from harness publicists across North America

Saturday’s (Aug. 8) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Batavia Downs, Yonkers Raceway, The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, Running Aces, Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs and Kawartha Downs.

Youwillwishyouhad strikes late in Batavia Downs feature

Batavia, NY — The $10,000 Open Pace feature at Batavia Downs was up for grabs for most of the race. But a patient drive by leading reinsman Kevin Cummings proved valuable as Youwillwishyouhad ($7.70) won his first race for his new connections on Saturday night.

It was a cavalry charge off the gate as Ponyta Boy (Shawn McDonough), Beachfront (Dave McNeight III), Youwillwishyouhad (Kevin Cummings) and Fireyourguns (Mike Caprio) all had sights on the lead. The field momentarily settled behind the still battling Ponyta Boy and Beachfront, who eventually got the front.

As they passed the quarter in :27.1, Fireyourguns pulled from fourth and took the front by the top of the stretch. He then led the group to the half in :56 as an outer flow began.

Now in two rows heading up the backside, Elite Awards (Drew Monti) tipped three-high with fresh legs as they breezed by three-quarters in 1:25. At that point, Youwillwishyouhad snuck off the rail from his perfect trip and into contention outside of the charging Elite Awards.

At the top of the stretch, Fireyourguns ran out of ammunition and it became a two-horse race. Elite Awards tried hard to hang on but Youwillwishyouhad wore him down and powered on to win by two lengths in 1:54.

It was the third win in a row and 11th win in 20 starts for the 4-year-old Artiscape gelding and the win brought his 2015 bankroll up to $60,178. Youwillwishyouhad is trained by J.D. Perrin for Mark Jakubik and Tessa Roland, who just claimed him last week for $31,250.

Kevin Cummings, Drew Monti and Jack Flanigen all scored driving doubles on the card.

— Tim Bojarski

Yonkers Raceway
Sapphire City (Jason Bartlett, $8.60) and Backstreet Hanover (Larry Stalbaum, $10) shared the glory Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s co-featured $48,000 Open Handicaps. Pole-assigned Sapphire City won the weekly pacing feature, chasing Forty Five Red (Mark MacDonald) before whipping him in a two-speed number (:27.4, :56.1, 1:24, 1:51.4). The final margin was a medium-sized nose, a season’s-best effort. The Real One (Pat Lachance) was a belated third as the 7-5 favorite, with Frankie’s Dragon (Dan Dube) and E Z Noah (Brian Sears) completing the cashers. For second choice Sapphire City, a 7-year-old millionaire Metropolitan gelding trained by Paul Blumenfeld for co-owners Centaur Stables and Jordan Sklut, it was his fifth win in 26 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $35.20, with the triple returning $150. The week’s marquee trot saw the lass Backstreet Hanover — from post position No. 5 — move from seventh turning for home to win going away. The margin was 2-1/4 lengths in a season’s-best 1:55.2. Rock Of Cashel (Tyler Buter) rallied for second with ABC Muscles Boy (Eric Carlson), Skates N Plates (MacDonald) and Tober (Bartlett) settling for the remainder. The latter two mixed it up early (:27.4, :57.1, 1:25.4), helping the cause of the closers. Tepid 7-2 fave Theraputic (Joe Bongiorno) was a non-factor seventh. For third choice Backstreet Hanover, a 7-year-old daughter of Andover Hall trained by Chris Marino for owner David Hamm, it was her fourth win in 19 ’15 tries. The exacta paid $115, the triple returned $744 and the superfecta paid $4,716.

The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono
Musselsfrmbrussels, nearly ten lengths off a wild early pace by Getitoffyourchest at the three-quarters, rallied strongly to win the $24,000 featured pace at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono Saturday, edging Malak Uswaad N by a nose in 1:49.1. Geitoffyourchest posted unbelievable numbers of :25.1, :52.2 and 1:19.4, with driver Simon Allard kicking out the earplugs nearing the three-quarters even though his pacer had an eight length lead. Allard was proven correct in his concern for keeping his horse going, as Malak Uswaad N was rapidly gaining uncovered for Jim Morrill Jr., with Musselsfrmbrussels and Anthony Napolitano right on his back. Malak Uswaad N took the lead in midstretch, but “ANap” kept after Musselsfrmbrussels and he took the measure of his foe right on the line. Getitoffyourchest wound up sixth. The winning son of Modern Art is conditioned by Pocono’s leading trainer, Rene Allard, who had three winners on the night at press time, as did Pocono’s leading driver George Napolitano Jr. The career winner of $549,383 equaled his lifetime mark for Allard Racing Inc., Yves Sarrazin and Serge Bureau.

Running Aces
Minnesota’s finest in-state bred 3-year-old pacers went postward Saturday night for a recently-enhanced purse of $16,000. When the smoke cleared, it was Toatsmygoats (Rick Magee) scoring his second triumph of the season in 1:54.4, besting Queen Of Denial (Nick Roland) by a half-length with Gooch’s Hot Rod (Dean Magee) another two lengths back in third. Toatsmygoats sat fourth in the eight-horse field throughout the first three-quarters, then swung wide for the stretch drive and sealed the deal with a quickest-of-all :28.2 final panel. The son of Relentless Yankee, owned by Van Otterloo Stables and trained by David Flinn, was the 2-year-old Minnesota state champion on the merits of seven wins in eight starts but has taken longer to round into top form in 2015. He now has banked $61,440 — all earned at Running Aces — in just 15 lifetime starts. Party Hangover Two (Steve Wiseman) returned to her winning ways in an $8,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace, turning back Rev Me Up (Nick Roland) and Kiss On The Lips (Gerry Longo) in 1:53 for her fifth win of the current summer meet. Owned by the partnership of Arnstine, Chambers and Plested, the speedy 4-year-old daughter of Party At Artsplace upped her career bounty to $905,541 with the victory. A $6,500 Open II for males was also presented with Cowboy Cold (Luke Plano) making a successful leap in class to win in 1:52.2. Plano took full advantage of a pocket ride to edge fast-closing Quality Sport (Steve Wiseman) by a neck. Frontrunner Mattox’s Spencer (Nick Roland) faded to third in the lane, beaten by two lengths. Three drivers scored doubles on the Saturday program — Tony Succarotte, Tim Maier and Rick Magee. In addition to the purse increases from $11,000 to $16,000 on all Minnesota-sired races for 2- and 3-year-olds the remainder of the Running Aces meet, all overnight race purses will be raised by 20 percent, effective immediately. Some stalls are available if any stable is interested in coming to Minnesota to try Running Aces for the final month of the season. Interested parties can contact Director of Racing Gregg Keidel at 651.925.4532.

Tioga Downs
While he was able to draw clear of his four rivals on the far turn, Bourbon Bay ($9.00) needed every last ounce of energy he could muster to stave off late charges from two of his foes in Saturday evening’s $12,000 Open Trot at Tioga Downs. Lessee-driver John Cummings Jr. sent the 4-year-old Sand Vic gelding right to the front, establishing an easy lead through a :28.1 initial quarter before coasting through a :57.2 half. On the backstretch, Bourbon Bay accelerated clear, amassing a four length lead over Spice It Up Lindy (Mike Simons) on the far turn. While Spice It Up Lindy was working to stave off the steadily gaining Bound For Fame (Corey Braden) in the battle for second, Bourbon Bay was fully extended in the final 150 yards. Despite his advantage shrinking with every stride, Bourbon Bay held off Spice It Up Lindy to win in 1:54.1 by a diminishing half-length. Bound For Fame closed stoutly just the same, checking in a close third. Megan Wilson trains Bourbon Bay, who scored his 14th win of the year. Aaron Byron and Mike Simons led all drivers with three wins apiece on the nine-race card.

Vernon Downs
A bold middle move was enough for Pounce K ($19.00) to overpower odds-on favorite Count Speed in Saturday evening’s $8,000 Open II Trot at Vernon Downs. Chris Lems settled the 5-year-old Donato Hanover gelding just worse than midfield in the initial stages, drafting well off a :28.1 first quarter duel between Count Speed (John MacDonald) and Gaelic And Garlic (Frank Davis). On the backstretch, Pounce K made an aggressive move, vaulting clear of rivals en route to a clear lead on the approach to the far turn. Once Count Speed pulled the half back to :57.4, he struggled to fend off the charging Pounce K, who subsequently opened up the lead to 3-1/2 lengths through a 1:25.2 three-quarters. Pounce K would hold that margin intact to a 1:54.1 victory as Fleetwood Hall (Roman Lopez) and Frisky Joe (Claude Huckabone III) mounted mild late bids to round out the top three spots. Odds-on favorite Count Speed faded to finish sixth in the seven-horse event. David Dewhurst trains Pounce K for owner Regina Dewhurst. Lems and Jimmy Whittemore both recorded driving doubles on the nine-race card.

Kawartha Downs
Reg Gassien held the hot hands at Kawartha Downs as he scored a hat trick. His third win came with trotter Parkhill Horton who was a two length victor in 1:59.2. It was the second straight win at the Fraserville oval for the 7-year-old gelding by Oaklea Julian trained by Brian Collins for owner Alvin Cormier. Gassien also visited the winner’s circle with Fathers Amiga and Charlie Badlands.