by harness racing publicists across North America

The Saturday (June 23) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows, Buffalo Raceway, Saratoga Casino Hotel, Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs and Bluegrass Downs.

Converted claimer Reggiano matches track record 1:49.1 in Meadows pace

Washington, PA — A $23,000 claimer two starts back, Reggiano barreled past the leader down the backside and opened an insurmountable lead en route to victory in 1:49.1 — matching the track record for older gelding pacers — in Saturday’s $18,000 Preferred Handicap at The Meadows.

Chris Gooden photo

Reggiano matched the track record for older gelding pacers in Saturday’s $18,000 Preferred Handicap at The Meadows.

Reggiano was sitting fourth and appeared to be in a spot of trouble thanks to the erratic uncovered move of Major Nemesis, who could have pinned him in. But once Tony Hall was able to maneuver Reggiano off the cones, the 6-year-old son of Stonebridge Terror-Western Prima gobbled up Stride Of Pride and defeated Dapper Dude by 5-1/2 lengths while Born Of Fire rallied for show. The time equaled the record held jointly by Atta Boy Dan and Escape The News.

David McNeight, Jr. trains Reggiano, who lifted his lifetime bankroll to $309,724, for Kenneth Owczarczak and Courtney McNeight.

In Saturday’s co-feature, the $18,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Trot, Barn Girl made it three straight, and 51 wins in 100 career starts, for Aaron Merriman, trainer Bill Bercury and owner Renee Bercury. She scored in 1:53.4, a nose better than Ready Any Time, with Expose Yourself third. The 6-year-old daughter of Cash Hall-Turquoise Sweetie now boasts $692,668 in career earnings.

In other Saturday highlights:

Foiled Again failed, for the ninth time, to secure career win 100, but the gallant 14-year-old raced well from post nine to finish second in a conditioned pace. With his check, the richest Standardbred ever has banked $7.577,638.

Volleyball Beach spotted the field 14-1/2 lengths following an early break, then looped them with ease to triumph in 1:57.1, fastest mile this year by a 2-year-old pacing colt on a five-eighths-mile track. Hall piloted the homebred son of Somebeachsomewhere-Alladorable for trainer Norm Parker and owner Bob Key.

Dave Palone and Hall each collected three wins on the 13-race card.

— Evan Pattak

Buffalo Raceway
After watching the field go a relaxed opening half-mile time, Upfront Countryboy wanted no part of that slow down in Buffalo Raceway’s featured $11,500 Open Pace on Saturday night. Putting matters into the hands of driver Shawn Gray, Upfront Countryboy used a blazing :54.4 back half, including a :27.3 final split, to waltz to an easy 4-1/2 length win over Focus Power in 1:52.4 over the fast track. The field of five went in post position order off the gate with Western Conquest leading the way with soft opening frames of :28.3 and :58. But then, enough was enough for Upfront Countryboy as he wasted no time in going first-over and taking command at the three-quarter pole in 1:25.1. From there, it was a sight-seeing journey down the Buffalo Raceway homestretch for Gray and Upfront Countryboy as they pulled away for the convincing decision. Focus Power (Drew Monti) took second and China Dream (Billy Davis Jr.) third. Owned by William Emmons and trained by James Clouser Jr., it was the eighth victory in 17 starts in 2018 for the 9-year-old gelded Upfront Countryboy (Dragon Again-Cambloid). The win upped his seasonal earnings to $39,620 and $401,620 lifetime. Gray had five victories on the card with Monti adding four. Clouser Jr. finished with four training wins and JD Perrin got a triple. Due to changes in the racing calendar, action that originally was scheduled for this Sunday afternoon has been cancelled. Racing will resume on Wednesday night at 5 p.m. with 11 races slated. An $845 carryover awaits in the Pick-5 which begins in the second race. The New York Sire Stakes will highlight the program with the 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters set to compete in three divisions. There will also be events in the Excelsior A and B series. For more information including the latest news, upcoming promotions, simulcast schedule, race replays, results and entries, go to www.buffaloraceway.com.

Saratoga Casino Hotel
While Saturday night’s Open Pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel featured the return of defending track Horse of the Year Artful Way, it was a different returnee who wound up prevailing in the $14,500 feature. Somewhere Fancy (Somebeachsomewhere) has been competing at a high level at Yonkers for much of this season and was assigned post five in a six-horse Saturday Open. Billy Dobson piloted the Rene Allard trainee and powered him out to the early lead. Part of a speed duel in the early going, Somewhere Fancy set sizzling fractions of :26.3 and :54.4 in the first half. Facing just mild pressure, Somewhere Fancy stepped on the gas and kicked away from his rivals after posting three-quarters in 1:23 and cruised to victory in 1:51.1. Panocchio (Gerry Mattison) toughed it out first-over and wound up as the runner-up in the Open Pace for the second consecutive week while Lachie Maguire N (Bruce Aldrich Jr.) earned the show spot. Artful Way, who was coming from last and got caught very wide in the final half, never wound up being a factor as the race’s even money favorite. Somewhere Fancy, who has competed locally in the past, returned $6.20 to win in his first score in the local Open. The exacta and triple paid $40.60 and $116, respectively. Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon with a matinee beginning at 12:15 p.m.

Tioga Downs
Dragin The Wagon (Aaron Byron) went gate-to-wire to win the $10,000 Saturday night featured pace at Tioga Downs. Dragin The Wagon ($7.10) charged out of the gate from his outside position and put up all the fractions (:27.3, :57.1, 1:25.2, 1:55). Trained by Jeff Byron for owners Cary, David, and Michael Cantelon, Dragin The Wagon was pressured a little at the top of the stretch by second place finisher Noble Anthony (Atlee Bender), but the gelding found another gear and won easily. SR Radar finished third. Dragin The Wagon is an 8-year-old gelding by Angus Hall. It was his third win of the season and his 42nd career victory. Mike Merton won three races on the night. His wins were with Jupiter Johnny ($3.70), Commentary ($7.60), and Odds In Play ($13.20). Tioga Downs returns to live racing on Sunday (June 24) featuring three divisions of the New York Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotting fillies. Also Tioga Downs, the Southern Tier Harness Horsemen’s Association, and the Harness Horse Breeders of New York State are joining together once again to host the annual Scholarship Race. It will be after race two. The 15-race card starts at 1 p.m.

Vernon Downs

Western Redhot (Leon Bailey) fired late to take the Vernon Downs featured pace ($6,000) on Saturday. Bailey and John MacDonald each won four races on the night. Dark Prince (Adam Capizzano) put up the first two fractions (:26.2, :56.2). Prince Aland (Truman Gale) took over leading the group to three-quarters in 1:25.1.Western Redhot ($22.80), who is owned and trained by Dustin Ingraham, flew down the stretch and blew right by to win easily in 1:54.0. Prince Aland was second with Gingertreefinnegan (John MacDonald) finishing third.
Western Redhot is a 5-year-old gelding by Western Ideal.It was his second win this season and his seventh career victory. Bailey also had wins with Credit List ($6.90), Royal Bahama ($8.20), and Sports Vision ($23.00).John MacDonald had wins with Dunks Brother ($24.00), Mac’s Black Hat ($7.90), Maradona ($4.60), and Sapient Hanover ($2.20) A correction from Friday’s racing. MacDonald had five wins instead of four. His last win last night came with Jaclyn Hanover ($2.20). That makes nine wins for MacDonald the weekend at Vernon Downs.
Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Friday starting at 6:10 p.m.

Bluegrass Downs

Tough luck Speed Trap, second in his previous four starts, took matters into his own hooves and scored a powerful front-running victory in 1:54.1 for driver Madison Cullipher in the feature at Bluegrass Downs on Saturday evening. Jim Brinson trains the 7-year old gelded son of United Ace, who roared down the highway with fractions for :28. :57.4; 1:25.4 and 1:54.1. This mile was the fastest mile in the history of Bluegrass Downs recorded by a female driver. Watts Was I Drinkn worked out a pocket trip for driver/trainer Randy Crisler and made an extended challenge to the winner around the far turn but was repulsed and held the place in a game effort. Special Blend grabbed the show dough as a best of the rest but was eight lengths back in third. Racing concludes on Sunday evening when Randy Crisler will accept yet another leading driver award, while the trainer’s race is too close to call with three tied for the lead going into the closing card and several more within striking distance. First post will be 6 p.m. CDT.