by harness publicists across North America

Saturday’s (March 6) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Pompano Park, Dover Downs, Yonkers Raceway, Cal-Expo, Saratoga Gaming and Raceway and Buffalo Raceway.

Wrenn, Deters score four on Saturday night

Pompano Beach, FL — On the eve of their induction into the Florida Hall Of Fame by the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA), it only seemed fitting that driver Peter Wrenn and trainer Mike Deters turned out to be the focus of attention on the Saturday evening, March 6, program at the Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park.

The pair teamed up for four winners on the night.

“It’s very special to come back and to be honored with this Florida Hall Of Fame induction” Wrenn told the Isle’s John Berry in a live trackside TV interview after his first win of the night with 5-year-old mare Rio Raider. “This is really where things started to take off for me, over twenty years ago, early in my career. Plus, it’s always special to win with the horses trained by Mike (Deters) since he’s my brother-in-law” added the 47 year old winner of more than 8,100 races in the bike for over $46 million in purses.

Along with pacing mare Rio Raider, the Wrenn-Deters combo teamed up for victories with conditioned race trotter Super Lotto, and conditioned race pacers Whole Lotta Wow and Prime Time Talent. They just missed a fifth winner when Our Lucky Killean was a close runner-up to Scoot For The Loot near the end of the evening.

For his part, Peter Wrenn will allow himself to bask only briefly in the satisfaction of this Florida Hall Of Fame induction.

“Before I came here tonight I had close to a month off since I last drove at The Meadowlands” Wrenn said. “We’ll be going right home to get back to work with Hoosier Park opening soon. Early next week it’s time to hit the books and get back to work again.”

— Frank Salive

Copper Harbor wins Saturday feature at Dover, Callahan wins five

Dover, DE — Copper Harbor won for the second time in his last three starts taking the $16,500 4&5-Year-Old trot on Saturday, March 6 at Dover Downs. Meet-leading driver Corey Callahan had five winners.

Trainer-driver Carlo Poliseno sat second behind Janco (Kim Vincent) from after the start until turning for home. The CR Commando-CR Penny Lane 4-year-old mare raced past the leader to an easy 1:59 triumph in the feature race. Owned by Poliseno and Brigitta Moulson, Copper Harbor is now two for five in starts this meet. She has now banked $126,554 lifetime. Iron Will (Roger Plante) was the third place finisher.

— Marv Bachrad

Dan Carter wins Saturday Open Handicap Pace at Yonkers

Yonkers, NY — Dan Carter (Jason Bartlett) whipped five Saturday night rivals–two of them right on the money—winning Yonkers Raceway’s $32,000 Open Handicap Pace.

The field, reduced by a couple after defections of Four Trumps A (judges) and early choice Don’tgetbyme (sick), saw the three inside entities in play early.

Palmer’s Z Tam (Pat Lachance) left, as did Dan Carter and a three-deep, 17-10 favorite Legal Litigator (Cat Manzi). Legal Litigator paid a brutal (:26.4) price for the privilege before getting a :55.4 intermission.

The people’s preference put forth a 1:25 three-quarters, setting up a three-headed monster melee in the stretch, Dan Carter edged out from the pocket, with Palmer’s Z Tam taking the short way. “Dan” was a scant nose better than “Palmer” in a season’s-best 1:53.4, with Legal Litigator beaten just a neck.

For Dan Carter, a 4-year-old I Am a Fool gelding owned by (trainer) Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi, JJK Stables and W Haas Jr., he returned $8.40 (second choice) for his second (consecutive) win in four seasonal starts.

Bartlett completed a sweep of the weekend’s trio of Open Handicap Pace events.

Saturday night also included four, $10,000 divisions in third (final) preliminary round of the Hopeful Pacing Series for 3-year-old colts and geldings.

Joey the Czar (Jim Meittinis, $2.90) was the fastest of the foursome, strolling home in 1:55.3. The Art Major colt, trained by Bruce Saunders for owner Kevin Gee, went the distance by 9-1/2 lengths for his first win a half-dozen seasonal starts.
The other series winners were…

–Big Mystery (by Artsplace), co-owners James Switlyk & Gary Bury/trainer Burke/driver Greg Grismore (first life win) 1:58/$11.60;
–Vintage Fenom (by Rocknroll Hanover); owner Edward Bloom/trainer Chris Marino/driver John Sheehan; (life-best) 1:55.4/$23.20;
–Fox Valley Valkari,g (by Sportsmaster); owner Lon Frocione/trainer Brett Bittle/driver Jeff Gregory; 1:58/$2.70.

The finals for both genders of the Hopeful are scheduled for next Friday (fillies, $46,900) and Saturday (colts/geldings, $49,700) nights, respectively.

— Frank Drucker

Pacific Admiral in a nail-biter at Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — A mixture of conditioned & claiming ($20,000) pacers, racing for a purse of $5,200, were featured at Cal-Expo on Saturday night (March 6), on which Pacific Admiral scored in dramatic fashion.

Owned by trainer Gretchen Smith, Pacific Admiral won ($6.00) by three-quarters of one-length, in 1:52.4, a seasonal best and his 21st career triumph. Rod’s Famous Ribs (Lemoyne Svendsen) finished in second and Star Time Kid (Rick Plano) finished just a head farther back, in third.

— Scott Ehrlich

Rare Jewel in rare form

Saratoga, NY — On a weekend filled with longshots, it was one familiar favorite who starred on Saturday at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway.

Rare Jewel made his first local start of the year on Saturday in the season’s first Open Pace. Coming off a year in which he was named Pacer of the Year at Saratoga, Rare Jewel came to town for the evening’s $15,500 feature and would not be denied.

Moved to the lead after the start by driver Dan Cappello Jr, Rare Jewel never looked back and was as strong as ever in the stretch, sprinting the final quarter in :28 to put the finishing touches on a two plus length win while stopping the timer in 1:53.3, an ultra impressive time for a March Saturday night. The doubleheader saw horses win at win mutuels of $85.00 (Richie’s Fella) and an amazing $171.00 (Eastover Court).

— Mike Sardella

Benzley Mindale takes the first leg of the Bret Hanover Claiming Series

Hamburg, NY — Benzley Mindale, a 6-year-old The Panderosa gelding, out of the Jate Lobell mare Gently Weeps, won the $6,000 first leg of the Bret Hanover claiming series in 1:59.1, to register his second win this season for owner Michael Torcello, here at Buffalo Raceway Saturday night.

Benzley Mindale ($5.50) driven by reinsman Jamie Dunlap sat a patient fifth as eventual second place finishers Party To A Crime and driver Ray Fisher Jr., cut all the fractions, :29, :58.2, and 1:29.1. A strong back-side brush and a :29.3 last quarter-mile put the winner three-quarters of a length ahead at the wire. Owhatabeachbum (Phil Biehler) came in third.

“He (Benzley Mindale) doesn’t have a lot of gate speed, so he has to do it the hard way,” said Dunlap. “Once he gets going though, he can really pace”.

Trained by Gerry Sarama, the $3,000 share of the winning purse put Benzley Mindale’s seasons bankroll at $9,496, and $72,943 lifetime.

Golder ($4.30) also won a division in 1:57.4 with Jim McNeight in the sulky for owner-trainer Laurie Patistas. Using the same approach as Benzley Mindale, Golder sat fifth for most of the race, then used a strong :28.3 last quarter-mile to sweep by tiring leaders to score his third win of the year.

“I thought I was in trouble”, said McNeight. “But Luckily I snuck out just in the nick of time, and he was really strong in the stretch”.

— Same Pendolino