by harness racing publicists across North America

Friday’s (May 19) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Buffalo Raceway, Saratoga Raceway, Vernon Downs, Hawthorne Race Course and Tioga Downs.

Empire Earl N continues to please at Buffalo Raceway

Hamburg, NY — For owner/driver Larry Stalbaum, he’s not been hard to please lately when it comes to his trotter Empire Earl N. For the second time in three weeks, Empire Earl N found his way into the winner’s circle at Buffalo Raceway by taking the $10,000 Open Trot on Friday night (May 19).

Steve Roth photo

Empire Earl N continues to please in Buffalo Raceway OpenTrot.

They received the photo opportunity thanks to a three-quarter length victory over Osprey Vision in 1:57.3 over the fast track.

Stalbaum said after the race, “Not too much to complain about. I was able to work out a good two hole trip.”

With a pair of wins and a narrow second place in his last three outings, Stalbaum has a good reason to be happy with his trotter.

With Winkys Pride (Drew Monti) setting the splits of 29.2, 59.0 and 1:27.3, Stalbaum and Empire Earl N were able to drop into the pocket from the six post off the gate. Biding their time until the passing lane, Empire Earl N then zoomed past the tiring Winkys Pride to get the win.

Osprey Vision (David McNeight III) was closing fast on the outside and secured second place while Southern Palms (Jim Morrill Jr.) finished in third.

Owned by Stalbaum and trained by Kim Asher, the 9-year-old gelded Empire Earl N (Earl-Santa Nita) has now produced two wins in nine starts this season. The victory upped his 2017 earnings to $20,070 and $105,995 lifetime.

Morrill Jr. led the driving statistics on the night with a triple while Ray Fisher Jr. had a double. Trainer Jeff Amann conditioned a pair of winners.

Racing will return on Saturday night with a 12-race card. There’s a special 7 p.m. post time for the live action in order to accommodate the simulcasting of the Preakness at Pimlico Race Course.

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

— by Brian Mazurek

Saratoga, NY — Milky Way Rae (American Ideal) had little difficulty handling the step up in company on Friday (May 19) night at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Heidi Rohr trainee was coming off a win in the conditional ranks when she stepped up into the $13,000 Fillies and Mares Open on Friday night. Billy Dobson has become the regular pilot for the 4-year-old mare whose early speed is her best asset. Flashing that speed in the feature, Milky Way Rae made the lead in a :26.4 first quarter and sizzled through a half in :55.4. Feeling just mild pressure before reaching the top of the stretch, the talented distaffer faced a host of challengers in the lane but proved to be up to the task. Milky Way Rae stopped the timer in a seasonal best 1:53.1 to record her third win of the season, two of which came in the Open. Godiva Seelster (Shawn Gray) was the runner-up in the Friday feature while Her Own Land (Mark Beckwith) closed for third behind the 4-1 shot winner. Dobson and Rohr teamed up for another victory on the card as pacing mare Keene Olivia (Always A Virgin) recorded her second consecutive win despite being parked the entire first half of the mile before drawing off to prevail in 1:53.4. Live racing continues on Saturday evening with a 6:45 p.m. first post.

Vernon, NY — John MacDonald exploded for four wins on Friday (May 19) at Vernon Downs. MacDonald’s winning ways started in race two. MacDonald guided Cagnes ($6.50) to the lead at the top of the stretch to hold off Chocolate Cream (Jimmy Wittemore) in 1:58:1. MacDonald would then take win number two (race 4) with Get The Look ($8.50) by running down Escada De Vie (Jimmy Wittemore)in the stretch. Get The Look who is trained by Andy Gardner won by a head in 1:54.1. Win three would come in race six as he took the favorite Oh My Joepa ($2.80) gate-to-wire in 1:51.4. MacDonald would win his fourth race with DW’s Revenge ($3.20) in 1:57.1. DW’s Revenge held off the late charging Deli-delite (Todd Frocione) to win race 10 by a head at the wire. Vernon Downs returns to live action on Saturday (May 20) with a 12 race card at a special post time of 7:05 p.m. following the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Racecourse. For more information please go to www.vernondowns.com.

Stickney, IL — Race two on Friday (May 19) at Hawthorne was the second leg of the Daryl Busse series for 3-year-old trotters as a competitive field of seven lined up. Taking early action and sent away as the favorite was Dr Spengler for driver Kyle Wilfong. At the start, Picky Picky Valor headed for the lead and covered the quarter in :32.0. Early on the backstretch, favored Dr Spengler moved to contend while hung wide through a half in 1:01.0. Into the turn, Dr Spengler broke stride, leaving Picky Picky Valor back on the lead through three-quarters in 1:30.4. In the lane, Bands Houdini and Kyle Husted tipped out and took over as Picky Picky Valor broke stride. Bands Houdini was the easy winner in 2:00.2 over late closing Totally Pazzazzed. Southern Stargazer finished third. Bands Houdini is trained by Steve Searle and owned in partnership by Searle and Flacco Family Farms, LLC. Race three on Friday was the second leg of the Bea Farber series for trotters with a field of eight. Energy Bar took late action and was sent away as the favorite from the inside draw. Leaving quickly from the outside was Hatfield and Mccoy but BC’s Da Winner made the lead, covering the quarter in :29.0. BC’s Da Winner maintained his lead through the half in :59.1. On the turn, Energy Bar moved to challenge through three quarters in 1:28.4. In the lane, BC’s Da Winner battled on, but I Could Care Less and driver Keith Crawford rolled up in the center of the track and cruised on by to a victory in 1:58.4. Energy Bar got up for second while BC’s Da Winner held on for third. Race four featured open pacers with a field of eight. Evergreen Elite was the favorite from the barn of trainer Ken Rucker. Leaving for the lead was Yankee Bounty, but Evergreen Elite rushed away to the front through the quarter in :27.2. On the backside, Account Rollover moved to challenge through a snappy half in :55.3. Evergreen Elite fought back on the turn and led the field into the lane in 1:24.0. In the stretch, Evergreen Elite and Mike Oosting battled on, drawing clear to win in 1:53. Yankee Bounty finished second while I’m An Athlete closed for third.

Tioga, NY — Super Soph (Mike Merton) beat four other mares to take the Fillies and Mares Open II at Tioga Downs on Friday (May 19).Super Soph, a 7-year-old Admirals Galley mare went right to the front. Owned by Mark Wamp and trained by Todd Buter, Super Soph would hit the first quarter in :27.3 and never look back, winning gate-to-wire in 1:52.1. Super Soph paid $14.60 for the upset win. A Wish For Wings (John Cummings Jr.) followed in the pocket the whole way and finished second. Kruella (Mike Simons) finished third. Tioga Downs is scheduled to start their 10-race card at 6:50 p.m. Saturday (May 20) but will follow the live showing of the Preakness Stakes. For more information go to www.tiogadowns.com.