by harness racing publicists of North America

Friday’s (Oct. 28) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Saratoga, Vernon Downs and Batavia Downs.

So Nice wins Saratoga feature

Saratoga, NY — So Nice (Ponder) shook her bridesmaid status on Friday night (Oct. 28) at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Although the 6-year-old mare had recorded eight wins this season as she headed into the $16,000 Fillies and Mares Open, her last local victory at this facility came in mid-July.

Melissa Simser-Iovino photo

So Nice collects her first victory in three months on Friday at Saratoga.

The Amber Buter trainee has still been a force in the local feature for distaffers, despite that record. So Nice was the runner-up in five consecutive attempts before a third place finish last week.

In Friday’s installment of the event, So Nice blasted out to the early lead and never looked back. Mark Beckwith piloted the mare who cruised through first half fractions of :27 and :56 before sprinting a back half in :55.4 on a chilly Friday night in the Spa City.

So Nice stopped the timer in 1:51.4 as the race’s second choice in the betting, flipping the script on Velocity Vespa (Jim Devaux) who had to settle for second place. Velocity Vespa had defeated So Nice in their last three meetings but rounded out an $11.80 exacta on Friday night in the five-horse feature for lady pacers.

So Nice moved her seasonal earnings to over the $100,000 mark for the 2016 campaign with the win. The Buter-Beckwith combo also teamed up for a victory on Friday with pacing mare Cracker Coffee (Six Of Diamonds) who scored in 1:54 to prevail in her local debut.

Live racing continues on Saturday night (Oct. 29) at Saratoga with a 6:45 p.m. first post.

— by Mike Sardella

Vernon Downs

The W. Springtime Racing Stable and Shannon Brott’s Skip Jive ($9.70) made every yard a winning one in a sparkling 6-1/4 length victory in Friday evening’s (Oct. 28) featured $7,900 Miracle Mile Pace at Vernon Downs. The 3-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven gelding achieved the early lead from his mid-pack draw, sprinting off from Cheyenne Raider (Truman Gale) and controlling the pace through splits of :26.4, :55.1, and 1:22.3. Skip Jive edged away upon turning for home, leaving Cheyenne Reider well in his wake at the completion of his 1:51.3 mile. Modern Gesture (Chris Lems) emerged late to take the runner-up spot off a clear stalking trip, defeating the tiring Cheyenne Reider by 1-1/2 lengths. Odds-on favorite Super Soph (Brett Derue) only managed fourth place off an even effort. Fern Paquet, Jr. drove Skip Jive for trainer Dave Spagnola. Leading driver John MacDonald proved victorious in half of the evening’s 12 races, teaming up with Azucar ($5.30, 1:57.3), Triple Charm ($5.30, 1:55.4), Jinxy’s Delight ($3.60, 1:53.3), Some Major Beach ($3.60, 1:53.4), Well Excuuuse Me ($3.10, 1:54.2), and Ittakestwobaby ($7.80, 1:56). A 12-race card is on tap for Saturday evening’s (Oct. 29) at Vernon Downs; post time is 6:45 p.m.

Batavia Downs

My Tallia Ideal followed live cover that she eventually overtook to win the $10,000 Open mares pacing feature at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Oct. 28). Leaving from post six, My Tallia Ideal (Dave McNeight III) got away last and trailed as Kaitlyn Akeeper (Kevin Cummings) led the field through quarters of :28.3 and :58.3. Who Says That (Shawn Gray) pulled first-up at the half-mile and My Tallia Ideal traveled second-over as the two advanced and eventually drew even with the leader by three-quarters in 1:27.4. Who Says That took the lead from Kaitlyn Akeeper when they turned for home, but My Tallia Ideal then tipped outside of her to challenge immediately. With more than a length to make up, My Tallia Ideal dug in and methodically closed in with every stride, eventually getting up to win by a head in 1:56.3. It was the eighth win of the year for My Tallia Ideal ($9.00) and the purse increased her 2016 earnings to $63,410 for owners Peter Kibler, Kenneth Owczarczak and Courtney McNeight. Dave McNeight Jr. trains the winner. In the co-featured $9,000 Open I-II trot, Kahoku ($13.80) regained his early season form when he went wire-to-wire in unfettered fashion to win by two lengths in 1:57. Ron Beback Jr. drove for owner Colleen Girdlestone. Mark Laidlaw trains Kahoku. It was bombs away in the ninth race as Jim Dandy (Jim McNeight Jr.) rallied from seventh at the half-mile to pull the upset of the meet when he trotted away by two lengths at 48-1. The winner returned $99.50 to win and spurred a $660.00 exacta (7-4) and $1,829.00 late Double (5-7). Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Oct. 29) with post time at 6:15 p.m.