by harness racing publicists across North America

Friday’s (June 16) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Tioga Downs, Saratoga Raceway, Vernon Downs and Hawthorne Race Course

Tempus Seelster takes Tioga feature

Nichols, NY — Tempus Seelster (Tom Jackson) wins the Fillies and Mares Open II ($9,000) at Tioga Downs on Friday night (June 16). The 4-year-old mare by Big Jim sat behind front runner K J’s Caroline (Jim Taggart Jr.) from the outset.

Fred Brown photo

Tempus Seelster steals the show at Tioga Downs on Friday evening.

Tempus Seelster ($11.20) who is owned by the Holland Racing Stable and trained by Tony Dinges, shot out of the pocket at the top of the stretch and blew by K J’s Caroline (third) to win in 1:51.4. Goldstar Rockette came on late to finish second.

Jackson would have three wins on the night and won the first two races of the evening. Race one he would lead Big Valley Speed ($12.20) to victory holding off the late charge of Majestic Won (Corey Braden) to win by a nose in 1:56.4. While in race two he would drive Truth Isalwaysbest ($5.80) past My Girl Gal (Mike Simons) just before the finish to win in 1:54.3.

Mike Simons still has a big lead in the driver standings. Simons started this weekend with 30 wins, 25 seconds, and 25 thirds in 156 starts. The 2015 track champion, won two more tonight.

Tom Jackson won nine times in his first 49 starts and eight times in his last 50 rides before tonight began. With his three wins tonight, Jackson has a total of 20 wins putting him in second. Jim Taggart Jr. has 17 victories and is tied with Mike Merton (17) for third place. Jim Marohn Jr. is fifth with 15 wins

The trainer’s title continues to be wide open. Tony Dinges leads with 13 wins. Mike Deters, the 2016 Tioga training champion, is second just one behind with 12 wins. Mickey Mc Nichol has nine training wins to put him in third. McNichol also has 10 driving wins on his resume for the season.

Linda Toscano is fourth with eight training wins. Toscano leads all trainers in purses won with $81,749. Simons, Gary Messenger, Dave McGinnis and Rick Dane Jr. all have seven wins each to place fifth after last weekend.

Tioga Downs will not race on Saturday night (June 17) due to a Travis Tritt concert. They return to live racing on Father’s Day Sunday (June 18) at 1 p.m. They will welcome Ostrich and Camel races to go along with the nine-race card and will also give away beer mugs while supplies last.

For more information please go to www.tiogadowns.com.

— by John Horne

Saratoga Raceway

The track’s defending Filly and Mare Pacer of the Year So Nice (Ponder) won the Open at Saratoga Casino Hotel for the first time this season on Friday (June 16) night. The Amber Buter-trained distaffer recorded eleven victories in 2016, several of which came in the local Fillies and Mares Open. After her award-winning 2016 campaign, So Nice got off to a bit of a slow start this year before turning things around in late April. On Friday, Stephane Bouchard put the 7-year-old mare on the front end and after enduring a first quarter in :27, fought gamely while tested in the final quarter. A two-pronged challenge came for So Nice in the stretch as pocket-sitter Her Own Land (Mark Beckwith) closed up the inside while the race’s 1-5 favorite Godiva Seelster (Wally Hennessey) came charging hard from the back of the pack. So Nice won the three-horse photo while Godiva Seelster had to settle for second. Her Own Land earned the show spot in the $13,000 Open that went in 152.2 over a track labeled good. So Nice paid $11.60 to win and started an exacta with Godiva Seelster second that returned $19.80. Live racing continues on Saturday night at Saratoga with a 6:45 p.m. first post.

Vernon Downs

Tataria (Truman Gale) beat four other mares to win the Fillies and Mares feature ($7,500) on Friday night (June 16). Owned and trained by Melissa Beckwith, the 5-year-old mare by Four Starzzz Shark would ride the pocket seat following It’s A Miracle (Chris Lems). Tataria ($8.10) would come out of the pocket and easily overtake It’s A Miracle (second) to win in 1:52.2. Drea’s Good Powow (John MacDonald) was third best. Chris Lems had three wins on the night. Lems would win race one taking Escada De Vie ($5.70) past E R Rhonda (Truman Gale) in the stretch to win in 1:53.2. In race four he guided Wine Photo to an easy six-length win in 1:57.0. Lems would win his third race of the night during race five. He would take Billie Blue ($2.90) to a gate-to-wire victory just holding off the late charging New Scent (Jimmy Wittemore) in 1:55.4. Vernon is back Saturday night with an 11-race card starting at 6:45 p.m. They will welcome Ostrich and Camel racing as well. On Sunday they will have a special Father’s Day matinee starting at 1:05 p.m. They will feature the Empire Breeders Classic final for 3-year-old fillies and their counterpart colts. They will also feature New York Sire Stakes for 3-year-old colts. For more information go to www.vernondowns.com.

Hawthorne Race Course

Two divisions of leg one of the Incredible Tillie Stakes took place at Hawthorne on Friday (June 16) evening. The Incredible Tillie is for Illinois-bred two-year-old filly pacers. Race two kicked off the first division as an evenly matched field of six lined up. Getting away for the early lead was The Sis Master (Sportsmaster-Ar Sissy), but she was quickly challenged by Rollin Coal (Sagebrush-Emission Control) through the quarter in :31.1. On the backside, Sheincrediblenasty (Sportsmaster-Roc’s Big Girl) took over, covering the half in 1:00.0. On the far turn, Kyle Husted kept Sheincrediblenasty out front, going three quarters in 1:29.4. In the lane, Rollin Coal and Casey Leonard moved to take over and prevailed by a 1-1/2 lengths over Sheincrediblenasty and The Sis Master. Final time for the mile was 1:57.2. Rollin Coal is owned and trained by Hosea Williams. Race four on Friday was the second division of leg one of the Incredible Tillie with a field of seven. The heavy favorite was Fox Valley Jazzy (Yankee Skyscraper-Lr Dancin Dream) with Tyler Shehan in the bike. Making the lead was the favorite as she paced the opening quarter in :31.1. After a half in 1:01.2, Fox Valley Jazzy remained in control. Leading into the stretch through three0-quarters in 1:30.3, Fox Valley Jazzy was pushed by Shelby Rae (Duneside Perch-Mystical Art) through the lane. On the wire, Fox Valley Jazzy held on by a half-length over Shelby Rae. The New Americana (Yankee Skyscraper-Chicky Dee) rallied to finish third. Fox Valley Jazzy is owned by Demarrio Brown and trained by Herman Wheeler.