Phoenix Rising, a late blooming star in the Frank Gannon barn, proved that her upset win Monday night (June 26) at Ocean Downs was no fluke as she bested rival Val’s Girl by a nose in the Maryland Sire Stakes 3-year-old pacing filly preliminary.
Year: 2023
Stride The Hill strolls in Oak Grove Open
Wayne Oke trainee Stride The Hill found his way back to the winner’s circle of the top class at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel, taking the $35,000 Open Trot going coast to coast in 1:54.1 on Monday (June 26).
Athearn red-hot at Plainridge Monday
Matty “Ice” Athearn was cool as a cucumber at the lines on Monday afternoon (June 26) at Plainridge Park as he scored a grand slam during the afternoon, including both featured trots.
“Rock and Roll” Monday at Harrington
Elizabeth and Bret Brittingham’s Itsrockandroll A ($6.60, Allan Davis) was a 1:53 winner in the featured $20,000 Open Monday at Harrington Raceway.
Weather Vanes, Portulaca feature winners at Pocono
Odds-on favorite Portulaca clicked in one of the two $15,000 featured trots at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Monday afternoon (June 26) while 18-1 shot Weather Vanes set the pace and held on to win the other division.
Fields drawn for Friday Grand Circuit finals at Yonkers
On Monday (June 26), the open draws took place for Friday’s (June 30) four Grand Circuit finals for 3-year-olds at MGM Yonkers Raceway: the $300,000 MGM Yonkers Trot, the $250,000 MGM Grand Messenger Stakes, the $115,000 Park MGM Pace and the $100,000 New York New York Mile. The MGM Yonkers Trot and the MGM Grand Messenger Stakes are the first legs of the Trotting and Pacing Triple Crowns.
History repeats in Oak Grove amateur events
Harness racing history repeated itself in amateur competition at Oak Grove Racing and Gaming on Sunday (June 25) as Tony Dinges and Dein Spriggs, again, finished one-two in the pair of USHDC events, repeating that same unusual feat that occurred in their pair of races on May 22.
It’s My Show to skip Meadowlands Pace
It’s good to be the top ranked horse in North American harness racing, as horses that find themselves atop the poll often develop a following. Ever since he set a Canadian record in the 2023 Pepsi North America Cup at Woodbine Mohawk Park, fans of the sport have wondered when the seasonally unbeaten sophomore It’s My Show would race again.
Gaitway hosts its final qualifiers
Gaitway Farm held 10 qualifiers for 2-year-olds on Monday (June 26) as its June events for the rookies came to an end. Trainer Ron Burke had four winners while Jennifer Bongiorno, Julie Miller and Symon Spicer each had two. Burke-trained colt Dancin Champion, a 1:55 winner, had the day’s fastest pacing time over the one-mile oval while Spicer-trained Shiv took trotting honors with a 1:58.2 clocking.
Nineteenth Man becomes a first stringer at Bangor Raceway
Nineteenth Man A, an Australian-bred Standardbred who was recently imported stateside by the Ron Cushing/Heidi Gibbs Stable, certainly made a convincing case for first string status on Sunday (June 25) after a powerful upper-class score over a lightning quick strip at Bangor Raceway.