daughter of Chip Chip Hooray-Whitershadeofpale won for the first time in six starts, posting a 2:03.4 tally and pushing her bankroll over $11,500.

Medoland Kendall ($2.40) lived up to top billing in the first $3,745 split of the sophomore filly pace, cruising by 4-1/2 lengths in 1:56.4. The win over Precious Susie and Sand Jo-marie pushed her seasonal summary to 10-3-2-2 for owner-breeders Tammy Hoovler and Patrick Medors and their partner, C. Anders, Jr. Mike Medors trains the Yankee Cruiser-Medoland Diamond filly and called on Aaron Merriman to drive.

The second split for 3-year-old pacers went to Larry Dey Ermand and Jay Ankeny’s Big Sapphire ($2.60) in 1:56.2. She went nearly gate-to-wire to defeat Surf Song and Medoland Taranicol. Matt Kakaley drove the Stand Forever-Big Katy daughter for trainer Dey Ermand.

The $5,740 3-year-old filly trot went to Northfield Wall of Famer Don McKirgan, who gave Second Chance Stable another win, this time with the Charlie Myrick trained Flawess Chip ($14.20). The Chip Chip Hooray filly is a daughter of the Final Score mare Flawless Score and the 2:01.1 clocking was just one tick off her lifetime best.

The 3-year-old colt trot, worth $7,040, saw the Flowing Mineral Farms entry of Michael Rowyourboat and Flowing James finish 1-2, yielding mutuels of $2.40, $2.60, $2.10. J.D. Wengerd drove “Michael,” a Victory Sam gelding from the Overcomer mare Tall Sunflower, while trainer Jimmy Smith piloted the pace horse.

Matt Kakaley was back in the winner’s circle in the $6,440 freshman colt pace as he piloted Lolas Crusier ($4.20) to an impressvie 1:57.3 clocking. John Oliverio trains the winner, a son of the good mare Lola Jean, who Oliverio also conditioned for owners Al Melega, Martin Yoder and Tom Sullivan. He defeated Kid Cam and Prince Rave. The win was the second in four starts for the Yankee Cruiser gelding.

The 3-year-old colt pace carried a $4,440 purse and Aaron Merriman posted his second win when he put the Del Criswell-trained Mor Winning Ways ($5.20) in the winner’s circle for owners Mondillo, Cheatham, Robinson and Robinson. Yet another Yankee Cruiser offspring, this one is from the Western Hanover mare Donethatbeenthere. The 1:56 mile was his second win of the year.

There were two splits of the freshman colt trot, each worth $4,470, and trainer Marty Wollam took both. He called on Don McKirgan to drive Look N Rhap ($5.80) in the first division, and piloted Mom’s Looker ($7.80) himself in the second heat. Look N Rhap is a son of Ilooklikemymom from the Arnies Exchange mare Rhapsodic. He went overs $22,000 with the 2:00.2 win after taking a heat of the State Fair Stakes at Scioto Downs in his last start. He was bred by his owners, John Red and Betty Shaw. Dale Sweet’s homebred Mom’s Looker wired the field in 2:01.4, his maiden victory. He is also a son of Ilooklikemymom, from the Carry The Message mare Dee’s Message, who Sweet also campaigned.

The final stakes event of the night was the $5,290 freshman filly pace and Kurt Sugg bookended stakes wins to give trainer Wollam yet another victory. This one was with John Red Shaw’s homebred Amazing Towner ($7.20), who scored in 1:57.4 to push her summary to an impressive 7-4-1-2, $23,860. A Towner’s Big Guy daughter, she is from the quality broodmare Amazing Sahbra. Forever Ivy was second and Kimmy Cruiser cruised to the show money.

— Keith Gisser

Pair of fairs host racing action in Pennsylvania

Harness races were contested at a pair of venues on Tuesday, with the Greene County (Southwestern PA) and Wayne County (Northeastern PA) fairs getting into full swing.

At Waynesburg in Greene County, six stake races were held, featuring 2- and 3-year-old Pennsylvania-sired colts and fillies.

The day’s first race featured a $10,424 purse for 2-year-old colt trotters, the largest purse ever in Greene County. Assai Piu Mosso, a Malabar Millennium-P Town Girl gelding, wore down frontrunning Columbia County (Sierra Kosmos-Keystone Delicacy) to score a 2:06 victory. It was the first career win for the Rich Gillock trainee. Gillock co-owns the gelding with Barbara Richardson, and JC Miller, Jr. picked up the winning catch-drive.

Up next was the $10,328 2-year-old filly trot for state-breds. Bank Star (Banker Hall-Classofninetyfive) set the early fractions and carried the lead through the top of the stretch, continually turning back challenges from Tag Me For Riches (Tagliabue-She’s A Rich Girl). However, the latter made several breaks throughout the mile, while NF Ritzie (Tom Ridge-Royal Roz) slowly worked her way closer to the frontrunners and eventually went by Bank Star in the stretch to get the win in 2:13.2, thanks to a slow final half of 1:09.3. Harold Brocklehurst trains and drove the winner for owner John Hurtgen. It was NF Ritzie’s first career win.

Two splits of the 3-year-old PASS colt pace were next to take to the track, and driver Steve Schoeffel won both divisions. Firebreathn Dragon (Dragon’s Lair-Sweet Angel Eyes) was well-driven to a 2:01.3 win, parking Native American on the outside and using him to keep Sfumato locked in for most of the mile, before sprinting away to the win. Martin Frank Baxendell owns the winner, who is trained by Tom Daumit.

Ryan Zidek photo

Special Character was a 2:01.3 winner for Steve Schoeffel.

In the second division, Special Character (Shady Character-Sweet Tahoma) went wire-to-wire in 2:01.3 for trainer/driver Schoeffel. Virginia and Kathy Schoeffel own the gelding along with Marian Schilling. Special Character has now won eight of 12 this season and has banked over $31,000.

The last two stakes of the day were for state-bred sophomore filly pacers, and wins were recorded by Talk All Day (Western Hanover-Double Talk) and Helen’s Vision (Blissfull Hall-Get Steppin). Talk All Day won in 2:01.1 for the Sweet & Sassy Stable, trainer David Wade, and driver Dan Rawlings. Helen’s Vision scored in 2:05.2 for owners Lewis Hauber and William Provost. Brad Provost drove the winner for his father, trainer William.

Meanwhile, at Honesdale in Wayne County, there were two divisions of PA-sired 2-year-old filly trotters, with each group going for a purse of $5,214. Misty Wonder (Wonder Dancer-Almost Perfection) won the first division for owner/trainer Syl King and driver Jim Martin. The winning time was 2:14.4. BS Genny, trained by Sue Brickell and driven by Dave Brickell, won the second split in 2:14. Dean and Sue Brickell own the Malabar Millennium-Super Generation filly.

Three groups of freshman PASS colt trotters circled the track next, with victories going to TV Kisses (TV Show Kosmos-Leona Kosmos), Pine Hill Vinnie (Super Vintage-Donut’s Magic), and Pine Hill Bling (Yankee McCoy-Hidden Victory). TV Kisses gave driver Timmy Offutt his second win of the day, crossing the wire in 2:07.3. Joe Offutt trains and co-owns the winner with his wife, Karen. Pine Hill Vinnie was a 2:14 winner, while Pine Hill Bling scored in 2:06.2. Both colts are owned by Tom Young and his wife, Michele Albaugh-Young. Tom recorded the training wins while Michele earned the winning drives.

The day ended with a pair of $5,200 PASS 3-year-old filly trotting events. SJ’s Future (S J’s Photo-Futures Trade), owned and trained by Roger Hammer, won the first split in 2:08 for driver Drew Chellis. Sharkie’s Girl (Shark Kosmos-Keystone Codorus), owned by Clair Corle and trained by Hammer, won the second division in 2:07.4, giving Chellis the sweep of the event.

— The Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission

Tim Miller captures Billings race at Northfield

Monticello, NY — The Midwest Region Billings Series trot, slated at the Cuyahoga County Fair in Berea, Ohio, was moved to and contested at Northfield Park on Wednesday.

Due to a late scratch, five horses lined up behind the mobile starting gate with Northfield Park’s Director of Racing Gregg “Fast Greggy” Keidel up behind the favorite Stonebridge Romeo.

But victory was not in the cards for Keidel although his trotter went a big trip. The winner, ABS Speedy Hall, driven by “Tiny Tim” Miller, rallied from five lengths off at the top of the lane to collar Stonebridge Romeo in deep stretch and go on for a one length triumph in 1:58.3.

Keidel’s trotter, Stonebridge Romeo, brushed to the lead up the backstretch but couldn’t rebuff the late challenge by the winner and had to settle for second lace. Candacraigh, a Billings winner at the Summit Fair at Northfield Park on July 26, took home the show dough for owner-driver Bob “the Lumberman” Troyer.

Miller, from Dundee, Ohio, is a longtime owner and has been an amateur driver since the turn of the century. From a limited amount of starts this year the victory was Miller’s second in Billings competition and the 19th of his amateur career.

— John Manzi

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