by harness racing publicists across North America

The Saturday (Aug. 12) edition of Racing Roundup features a results story from Batavia Downs, Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs, Saratoga Hotel and Casino and Running Aces.

Believe This Bob scorches foes in Batavia feature

Batavia, NY—Tioga Downs shipper Believe This Bob didn’t miss a beat on the half-mile track and put on a show in winning the $10,000 Open Handicap pace at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Aug. 12)

Paul White

Believe This Bob captures the featured event at Batavia Downs.

Believe This Bob (Drew Monti) left from post one and had the lead as soon as the gate released the field, opening up a two-length lead he would maintain the whole race. Working through fractions of :27.2, 55.3 and 1:23.2, Believe This Bob went unchallenged the whole way and for good reason; the trailing horses had trouble keeping up.

At the top of the lane, Lucky King (Ron Beback Jr.) who had gotten a perfect pocket trip, launched a mild bid at the leader. But Believe This Bob kept his eye on the prize and finished a wrapped-up winner in 1:52.3.

It was the fourth win of the year for Believe This Bob ($4.20) and 43rd of his career. The 9-year-old gelded son of Beach Romeo is owned by Mary Ann Larrimore and is trained by Joe Skowyra.

In the co-featured $9,000 Open II pace, Sir Ziggy’s Z Tam (John Cummings Jr.) was hopelessly locked in fifth at the top of the far turn but found room along the pylons heading down the lane and brushed late to capture the win in 1:54.2. Sir Ziggy’s Z Tam ($13.80) is owned by Tessa Roland and trained by JD Perrin.

Drew Monti and Kevin Cummings both had a driving hat trick on Saturday while John Cummings Jr. and Jim Morrill Jr. each had driving doubles.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Sunday afternoon (Aug. 12) with post time set for 1:15 p.m.

Tioga Downs

Morosita Bi (Jim Meittinis) wins the featured trot ($9,000), on Saturday night (Aug. 12) at Tioga Downs. Can Do (Scott Coulter) would charge out to lead and own all the early fractions :28.3, :58.3, 1:27.1. Morosita Bi (Equinox Bi), who was the only mare in the race would follow from the pocket. Leased and trained by Bruce Clarke, the 7-year-old would charge out of the pocket and take the lead at the top of the stretch. Morosita Bi ($6.90) would win her fourth straight in a time of 1:56.1. It was her 37th career victory. Can Do would hang on for second with Bjanthony (Mickey McNichol) taking third. Mike Merton would win three on the night. He would have victories with Heart Crusher $7.30), Grey Ice ($38.60), and A Crown For Lindy (3.10). The Chicken Spiedie Eating Championship was held in a pouring rain at Tioga as well. The rain didn’t dampen the competitors. Spiedie eating world record holder, Matt “Megatoad” Stonie beat his own record by eating 25 and a half spidies and beating arch rival and Coney Island Hot Dog eating champion Joey “Jaws” Chestnut. Tioga Downs returns to live action Sunday afternoon (Aug. 13) with a 15-race card starting at 1 p.m. There will be a non-betting race at 12:45 p.m. The card features the Empire Breeders Classic eliminations for both sophomore pacing fillies and eliminations for their counterpart, colts and geldings. Also on the card are NYSS freshman trotting fillies. For more information go to www.tiogadowns.com.

Vernon Downs

Big Jer (Dein Spriggs) goes from last to first in the stretch to capture the featured pace ($7,500), at Vernon Downs Saturday (Aug. 12). Golden Gun (Justin Huckabone) would set the pace from the start with fractions of :26.1, :53.4, 1:22.1. Oh My Joepa (John MacDonald) would put on heavy pressure parked out first-over for most of the race. Big Jer (Cheyenne Rei) would come out of the clouds in the stretch and blow right by to win in 1:51.2. Oh My Joepa would finish second but be disqualified and placed fifth. Calvin B (Truman Gale would be placed second while Golden Gun would be place third. Big Jer ($7.20) is owned by Patricia Mulder and trained by Patti Harmon. The 8-year-old gelding would win for the fourth time this year and the 34th time in his career. Celebrity Stimulus (David Glasser) would win the CKG Billing Amateur race ($5,000), going gate-to-wire and winning by four lengths in 1:56.0. Garlandsandpearls (Dein Spriggs) would finish second with Peoplesayimnogood (Scott Woogen) settling for third. Celebrity Stimulus is owned by Glasser Racing LLC and trained by Homer Hochstetler. The 7-year-old would notch career victory number 22. Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Thursday (Aug. 17), starting at 6:45 p.m. For more information go to www.vernondowns.com.

Saratoga

On Saturday night, Titus Seelster (Artistic Fella) became the first four-time winner of the Open Pace this season at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Jackie Greene-trained pacer loves the lead and got it with relative ease in the $18,000 feature on Saturday. After having things his own way in a first half paced in :56.2, Titus Seelster faced a stiff challenge from rival Panocchio (Gerry Mattison) who turned up the pressure while grinding up first-over. As those two did battle, He’s A Lock (Wally Hennessey) sat in the catbird seat observing the action before flying up the passing lane. It was he and Titus Seelster that would hit the line at almost the same time. Separated by the slimmest of margins on the wire, Titus Seelster got the best of longshot He’s A Lock to prevail in 1:52.2 over a track labeled ‘good.’ Panocchio earned the show spot. Titus Seelster paid $10.60 to win in the six-horse Open leading an exacta and triple that came back $82 and $131, respectively. Titus Seelster, who was driven to victory by Frank Coppola Jr. won for the ninth time in 2017. Live racing resumes at Saratoga on Tuesday night with a 7:05 p.m. first scheduled post.

Running Aces

The Saturday evening harness racing program at Running Aces was highlighted by another stellar performance from trotter CW Raisinette, who posted her fourth straight win in front running style from post eight in a $6,400 conditioned event. Driver Steve Wiseman sent her confidently from the outside of the gate and they were never in doubt, opening up around the final turn and widening in the stretch to post a six-length romp in a career best time of 1:56.4. CW Raisinette ($6.60) is a 4-year- old mare by Claudius Augustus and is onwed by A Piece Of The Action LLC., and trained by Kathie Plested-Wiseman. Whatitdo Babyboo ($3.80) was also razor sharp tonight, sweeping from last to first yet again for her third straight triumph in the $13,000 Minnesota-sired 3-year-old pace. Wiseman has been in the sulky for all three in the current win streak for the very talented filly by Voracious Hanover, who stopped the clock in 1:54.2 tonight for win number five in nine starts this season, it was also her 12th lifetime tally in just 18 career starts for Van Oterloo Stables and new trainer Brett Ballinger. Bestinthebusiness ($3.60) posted a dominating win in a $4,000 conditioned pace with driver James (J.D.) Yoder in the bike for trainer Gene Miller and owner Brett Boyd Racing, Inc. The classy 9-year-old pacer by Another Mile floated away in third from post two in a seven horse affair, then swept first-over to the lead just past the halfway point. Once the field turned for home Yoder and Bestinthebusiness turned on the afterburners to draw away from the rest by 5-1/2 lengths in a dazzling 1:51.1 mile. Tonight’s eye-opening performance was the 36th lifetime victory for the winner of $359,420. Drivers Dean Magee and Wiseman both turned in driving doubles on the Saturday program, and the leading driver race has become very exciting over the past week, with Nick Roland and Steve Wiseman tied once again at 63 wins each with just over 1 month to go in the 2017 season. The 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager continues to grow rapidly, and now stands at $31,428.03 for the Sunday (Aug. 13) program. There is also a carryover of $1,833.42 in the Hi-5 wager for race 10 on Sunday, with first post at 6 p.m. CDT.