by harness racing publicists across North America

The Friday (July 28) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Hawthorne Race Course, Batavia Downs, Vernon Downs and Saratoga Raceway.

Three-year-old fillies take center stage at Hawthorne

Stickney, IL — Illinois-bred 3-year-old fillies were the focus at Hawthorne on Friday night in a pair of divisions of the Plum Peachy Stakes. Race one on Friday kicked off the action as a field of seven lined up behind the starter. Leaving for the lead was Boogie On Down as she easily cleared the top through the opening quarter in :28.2. The field remained in line through the backside after a half in :57.4.

On the turn, the field bunched up as Princess Sage moved to challenge the leader. After three-quarters in 1:26.3, Boogie On Down maintained her lead while Princess Sage challenged. In the lane, Boogie on Down was kept to task by driver Kyle Wilfong and held sway at the wire, winning in 1:54.1. Fox Valley Charliz came up the inside to finish second while Princess Sage finished third. Boogie On Down is owned by Mr. Lynn and Barbara Wilfong, Brett and Candice Wilfong.

Race four was the second division of the Plum Peachy as the field of seven was led by favored Lady’s Party with Casey Leonard driving. Getting away quickly was Ashlees Cocktail but Lady’s Party took over and led through the quarter in :28.2. On the backside, A Real Doozie and Mike Oosting took over, passing the half in :57.3.

In the turn, A Real Doozie faced a fresh challenge from My Kind of Dance as the pair passed three quarters in 1:27.0. In the stretch, My Kind of Dance grabbed a brief lead but Lady’s Party came back to take over late. At the wire, Lady’s Party held on by a length over late closing Fancy Creek Jolene. My Kind of Dance finished third.

The final time for the mile was 1:54.3.

Lady’s Party is owned by Mitchell Titus and Dennis Wright and trained by Terry Leonard.

— by Jim Miller

Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY—After getting aired-out at Vernon Downs last week, Edom Up Blue Boy returned home to western New York and benefited from a perfect trip to win the $10,500 Open trot at Batavia Downs on Friday (July 28). Habitual leaver Lutetium (Ron Beback Jr.) was on point and everybody knew the drill. Rolling swiftly around the first turn, no one in the race wanted to challenge for the front so it was post-parade order behind the leader from there. This left Edom Up Blue Boy (Rock C. Vinci) sitting pretty in the garden spot for the next seven-eighths of a mile. As the race moved past the half in a pedestrian :59 split, a weak outer-flow led by Gwally (Drew Monti) tried to mount a challenge, but that soon fell apart moving to three-quarters. Jim Dandy (Jim McNeight Jr.) who had been sitting third pulled into the last turn and advanced on Lutetium who was showing signs of fatigue. He pulled alongside by the top of the stretch at the same time the passing lane opened up for Edom Up Blue Boy and the pair simultaneously passed the leader. The two then trotted in step all the way to the wire with Edom Up Blue Boy getting the slightest advantage at the wire to win by a head in 1:59. It was the fourth win in 19 starts this year for Edom Up Blue Boy ($18.60) and pushed his earnings to $23,552 for owner Rock C. Vinci who also trains the winner. In the $8,000 Open II trot, Noble Legend ($5.20) was never headed, leading gate-to-wire for a five-length victory in 1:58.3 for driver Ray Fisher Jr. Jack and Maria Rice own the winner with Maria Rice doing the training. Ray Fisher Jr. had a driving triple while Drew Monti doubled up. Trainer Russell Bratt sent two students for pictures as well. Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (July 29) with post time set at 6 p.m.

Vernon Downs

Bloodstockshalltab (Jiimmy Wittemore) and Jersey Boy (Ben McNeil )each take a co-featured trot on Friday night (July 28) at Vernon Downs. Bloodstockshalltab (Cantab Hall) would explode out of the gate and put up fractions of :27.2, :58.0, 1:26.1, 1:54.3 to go gate-to-wire in the first of two featured trots. Owned and trained by leading trainer Dennis Whittemore, the 7-year-old would win by three lengths over second place finisher Mc Tiny’s Hope (Ben McNeil). My Lucky Word (Truman Gale) finished third. Bloodstockshalltab ($3.60) would win the sixth time this season. Jersey Boy (Yankee Glide) would hang on to win the second trot feature. Gimme The Cash (Chris Lems) would lead to the first quarter in :27.3. Jersey Boy ($4.70)who is owned by John Orsaio and trained by John McNeil III, would take over from there on. He would fight off a late rush from Gimme The Cash (second) to win by a nose is 1:55.1. Parkhill Horton (Triman Gale) finished third. Jersey Boy won for the fifth time this year and for the 33rd time in his career. Chris Lems would win three to give him 60 wins on the season, to trail leading driver John MacDonald by six races. He would win with Chocolate Cream ($10.20), Taila ($3.70), and Dw’s Revenge ($4.40). Vernon Downs returns with an eight-race card on Saturday (July 29), starting at 6:45 p.m. For more information go to www.vernondowns.com.

Saratoga Raceway

Stylish Beachwhere (Somebeachsomewhere) made her local debut a winning one on Friday night at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Trainer Jackie Greene acquired the 4-year-old pacing mare recently and debuted her in the $9,500 Friday feature for distaffers. Stylish Beachwhere was one of two even-money shots among the six mares who squared off on Friday night. Frank Coppola Jr. found early speed from the Spa newbie who marched out to the early lead. Co-favored Sometimes Graceful (Bruce Aldrich Jr.) wound up first-over but never got close to the eventual winner who stopped the timer in 1:53.2. West Liberty (Wally Hennessey) sat the pocket and was the runner-up while Sometimes Graceful had to settle for third. Stylish Beachwhere is owned by the Kellogg Racing Stables of Queensbury, N.Y. Live racing continues on Saturday night with a first post time set for 7:05 p.m.