by harness racing publicists across North America

This Friday’s (June 10) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Buffalo Raceway, Saratoga and Tioga Downs.

Noble Legend lowers his own track record at Buffalo Raceway

Hamburg, NY — The ink had barely dried in the record book but Noble Legend didn’t care one bit because he was erasing his own name.

For the second straight week, Noble Legend impressively smashed the track record for 4-year-old gelded trotters in winning the $10,000 Open Trot at Buffalo Raceway Friday night (June 10). He beat his old mark of 1:57.3 by a whole second with a blistering 1:56.3 over the fast surface. It threatened the all-time trotting mark of 1:56.1 set by Gural Hanover in 2014.

Steve Roth photo

Noble Legend resets his own track standard within seven days at Buffalo Raceway.

Last Friday (June 3), Noble Legend easily destroyed the old standard of 1:58.2 that was held by Sams Hope (2003), Baby Boy Grin (2009) and BZ Glide (2013). The clocking also tied his career best of 1:56.3 set last season at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

Cold Certified (Shawn McDonough) did the dirty work early, going :57.2 to the half. Midway down the backstretch the second time, the pocket-sitting Noble Legend (Kevin Cummings) couldn’t wait any longer and blasted past Cold Certified to the three-quarter marker.

There was little doubt who the winner was going to be in the stretch as Noble Legend ($9.00) and Cummings were in cruise control. They were looking for any potential threats but none materialized. Strong Hope (Ray Fisher Jr.) finished in second place 2-1/2 lengths behind while Cold Certified held on for third.

Co-owned by Vogel & Wags Nags Stable and Jack Rice, Noble Legend (Kadabra-Lovin It) is trained by Maria Rice. The victory, the sixth in his 2016 campaign, moved Noble Legend’s bankroll to $30,788 this season and $58,195 lifetime.

Kevin Cummings ended the night with four victories while Todd Cummings and Drew Monti doubled. Mike Carrubba and Bob Gruber III each had two training wins.

Racing will continue on Saturday night (June 11) with a 12-race card set for 7 p.m., one hour later than normal due to the running of the Belmont Stakes.

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

— Brian Mazurek

Saratoga

Dilly Dali (Dali) went coast to coast in Friday’s (June 10) feature at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Jose Godinez-trained mare took advantage of her inside post position and moved out to the early lead in the $15,000 Fillies and Mares Open. With Bruce Aldrich Jr. in the sulky, Dilly Dali never had an anxious moment en route to her wire-to-wire win which came in 1:53.1, a new seasonal best for the 4-year-old mare. Bazooka Terror (Billy Dobson) was the runner up for the fourth time this season in the Friday (June 10) feature for distaffers while My Spring Fling (Mark Beckwith) earned the show spot. Dilly Dali was the race’s co-favorite at odds of 5-2 and returned $7.50 to win. The exacta and triple paid $68 and $285, respectively. Live racing continues on Saturday night (June 11) at the Spa with a first post time set for 6:45 p.m.

Tioga Downs

The Tioga Downs driver colony has been taken by storm. Specifically, by the “Tan Tornado”. Ontario-based driver Scott Coulter regained an outright lead in the Tioga Downs driving standings with four wins on Friday night’s (June 10) 13-race card. The 45-year-old reinsman worked to a 20-18 lead over Corey Braden, teaming up with Alaskan Seelster ($11.40, 1:53.2), Justherighttouch ($18.00, 1:56.1), Fanticipation ($5.80, 1:53.4), and False Response ($8.00, 1:56.3). In the featured $11,000 Mares Open 1 Pace, K J’s Caroline ($20.40) squeezed through a lane up the pegs in the last sixteenth, overtaking dueling leaders Misssomebeach Blue (Mike Simons, 4-5 favorite) and Shutthefrontdoor (Dan Clements) for a 1:52.2 score. Jim Taggart, Jr. drove the 6-year-old Roddy’s Bags Again mare for owner Scott Woogen and trainer Gary Messenger. While Misssomebeach Blue was second to pass the winning post, she was disqualified to third for bearing into the path of Shutthefrontdoor in upper stretch.The night’s sub-featured $7,500 M&J Oil & Lube late-closer preliminary saw 3-year-old trotting filly Dream Child ($5.00) make amends for her early break last week, as she sustained a first-over push through the last half of this week’s lone division en route to a four-length triumph over Young Bride and Fruition in 1:57. Mike Simons drove the Muscle Hill filly for owner William J. Donovan and trainer Linda Toscano. As no one hit the 50-cent Pick-5, $824.40 will carry over to the Saturday (June 11) program. The first of 13 races is due off at 6:30 p.m. Eastern.