by harness racing publicists across North Americs

The Saturday (June 2) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Buffalo Raceway, The Meadows, Saratoga Casino Hotel, Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs, The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, Running Aces and Bluegrass Downs.

Racing Roundup: Western Conquest wins battle at Buffalo Raceway

Hamburg, NY —Western Conquest had plenty of courage during Buffalo Raceway’s featured $11,500 Open Pace on Saturday night (June 2) as he was able to squeeze past a stubborn Focus Power by a nose at the wire to post the $14.00 victory in a season’s best 1:53.3.

Steve Roth photo

Western Conquestsqueezes out win in Buffalo Raceway’s Open Pace.

Focus Power (Drew Monti) was able to cut the fractions with splits of :27.3, :56.1 and 1:25.2 but things got tough in the final panel. Western Conquest was first-over and went eyeball-to-eyeball with never say die Focus Power the final quarter-mile and just managed to get a nostril in front at the line. Im So Handsome (Kevin Cummings) took the show position.

Owned by the Tanah Merah Farms LLC and trained by Ryan Swift, it was the fourth victory in eight starts for Western Conquest (American Ideal-Aries Conquest). The 7-year-old has now jacked his seasonal earnings to $20,490 and $279,081 in his career.

Racing will resume on Wednesday evening at 5 p.m. with a 12-race card scheduled. The New York Sire Stakes will make its first appearance of the 2018 season at Buffalo Raceway with the 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters headlining the program. There will also be action in the Excelsior A and B Series as well.

For more information including the latest news, upcoming promotions, simulcast schedule, race replays, results and entries, go to www.buffaloraceway.com.

— by Brian Mazurek

Dapper Dude wins battle of millionaires

In a rare battle of millionaires, Dapper Dude got the jump on Dancin Yankee and held him at bay late to capture Saturday’s $20,000 Preferred Handicap Pace at The Meadows.
Dapper Dude was drafting in the pocket behind his stablemate, Anythingforlove A, when Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. sent him after the lead past the three-quarters. The 9-year-old son of The Panderosa-Dress To Suggest blew by in a heartbeat, with Dancin Yankee in tow. Dapper Dude downed Dancin Yankee by a head in 1:50 while 56-1 long shot Rock The Nite rallied for show. Bill Bercury trains Dapper Dude, who now boasts a career bankroll of $1,242,500, for Renee Bercury. With his place check, Dancin Yankee soared over $1.7 million in lifetime earnings. The Bercurys were at it again in Saturday’s co-feature, the $18,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Trot. There, Barn Girl — trained by Bill, owned by Renee — won a heated three-way scrum for the early lead and prevailed in 1:53, a tick off her career best. The 6-year-old daughter of Cash Hall-Turquoise Sweetie now has won $673,668, and she improved her career winning percentage to a nifty 50 — 49 victories in 98 starts. Dave Palone piloted three winners, including a pair for trainer Mike Palone, on the 12-race card.

Saratoga Casino Hotel

Defending Horse of the Year Artful Way (Artistic Fella) made his return to Saratoga Casino Hotel on Saturday night to compete in the $14,500 Open Pace. The Jackie Greene trainee owned three local Open victories in 2018 before going out of town to compete for the last two months. On Saturday night, Artful Way was assigned the outside post position in the Open in his return to town but that became post five after a scratch. Frank Coppola Jr. powered the 6-year-old star out to the early lead and despite going a first quarter in a sizzling :26.2 and a half in :55 seconds, Artful Way paced away from this rivals to win in an eye-popping 1:50.2. The win time was the fastest for any horse at Saratoga this year. Texas Terror N (Bruce Aldrich Jr.) sat the pocket to Artful Way on Saturday and wound up as the Open’s runner-up while invader Chumlee A (Larry Stalbaum) earned the show spot. Artful Way was the betting public’s 3-5 favorite in what was not only his fourth victory in the local Open this season but his eighth 2018 score overall. Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon at Saratoga with a matinee beginning at 12:15 p.m.

Tioga Downs

Prairie Fortune (Jim Meittinis) won the Tioga Downs Open Trot ($12,000) on Saturday (June 2). Dragin The Wagon (Aaron Byron) jumped out to the early lead hitting the first quarter in :27.2. Muscles Jared (John Cummings Jr.) took over and controlled the next fractions (:56.2, 1:24.3). He led to the top of the stretch. Golden Son (Mike Simons) then battled Prairie Fortune ($6.20) all the way down stretch. Neither horse wanted to give an inch but Prairie Fortune used one last lunge to win in 1:54.1. Golden Son had to settle for second. Dragin The Wagon took third. Prairie Fortune is a 6-year-old gelding by Arapa Victory. He is owned by Laurie Poulin and trainer Mike Deters. It was win number six for the season and career victory number 43. Trainer Mike Deters and driver Jim Meittinis also had a victory together with Music Is Art ($2.40). Andy Sateramo won three on the night.He went to the winner’s circle with BJ Lorado ($6.00), Uncle Hanover ($6.30), and I Am Golden ($6.20) Live racing returns on Sunday (June 3) with a 14 race card featuring three divisions of the New York Sire Stakes for sophomore filly pacers. The 2017 2-year-old filly of the year, Youaremycandygirl looks to rebound after finishing sixth in her first start of the year last Sunday. Post time is 1 p.m. for more information please click here.

Vernon Downs

Redhot Romeo (Claude Huckabone III) won the featured pace ($5,100) at Vernon Downs on Saturday (June 2). Sapient Hanover (John MacDonald) surged to the front and controlled all the early fractions (:26.4, :55.2, 1:24.1).Redhot Romeo ($3.90) sat patiently in third before making a move after the three quarter mark. Owned by Go Where The Money Is Stable and trained by Huckabone III, he flew down the stretch to win in 1:52.4. Danza (Raymond Vizzi) came up to get second place. Third money went to Golden Brit (Adam Capizzano).RedHot Romeo is a 4-year-old gelding by Shadow Play. He won for the fifth time in 2018. It was lifetime victory number six.Claude Huckabone III won three on the night. He would get his other wins with Sea Harrier ($5.90) and McDan ($9.90). Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Friday (June 8) with a post time of 6:10 p.m.

The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono

Eastend Eddie, streaking to the lead down the backstretch while pacing his own third quarter in :26.2, barely held off a strong-finishing Rock To Glory to win the featured $20,000 claiming handicap pace Saturday night at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono. Driver Eric Goodell gave the word to the altered son of Million Dollar Cam in the third quarter, and the 10-year-old winner of $515,805 showed the spryness of a colt in streaking to command. He then showed the grittiness of a seasoned pro to withstand Rock Of Glory, who came from sixth at the stretch call only to finish a nostril behind. For trainer Ron Burke, the victory with Eastend Eddie, who won for Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, must have had a bit of bittersweetness, as the winner was claimed after 110 consecutive starts for the Burke Brigade, dating back to March 2014. If Eastend Eddie has a touch of homesickness in the next few days, he might do well to consult with Walks Of Life, who in a $16,000 claiming handicap co-feature was claimed for the 11th straight race. The winningest horse in North America this year with 13 triumphs, Walks Of Life went his usual big mile, being hard-used to set most of the pace, but he was caught late by Drunken Terror, who beat him by a neck in 1:51.3. Walks Of Life thus leaves the barn of the meet’s leading trainer Rene Allard – who will take a shot at replacing him with Western Terror, whom he claimed out of the race. In all 13 horses were claimed out of five selling events at Pocono on Saturday, with four of the five winners changing hands. The total amount of money put up for solid horseflesh on the evening was $252,500. On the conditioned pacing side, there was a pair of $17,500 events. The first went to yet another closer on an unusually-rough night for Pocono pacesetters, Baby Kitty, who took a new mark of 1:49.2 in getting by pacesetting Waikiki Beach A by a half-length after a furious stretch charge. Pat Berry sulky-sat behind the son of Mister Big, currently in career form, for trainer/owner Eric Foster. In the other division of this class, driver Eric Goodell and trainer Ron Burke, who took the feature with Eastend Eddie, came back here with the Western Ideal gelding Clouseau Hanover, who circled three-wide late backstretch to two-wide on the turn, then drew clear midstretch and kept the advantage to the wire by three-quarters of a length. Clouseau Hanover, who took a new mark of 1:50, has been quite a find for Burke and the ubiquitous Burke Racing / Weaver Bruscemi team, going only 1 for 37 to start his career, but now having seven wins in 17 starts since Burke acquired him in the fall of last year.

Running Aces

The Saturday night harness racing program at Running Aces was highlighted by the $12,000 Open Handicap Trot with seven very talented square-gaiters going in to battle for top honors. Banker Volo was back in action, fresh off his victory in the top trot a week ago, and Pridecrest was on the scene to try once again for his first visit to the Aces winner’s circle. Pridecrest (Steve Wiseman) was sent off as the 4-5 choice from post six. Silverlode (Mooney Svendsen) left from post five for the second consecutive week, after just-missing against Banker Volo at the wire in 1:55.1 last out. Banker Volo (Nick Roland) had the outside seven post assignment, but wasted no time in finding the front of the field, sprinting right to the lead with a :27.3 opening quarter and leading the charge through the middle fractions of :57.3 and 1:26.3 while facing strong opposition from Pridecrest during the third panel. Banker Volo lost the lead to Pridecrest just at the cusp of the home-stretch, but Mooney Svendsen was angling to the outside with Silverlode after saving ground throughout. Silverlode exploded with trot in the lane, and easily powered by Pridecrest, who had to settle for second after a valiant effort. Silverlode found the wire in 1:55.1 to etch her name in the Running Aces history books as the fastest older rrotting mare in track history, shattering the previous mark of 1:56 (Majestic Lady Jo – 2016). Her final margin of victory tonight was 1-1/2 lengths over Pridecrest, with longshot Ideal Jesse (James Yoder) home third at 17-1. Silverlode ($13.60) is a 9-year-old by British Sterling, and she is out of the prolific mare Charlotte’s Web. She was bred by Desomer Stables of California and she is currently leased by Emilio Cisneros, and trained by Rick Bertrand. This talented mare now has 37 lifetime wins and has earned $186,987.
Driver Lemoyne “Mooney” Svendsen had a banner night this evening, as the Minnesota Harness Racing Hall of Fame member piloted a total of four winners on the eight-race program. Aside from his record-setting steer on Silverlode, Mooney also guided his own trainee My Friskie Boy ($3.60) to a new lifetime mark in 1:53.3, Scramble Camp ($3.40) also to a new lifetime mark in 1:58.2 for trainer Jenni King, and One Small Favor ($5.40) in 1:57.1 for trainer Mark Anderson. Running Aces offers live racing every Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday evening, visit our website at RunAces.com for a complete schedule of events, promotions and for complete handicapping resources.

Bluegrass Downs

Grace An Mercy, trained by Lawrence Cooper for owner Reginald Lynn King, closed from last at the top of the stretch while in rein to Jamaal Denson to grab the victory by a head in the nightcap. Yesterday’s Child led every step but the one they pay on in a solid down the road effort for driver Keisean Wilson. Scarlet Coolwater used a ground saving trip from the rail to grab the show for Wyatt Avenatti. Randy Crisler threatens to make the leading driver contest a runaway as he won all the odds races on the card for a triple. In the opener, Crisler gingerly got Trot Time to the gate, powered to the lead near the half and never looked back to win in 2:00, which was a new lifetime mark for the winner. Crisler trains this one and Peggy Grant owns the win winner. Crisler came back to win the third race with Fairground Drama, which he also trained for owner Peggy Grant giving him a trainer-driver double and Ms. Grant an owner double. This one went down the road, faced off and defeated Kickinitwithkohler near the three-quarters and held clear to the wire in a sharp performance. This one trotted the mile in 2:00.2 which was a seasonal mark for the winner. Kickinitwithkohler was simply second best this week. Lastly, in the fifth race Crisler put One Stop Deal on the front end early and never looked back in a complete runaway mile. The time of 1:55.4 was the fastest mile of the meet. Harley Emerson owns and trains the winner. Norma Rei going for three in a row, shook loose near the three-quarters but couldn’t mount a threat to the winner but was easily second best continuing her streak of good efforts this meet.