by harness publicists across North America

Wednesday’s edition of Racing Roundup features a results story from The Meadows, Dover Downs and Batavia Downs.

Bessie wins handily in Meadows $22,500 F&M trot

Washington, PA — Bessie powered to the lead past the quarter and faced little pressure thereafter as she rolled to victory in Wednesday’s (Dec. 9) $22,500 Filly & Mare Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Trot at The Meadows.

Away third for Jim Pantaleano, Bessie overtook the leader, Barn Girl and enjoyed a comfortable 57.2 front half. Anaffairtoremember avoided a tangle of horses down the backside to emerge a clear second, but she was unable to gain substantially on Bessie. The 4-year-old daughter of Equinox Bi-Cantab’s Chorine prevailed in 1:54.2, 1-3/4 lengths better than Anaffairtoremember, while Barn Girl saved show.

Rick Clapper trains Bessie, who now boasts $158,929 in career earnings, for Paula Clapper, Umholtz Racing Stable and Kennedy Sports Corp.

Dave Palone, Wilbur Yoder, Pantaleano and trainers Ron Burke and Marcus Marashian each enjoyed a double on the 15-race card.

— Evan Pattak

Dover Downs
War Cry Hall took the lead on the last turn on the way to a 1:53.2 win in the $20,000 Open Handicap trot on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at Dover Downs. RBH Ventures’ War Cry Hall came at leader Tough Mac on the final turn and then rolled right by in the lane to notch his 12th win of the campaign with Ross Wolfenden driving for trainer Jim King. The triumph was the second straight and third in five starts for the Cash Hall-Winners Only 6-year-old gelding. He has now earned $118,890 this year. Ashes Cash (Vic Kirby), a winner last week, came on fast in the stretch to take second-place. Hemi Seelster (Brett Miller) was third. It was Ross Wolfenden’s second win on the card. Earlier, Bullitt Blue, owned and trained by veteran Howard Birney, became the longest-price payoff of the meet as Sean Bier guided the Cams Fortune-Blue For You homebred to a 90-1 victory in a 2,3&4-Year-Old pace. The 1:54.2 second career win was his first in more than a month. George Dennis had a big night recording four winning drives. Jim Morand, trainer Eddie Dennis and owners E&K Stable had two wins apiece. A $20,000-$25,000 Claiming Handicap is the Thursday feature race. Dover Downs races Monday through Thursday with post time, 4:30 p.m. There is no live racing Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Batavia Downs
This was the fourth straight week that Mach This Way (Ron Beback Jr.) and Memumsnotnice (Ray Fisher Jr.) locked horns with Mach This Way having a 2-1 advantage over Memumsnotnice to date. After a hard fought battle, Mach This Way reigned victorious again in the $9,500 distaff pacing feature at Batavia Downs on Wednesday night (Dec. 9). Memumsnotnice left sharply and paced on the front uncontested to the half in :57.2. Mach This Way had pulled at three-eighths and drew alongside the leading mare as they hit the clubhouse turn. From that point on it was basically a match race. Mach This Way and Memumsnotnice paced in tandem past three-quarters in 1:25.3, around the far turn and half-way down the lane. It was then the Mach This Way got a slight advantage and pulled away to a length victory in 1:55.2. The Filly Princess (Truman Gale) closed strong to be second and Memumsnotnice faded to third, in a dead-heat with Kisses N Kicks (Dave McNeight III). It was the eighth win of the season for Mach This Way ($4.20) and pushed her earnings to $59,880 for owner William Emmons. Batavia Downs Rising Star Award winner James Clouser Jr. trains Mach This Way. In the $7,700 Mares Open II co-feature, Heavenly Place (Dave McNeight III) went gate-to-wire in 1:57.1 to notch her 13th win of 2015. She had won in this class two weeks ago and found herself back at home after stepping down from Open I competition last week. Heavenly Place is owned by Courtney McNeight and is trained by Dave McNeight Jr. Horsemen scoring multiple wins included drivers Kevin Cummings with three and Shawn Mcdonough, Ron Beback Jr. and Ray Fisher Jr. each with two. Trainers James Clouser Jr. and Chris Naedele each sent two winners to post.