by harness racing publicists across North America

Saturday’s (May 20) edition of Racing Roundup features results story from Buffalo Raceway, Running Aces, Saratoga Raceway, Hawthorne Race Course and Vernon Downs

Shady City finally gets victory in Buffalo Raceway Open

Hamburg, NY — Shady City ($2.60) finally broke the second place blues by capturing the $10,000 Open Pace at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday night (May 20). Shady City had finished a heart-breaking second in four consecutive starts in Open competition.

Steve Roth photo

Shady City collects his first win in the Buffalo Raceway feature after four consecutive second place finishes on Saturday evening.

It wasn’t easy for Shady City (Larry Stalbaum) to get re-acquainted with track photographer Steve Roth as he needed a seasonal best of 1:54.3 over the fast track to get the first place check. He beat Gallant Seelster (David McNeight III) by 1-1/4 lengths while Pan Street USA (Ray Fisher Jr.) took the show spot.

It was a mad dash to the opening quarter as Fireyourguns (Mike Caprio) went three-wide to wrestle the top from Shady City and Pan Street USA in a :27.3 first panel. Settling in and putting up the next two fractions of :55.3 and 1:25.0, Fireyourguns ran out of ammunition in the stretch. Shady City, enjoying the pocket trip, slipped down into the passing lane and was the strongest of all in getting to the finish line first while a hard-charging Gallant Seelster was second best.

Owned by Stalbaum and trained by Kim Asher, the 7-year-old gelded Shady City (Metropolitan-Maid In Shade) has four wins in 17 starts. The win increased his 2017 earnings to $36,536 and $267,113 lifetime.

Stalbaum finished the night with four victories while Fisher Jr., Jim Morrill Jr. and Drew Monti produced doubles. Asher had three training wins.

Racing will resume on Wednesday night (May 23) with an 11-race program set for 5 p.m.

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

— by Brian Mazurek

Running Aces

Columbus, MN — The Running Aces harness racing season opener went to post on Saturday night (May 20), and while the weather gods didn’t exactly cooperate with us, an exciting card of racing went to post nonetheless despite an all day long deluge of rain. The opening night $10,000 Open Trot feature went to Flameon (by Angus Hall) who was confidently driven by Moonie Svendsen, they sat in the pocket behind rival Banker Volo (Luke Plano) who was the 8-5 choice in the wagering. Flameon powered past in the lane to beat Banker Volo by three-quarters of a length in 1:58 and post his first win in three starts this season for owner/trainer Mark Anderson. Flameon ($8.40) is no stranger to the Aces winner’s circle, as he has been a top contender at the Open Trot level here for the past couple of seasons. Tonight’s tally was the 21st lifetime score for the 7-year-old gelding and pushed his career bankroll over the century mark to $100,570. The fastest mile of the night over the sloppy surface was turned in by Tornado Henry ($14.80), a 6-year-old gelding pacer by Henry Clay, who kicked off a natural driving hat-trick for veteran reinsman Steve Wiseman with a half-length tally in 1:56.4 from a second-over trip. He also shared in the fastest winning final quarter time of the evening (:29.0). Tornado Henry is owned by Scott Ehrlich and trained by Kathie Plested Wiseman. Hairway To Heaven, a 4 year old pacing mare by Barber Pole, posted the biggest upset of the evening with a 30-1 shocker for owner/trainer/driver Gerald Longo. It was the fourth win of the season in 15 starts for Hairway To Heaven who delighted her backers with a $63.40 win mutuel. Wiseman’s hat-trick topped the charts on opening night, while Moonie Svendsen picked up a back-to-back double in races five and six to take second honors. Live racing returns on Sunday (May 21) with a first post of 6:00 p.m. Central Time, and will be held every Tuesday at 7:00 pm Central Time, and Saturdays and Sundays at 6:00 pm Central Time now through Sept. 16.

Saratoga Raceway

Saratoga, NY — Titus Seelster (Artistic Fella) went back-to-back in the Open Pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel as the Jackie Greene trainee went coast-to-coast for the second consecutive week. Despite being assigned the outside post in Saturday’s (May 20) $14,500 Open, Titus Seelster blasted out to the early lead. After a first quarter in :27 seconds, driver Frank Coppola Jr. gave the standout a second quarter breather of :29 seconds. From there, the 6-year-old pacer went a back-half in :55.1 before stopping the timer in 1:51.1 en route to his sixth win of the year. The win time was the second fastest of the year at Saratoga, second only to Titus Seelster’s stablemate Artful Way who won the Open in 1:51 back in April. Don’tcallmefrancis (Bruce Aldrich Jr.) sat the pocket to the winner and finished second while Bettor Rock On N (Stephane Bouchard) came on for third. Titus Seelster, who was the favorite in last week’s Open, returned $16.40 to win this week and led an exacta and triple that paid $89 and $404.50, respectively. Artful Way gave Greene a training double on Saturday as the standout pacer dropped down into the $12,500 Winners Over level to secure a victory of his own, a win that came in 1:51.4 with Coppola in the sulky. Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon (May 21) at Saratoga with a matinee beginning at 12:15 p.m.

Hawthorne Race Course

Stickney, IL — Race one on Saturday night (May 20) kicked off the leg two action of the Bob Larry for pacers that were non-winners of $30,000 lifetime through March of this year. The leg one winner Hot Rod Dylan was the heavy favorite for driver Mike Oosting at post time. At the start Sporty Redhot got away well and grabbed an early lead through a quarter in :28.4. On the backside, Hot Rod Dylan moved up to take over through the half in :57.2. After three quarters in 1:25.4, Hot Rod Dylan maintained his advantage. In the lane, Hot Rod Dylan was all out as Fox Valley Nemitz rolled up on the outside. The two were noses apart on the wire as Hot Rod Dylan just held off Fox Valley Nemitz in a final time of 1:53.0. Sporty Redhot held on to finish third. Hot Rod Dylan is owned by Shirley Le Vin and trained by Nelson Willis. Race two was the first division of the second leg of the Mike Paradise for Illinois-bred 3-year-old pacers that had not won $10,000 lifetime through the end of March. Leaving quickly was longshot Frontier Fred but Ima Skydancer drove up on the outside to make the quarter in :28.4. Kid Rocky moved to challenge but Ima Skydancer maintained the lead through a half in :57.1 and three-quarters in 1:25.4. In the lane, Mike Oosting roused the favorite as Ima Skydancer was all out, holding on for a half-length win in 1:54.4.In Your Eye rallied on the outside for second over Kid Rocky. Ima Skydancer is trained by Mike Brink. Race three was the second division of the Mike Paradise with a field of six as leg one winner Sullivan was the favorite for driver Casey Leonard. Getting away for the lead from the outside was Commondiscourtesy through the quarter in :28.4. Kyle Husted kept him on the lead through a half in :58.3 and three-quarters in 1:27.4. In the lane, Sullivan angled out to contend but Causway and Mike Oosting was moving best of all down the center of the track and rolled by both late. Causway stopped the clock in 1:55.3, keying a Mike Brink trained exacta as Sullivan finished second while Commondiscourtesy was third. Race four was the first division of leg two of the Cicero Claiming Series with a field of eight set to line up. Mobil Big John was favored with Casey Leonard driving. Getting away on top was the favorite but Vital Terror moved up on the outside to lead through the opening quarter in :28.1. On the backside, Mobil Big John assumed command and covered the half in :56.3. In the turn, Mccito ranged up to contend as Mobil Big John held the lead through three-quarters in 1:25. Roused in the lane, Mobil Big John opened up on the lead, winning easily in 1:52.4. Doc’s Deal rolled up for second while Vital Terror finished third. Mobil Big John is owned by Tessa Roland and trained by Darren Taneyhill. Race five was the second division of the Cicero Claiming Series with a field of six as KC Rambuctious Boy was scratched. Leg one winner Maserati Seelster was the heavy favorite for driver Tyler Shehan. Maserati Seelster took command from the start through a quarter in :27.4. On the backstretch he opened up the lead to three lengths, covering the half in :55. In the turn Maserati Seelster extended to a five-length lead through three quarters in 1:23.3. nchallenged in the lane, Maserati Seelster won easily, stopping the clock in a snappy 1:52. CR Artistic was second while Bestnotlie Hanover finished third. Trainer Darren Taneyhill grabbed his second win on the card.

Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY — Scibbereen (John MacDonald) wins Anthony Farina Pacing Series Final at Vernon Downs on Saturday night (May 20). Scibbereen ($8.60) who is trained by Kyle Spagnola was fourth after three-quarters passing Nostrovia (Wade Tomaszewski)in the stretch to win in 1:55.4. American JJ (Michael Miller) would be placed first to capture the Robert Keller series final when Pipe Dream Express (Jimmy Wittemore) caused interference in the stretch and was placed second. American JJ ($4.00) is also trained by Miller.Vernon Downs returns to live action on Friday (May 26) at 6:45 p.m. For more information please go to www.vernondowns.com.