by harness racing publicists across North America

Friday’s (Sept. 9) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Vernon Downs, Tioga Downs, Batavia Downs and Hawthorne Race Course.

J A T O asserts, opens in return to Vernon

Vernon, NY — J A T O ($3.70) picked up right where he left off in his return to Vernon Downs, earning his seventh victory in as many career starts over the Miracle Mile in Friday evening’s (Sept. 9) featured $9,900 Miracle Mile/Open Trot.

Chris Lems sent the 4-year-old Big Apple Deli gelding right to the front, clearing Lucid Thoughts (John MacDonald) with ease through a :27.4 first quarter before immediately pulling the tempo back. J A T O’s stiffest challenge came on the far turn in the form when Pop I (Jay Randall) charged from last to press a :28 third quarter, but J A T O had no trouble parrying that challenge en route to a 1:54 victory over fast going. Lucid Thoughts, 2-1/4 lengths in arrears, saved second from the pocket, while Gimme the Cash (Claude Huckabone, III) made late gains to take third.

Howard Okusko trains the 29-time winner J A T O for Margaret and Amy Butler.

In the sub-featured $7,900 Miracle Mile trotting event, My Lucky Word ($7.20) proved victorious, controlling all the terms and edging clear for a 1:54.2 triumph over Walk the Floor (Angus MacDonald) and Twice Too Nice (John MacDonald). Fern Paquet, Jr. drove the 4-year-old Lucky Chucky mare for owner Philip Hale and trainer Dave Dewhurst.

Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday evening (Sept. 10), with the first of 13 races due off at 6:45 p.m.

— by James Witherite

Tioga Downs

Scott Woogen’s K J’s Caroline ($9.80) took full advantage of a pocket trip in Friday evening’s (Sept. 9) co-featured $13,500 Mares Open I Pace at Tioga Downs, only reaching the lead in the last 15 yards of a 1:51.2 mile. The 6-year-old Roddy’s Bags Again mare was involved from the race’s outset, repelling Northern Beauty (Mike Simons) on approach to the first turn She then yielded control to Yes You Can (Aaron Byron) after a :26.3 first quarter. K J’s Caroline enjoyed a clear pocket ride through fractions of :55.1 and 1:22.4. Jim Taggart, Jr. angled K J’s Caroline out of the pocket just above the eighth pole. Another threat, however, would emerge in the form of Northern Beauty, who hooked three-wide off the when able to shake free. K J’s Caroline gained the upper hand in the nick of time. She just collared runner-up Yes You Can by a neck and likewise staved off third-place finisher Northern Beauty in a three-way stretch battle. Gary Messenger trains K J’s Caroline, now a 28-time winner. In the $13,500 Open Handicap Trot, 17-1 outsider Brandos Muscle Man ($37.40) was elevated to first after his stretch bid from the pocket was interrupted by pacesetter Dragin the Wagon (Byron), who bore out off the far turn and clipped Brandos Muscle Man amid their stretch duel. Mike Merton drove the 8-year-old Muscles Yankee gelding to his 30th career win in 1:53.3. Dragin the Wagon was relegated to second for his upper-stretch foul, while Prairie Fortune (Jim Meittinis) could only muster enough momentum to capture third from off the pace. Rick Dane, Jr. trains Brandos Muscle Man for the Rock and Roll Stable, Inc. and Monica Banca. Live racing returns to Tioga Downs on Saturday evening (Sept. 10) with the first of 13 events due off at 6:30 p.m.

Batavia Downs

In Hawaiian, Kahoku means “star” and Friday night (Sept. 9) at Batavia Downs, Kahoku ($4.30) lived up to his name as he shown bright on the front end in the $10,500 Open trotting feature. Driver Kevin Cummings left from post four with Kahoku and out-tussled Noble Legend (Jack Flanigen) for the lead past the quarter-mile timed in :28.3. That would be the last lead change of the race. Kahoku trotted with a gapped lead and went to the half in :59.2 and three-quarters in 1:28.3. With the field unable to catch him up to that point, Kahoku strode away to an easy two-length victory in 1:58. Noble Legend followed him to the wire for second and B Z Glide (Mike Caprio) closed the best for show. It was the tenth win in 28 starts for Kahoku and it bumped his earnings up to $59,358 for the year. The 8-year-old altered son of SJ’s Caviar is owned by Colleen Girdlestone and Michael Gentner and is trained by Mark Laidlaw. In the co-featured $8,500 Open II trot, The Bronx Bumper ($7.60) stepped up from the claiming ranks to dominate some top-flight condition horses when he came from off the pace to win in 1:58.3. Dave McNeight III drove the winner to his fourth win of the year for trainer Gerry Sarama and owner Mike Torcello. Three drivers won 90 percent of the card on Friday as Kevin Cummings, John Cummings Jr. and Dave McNeight III all scored driving triples. Racing resumes on Saturday night (Sept. 10) at Batavia Downs with the first post set for 6:15 p.m.

Hawthorne Race Course

Dandy Farms Inc. and Mark Winship’s OK Heavenly set the new track record for 4-year-old pacing mares on Friday evening (Sept. 9) at Hawthorne. Trained by Angie Coleman and driven by the meet’s leading driver, Casey Leonard, OK Heavenly assumed command early and never looked back in Friday’s seventh race. She covered the opening quarter in :28 and the hal-mile in :55.2. She extended her lead into the lane through three-quarters in 1:23.1 and crossed the wire a 6-3/4 length victor in 1:50.4. OK Heavenly eclipsed the previous track record of 1:51.1, set by Ready to Rumba on July 6, 2008. The win was the seventh on the year for OK Heavenly.