by harness racing publicists across North America

The Friday (June 17) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Scarborough Downs, Buffalo Raceway, Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs and Saratoga.

Midnite Craze in track record performance at Scarborough Downs

Scarborough, ME — Demonstrating an affinity towards racing at Scarborough Downs, Midnite Craze has once again etched his name in the record books at the southern Maine harness racing venue. The 6-year-old son of Crazed toured the oval in a blistering 1:57 flat, during Friday’s (June 17) $7,500 free-for-all event, equaling the fastest trot ever recorded in the track’s 66-year history.

Michael Newman photo

Midnite Craze blazes to the swiftest trotting mile at Scarborough Downs since the facility opened.

Confidently handled by trainer/driver Ivan Davies, Midnite Craze now shares local bragging rights with the mare, IPO Blue Chip, who was crowned the track’s fleetest trotter in June of 2012.

Owned by G Richard Mason Jr., the zippy high-stepper established a new track standard for aged gelded trotters in the process, supplanting the 1:57.1 record set by Waterloo Willie in July of 2013 and equaled by Midnite Craze himself, in his last local appearance, just last November.

In addition to back-to-back track record appearances at Scarborough Downs, Midnite Craze can also boast an uncanny record of success at the seaside oval, having now tasted victory in five out his six starts at the Downs, including an impressive current skein of three consecutive free-for-all class scores.

When Midnite Craze comes to town can a new track record be close at hand?

The “Horses for Courses” theory answers strongly in the affirmative!

Scarborough Downs features live harness racing with twilight cards on Thursday, Friday and Saturday with post time at 4:30 p.m. (EDT). The Sunday matinees get underway at 1:30 p.m. (EDT).

For more information, visit www.ScarboroughDowns.com or our Facebook page.

— By Michael Sweeney

Buffalo Raceway

Strong Hope ($5.10) remained razor sharp and proved it by lowering his own track record in winning the $10,000 Open Trot in 1:56.3 over the fast track at Buffalo Raceway on Friday (June 17) night. He beat his own standard of 1:57.1 (males age five and up) set this season on April 16. Strong Hope has now won four times in his last eight starts along with a trio of second place finishes. It was the sixth time this year a track record has been rewritten at Buffalo Raceway. With the field scratched down to five, Cold Certified tried to cut the mile with splits of :29.1, :59.0 and 1:28.0. But with a quarter mile to trot, Cold Certified called it a night and the first-over Strong Hope (Ray Fisher Jr.) powerfully took command and never looked back in the stretch, putting away the field with a :28.3 last panel. The battle for the minor spoils went to Serious George (Mike Caprio) who finished 3-3/4 lengths behind the winner while Northern Matador (Jim Morrill Jr.) took third. Owned and trained by Joe Agostino, Strong Hope (Cr Excalibur-Spring Lane Joanie) is a 9-year-old horse who has six wins in 20 attempts this season. The victory upped his 2016 winnings to $43,191 and $544,074 lifetime. Fisher Jr. and Drew Monti each had triples in the bike while Angelo Nappo and Agostino each doubled. Racing will resume on Saturday (June 18) night at 6 p.m. with a 10-race card scheduled. The Pick-5 has a $993 carryover starting in the fifth race. For more information including the latest news, results, race replays and upcoming promotions, go to www.buffaloraceway.com.

Tioga Downs

Kimberly Silpath’s Four Hour Nap ($7.20) used a :57.2 middle half to her advantage in Friday (June 17) evening’s $9,000 Mares Open II Pace at Tioga Downs, edging clear of her five rivals for a 1:52.4 triumph after controlling the terms throughout. Mike Merton made all the pace with the 6-year-old Four Starzzz Shark mare, dueling with Asset Management (Fern Paquet, Jr.) on approach to the first turn and clearing through a :26.4 first quarter before backing the pace down. Four Hour Nap faced no real challenges en route to her 17th career win, sprinting clear at head-stretch and posting a 2-3/4 length victory over pocket rival Asset Management. Pompano invader Goldstar Rockette (Corey Braden) circled four-wide in the stretch, rallying from last to take third in her local debut. Rick Dane, Jr. trains Four Hour Nap, who scored her second win of the meet. Scott Coulter and Dan Clements led all drivers with two wins each on the nine-race card. Ostriches and camels returned to Tioga Downs after a three-year hiatus, taking part in two non-wagering 100-yard sprints before a sizable on-track crowd. Live racing returns to Tioga Downs on Saturday (June 18), with the first of 10 races due off at 6:30 p.m. Eastern.

Vernon Downs

Connie Hochstetler’s Southern Girl ($12.80) is back in form, having earned her third win in four starts in Friday (June 17) evening’s $7,500 top-level Miracle Mile distaff pace at Vernon Downs. John MacDonald sent the 4-year-old Sportsmaster mare directly to the front, sprinting clear of Looney Dune (Ben McNeil) before rating a :56.1 first half. On approach to the far turn, Southern Girl accelerated, forcing the first-over Love Live Laugh (Jimmy Whittemore) and the pocket-sitting Looney Dune to chase a :27.1 third quarter. They nearly collared Southern Girl in the end, but the pacesetter dug in to narrowly hold sway in 1:52.1, staving off a resurgent Looney Dune by a neck in the end. Love Live Laugh stayed on for third as the 6-5 favorite. Homer Hochstetler trains Southern Girl, who earned her eighth career win. For MacDonald, the featured win was one of three on the night. Jimmy Whittemore also notched a driving hat trick on the 11-race card. Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday (June 18) evening, with first post at 6:45 p.m. Eastern.

Saratoga

Carrickmannon N (Lis Mara) made her debut in the feature on Friday (June 17) night at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Chris Marino-trained mare moved first over on the race’s big favorite in the $15,000 Fillies and Mares Open and cruised by to prevail in a career best 1:52.3. Stephane Bouchard piloted Carrickmannon N to her tenth win in fifteen seasonal starts. The 6-year-old New Zealand invader powered past the 2-5 shot Godiva Seelster (Wally Hennessey) while breaking that one’s impressive five race winning streak. Godiva Seelster had to settle for second in the feature for distaffers while Bettorhaveanother (Frank Coppola Jr.) earned the show spot. Carrickmannon N returned $7.80 to win and led an exacta and triple that paid $21.20 and $81, respectively. While it was the first career victory in the Open for Carrickmannon N, for her connections owner Mike Casalino Jr. and trainer Chris Marino, it was number six in the Fillies and Mares Open in 2016 as their Campanile has recorded five wins in the Friday features at the Spa thus far this year. Live racing continues on Saturday June 18)night with first post time set for 6:45 p.m.