Things sure looked bleak for Won For Gigi when she was a locked-in seventh with a quarter mile to pace in Buffalo Raceway’s $15,500 Open Pace for fillies and mares on Wednesday afternoon (June 14). But driver James McNeight Jr. somehow wiggled Won For Gigi out, swung five-wide in the stretch drive, and the Santanna Blue Chip mare posted a stunning come-from-behind $40.80 victory over Filly Speaks in 1:56.4 over a fast track.
Year: 2023
Walner fillies earn new marks in Philly features
A Good Chardonnay and Walover, both 3-year-old daughters of Walner, took lifetime marks in their respective $12,600 co-featured trots at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon (June 14).
Luke McGook returns to winning ways in Maine Sire Stakes
Luke McGook, Maine’s leading money-winning freshman pacer of 2022, returned to his winning ways at Bangor Raceway on Wednesday (June 14), taking the faster of two $15,376 divisions of the season’s opening round of Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old male pacers.
Corydon, Ind., hosts Quest for the Governor’s Cup action
The Indiana fair circuit’s Quest for the Governor’s Cup makes a southern swing this week with a pair of programs at the Harrison County Fairgrounds, in Corydon, Ind. Harness racing is slated for Thursday and Friday (June 15-16) with an 11 a.m. post time each day. Thursday’s program features 14 races, with a dozen carded Friday.
Big morning for trainer Noel Daley at Magical Acres
Noel Daley had two winners in Wednesday’s qualifiers for 2-year-olds at Magical Acres training center, then watched returning Dan Patch Award-winning trotter Volume Eight make his first appearance of the season as qualifiers for horses 3 and older were held over the five-eighths-mile track.
Ohio Chapter of USHWA offering scholarship to Hirt Journalism Workshop
The Ohio Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association is offering one Ohio based journalism student the opportunity to participate in the Clyde Hirt Journalism Workshop from Aug. 2–5 in East Rutherford, N.J.
Two new names enter Ken Warkentin’s Road to the Hambletonian Week 3
Gaines Hanover and Crown enter Ken Warkentin’s week three Road to the Hambletonian in spots eight and nine, respectively.
Todd Schadel wins five in Pocono 2-year-old races
Fourteen qualifiers for 2-year-olds, four for each sex of pacers and three each on the trotting side, were held at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania Wednesday (June 14). Rain moved in early in the session, with the track being rerated twice and ending up “sloppy” for the majority of the races.
Takter’s trek for a third NA Cup title
Nancy Takter always finds a way to rise to the Cup challenge.
MHHA announces annual four scholarship recipients for 2023
The Michigan Harness Horsemen’s Association has announced four scholarship recipients: Brylee Boyd, Samuel Sarro, Brett Sugg, and Drew Thacker.