The Friday (Sept. 13) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Plainridge Park, Batavia Downs and Vernon Downs.

Whiskey Lindy remains undefeated at Plainridge Park

Plainville, MA — Whiskey Lindy decided his own fortune as he led the field for almost seven-eighths of the mile in very even fractions en route to winning the $12,000 trotting feature at Plainridge Park on Friday afternoon (Sept. 13).

Whiskey Lindy remained undefeated at Plainridge Park after another victory on Friday evening. Tom Melanson photo.

Driver Drew Monti took an immediate lead from the pylons with Whiskey Lindy before Hs Marcia (Drew Campbell) came from the outside and settled on the front. That take-over was short lived as Whiskey Lindy popped out before the quarter and reclaimed the dominant position.

The race continued to the half in :57.2 and the three-quarters in 1:26.2 with no movement, but a luking Hs Marcia waiting to make her move. That came at the top of the stretch where Campbell pulled and began driving vigorously. Monti matched his enthusiasm and they both urged their trotters all the way to the wire where Whisky Lindy held on to the win by a head in 1:56.

Whiskey Lindy ($3) remains perfect on the year, winning his third straight race in 2019. The 5-year-old gelded son of Cantab Hall-Rum Boogie is owned by Greathorse of Massachusetts and is trained by Domenico Cecere.

The top trot of the afternoon went to Shorething Fashion (Nick Graffam) who left from post seven to take the lead and once there, never looked back as he won the $10,500 conditioned event in 1:55.4.

Shorething Fashion ($5) is owned by Mike Eaton and Bob McHugh with Eaton doing the training.

The Massachusetts Sire Stakes (MASS) are drawing near and evidence of that is 2- and 3-year-old horses making their early starts in preparation of that series. On Friday, 3-year-old pacing gelding Good Heavens (Drew Campbell) went wire to wire in 1:54.4 in the $10,000 non-winners event.

Good Heavens ($2.20) now has four wins this year for owner Nancy Longobardi and trainer Ivan Davies.

The MASS kicks off its 2019 season on Sunday (Sept. 29) at Plainridge Park. The four-week series is worth an estimated $1.8 million and culminates with eight finals worth $100,000 each on Monday (Oct. 28) at The Ridge.

When live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon (Sept. 16) at 2 p.m., there will be a $31,282 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 wager in race six.

— by Tim Bojarski

Batavia Downs

Keystone Apache was a dominant force in the $10,500 Open II trot at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Sept. 13) and scored his eighth win of the year in the easiest fashion. Keystone Apache (Billy Davis Jr.) left slowly and made a gradual attack at the lead. He got there by the quarter in :28.4 and from that point on, the race was over. With a two-length gap for the next half mile, Keystone Apache stopped the timer in :57.3 and 1:27.3. With the plugs having already been pulled before that the station, Keystone Apache extended his lead to four-lengths heading into the final turn and maintained it into the stretch. Davis had little left to do as his horse was off and gone; Keystone Apache jogged across the wire by three lengths in 1:58.2. Keystone Apache ($6.40) upped his 2019 income to $62,092 for owners Vogel and Wags Nags Stable, Jack Rice and Adelphi Bloodstock. Maria Rice trains the winner. Several horsemen had multiple wins on Friday. Dave McNeight III and Shawn McDonough led the way with three driving wins apiece while Jim Morrill Jr. and Billy Davis Jr. each had two. Trainer Maria Rice also had two winners.

— by Tim Bojarski

Vernon Downs

Bluffton (Homer Hochstetler) scored a victory in the $6,000 featured trot at Vernon Downs on Friday. Bold Fresh (Jimmy Whittemore) went to the lead and led to the first quarter in :27.2. Bluffton ($6.50) took over the lead as they reached the backstretch putting Bold Fresh into the pocket seat. Bluffton led to the half in :57.2 and to three-quarters in 1:27. Bluffton, who is trained by Homer Hochstetler for owners Connie Hochstetler, Robert Buddig, and Allen Schwartz, led as they made the turn for home. He would hold off a late charge by second place finisher Multitaskr Hanover (Jennifer Lappe) to win in 1:56. Spoiler Alert (Howard Parker) finished third. Bluffton is a 4-year-old gelding by Muscle Mass. It was his fourth win this season and 10th career victory.

Aces And Eights (Dan Daley) captured the $5,000 trot. Pittstop Emerald (Claude Huckabone III) fired out of the gate and led to the quarter in :27 and to the half in :57.2. Aces And Eights ($18.40) went first-over from third and flew right by to take control hitting three-quarters first in 1:25.3. Aces And Eights, who is owned by Jeffrey Epstein and trained by Daley, turned for home and cruised to a victory in 1:54.2. Simple Kaos (Jimmy Whittemore) finished second with Sailer Eddie (Jennifer Lappe) getting third best. Aces And Eights is a 5-year-old gelding by RC Royalty. It was his third win this season. He now owns nine career victories.

— by John Horne