by harness publicists across North America

Friday’s (Jan. 16) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Yonkers Raceway, The Meadows, Miami Valley Raceway and Buffalo Raceway.

Spirit of Desire captures distaff handicap pace at Yonkers

Yonkers, NY — Spirit of Desire (Jason Bartlett, $9.20) outfought Palm Patrol (Mark MacDonald) in a good, old-fashioned match race Friday night (Jan 16), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $35,000 featured Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.

In play early from post position five, Spirit of Desire worked around Palm Patrol just at a :27.4 opening quarter-mile. After a :57.2 intermission, Momma Rock (Brian Sears) tried it first-up from fourth. However, that bid was weak at best as Spirit of Desire found a 1:25.4 three-quarters.

She and her “stalker” then had the race to themselves through the lane. Palm Patrol appeared to grab a short lead, but the aptly-named Spirit of Desire stuck her tongue out on the money in 1:55. Momma Rock wound up a best-of-the-rest third, beaten more than seven lengths. Last week’s victress—and this week’s slight 5-2 choice—Set Me Up (George Brennan) and Cooking the Books (Eric Carlson) rounded out the payees.

For fourth choice Spirit of Desire, a 5-year-old daughter of Real Desire trained by Tim Lancaster for co-owners Bill Lancaster, Neal Rosenberg and Margaret Ames, it was her second win in as many seasonal starts The exacta paid $52.50, with the triple returning $272.

— Frank Drucker

The Meadows
R Marie Hanover reclaimed the lead at the quarter and had just enough lick late to capture Friday’s (Jan 16) $15,000 Filly & Mare Not Listed Preferred Pace at The Meadows. R Marie Hanover opened a two-length margin at the top of the lane for Aaron Merriman but was all out to hold off the Lightning Lane charge of Certified Ideal, who fell a neck short. Doubelieveinmagic rallied for show in the 1:54 mile. Megan Rogers Racing Stables campaigns R Marie Hanover, a 5-year-old daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-R Ellen Hanover who now boasts $182,702 in lifetime earnings. Tony Hall piloted a pair of winners on the 12-race card. During Friday’s program, The Meadows honored Merriman for his 7,000th career victory, achieved Thursday at Northfield, which also recognized his outstanding accomplishments. Merriman typically splits his time between Northfield and The Meadows.

Miami Valley Raceway
Rev Me Up, who enjoyed considerable success at the inaugural Miami Valley Raceway meet in 2014, returned to Ohio Friday night (Jan 16) and captured the $16,500 Mares Open pace in 1:53.2. It was one of three driving wins on the program for Dan Noble, who split rivals in the stretch to top Rescue Team (Chris Page), who was closing fast on the outside, and pacesetter Stucklikeglue (Greg Grismore) who finished a close-up third. It was the 34th lifetime victory from 168 starts for the 8-year-old Park Place mare leased by Merl P’pool and trained by Kathy Millman. Metro Shopping (Tyler Smith) matched Rev Me Up’s 1:53.2 winning time in gate-to-wire fashion a race later in an $11,000 conditioned event. All Terror (Kayne Kauffman) and That’s My Girl G (Greg Grismore) followed the winning 4-year-old Metropolitan mare through the wire. Trent Stohler trains and co-owns Metro Shopping with Benjamin and Tim Graber. The first leg of the “Claim To Fame” late-closing series for $5,000 trotters was also contested in two divisions. The divisional winners, each claimed from their respective splits, were Beauregret (Randy Tharps) and Pacific Wave K (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.). Beauregret took full advantage of a pocket trip to best JW’S Jasmine (Kyle Ater) and In The Grippers (Brad Hanners). It was the ninth career tally for the headstrong 5-year-old homebred gelding owned until now by Lionel Watiker. Pacific Wave K beat Claim Jumper (Greg Grismore) and King Trut (Josh Sutton) in the second split. It was just the sixth career triumph for the 5-year-old Yankee Glide ridgling who is owned by William Cantrell and trainer Gary Neafus.

Buffalo Raceway
The temperature outside may be hovering near zero at Buffalo Raceway but driver Kevin Cummings is as hot as a mid-summer afternoon. After scoring four times on the opening card Wednesday evening, Cummings had another huge night Friday (January 16) with four more victories to highlight the 10-race card. He now has eight wins in just 21 starts. Cummings had a career year with 334 victories last season and over $1.5 million in purse earnings, taking both the Buffalo Raceway and Batavia Downs driving titles. Thus far, he hasn’t missed a beat to start the 2015 campaign. He scored the four-bagger with Emmy’s Junior Grin ($5.90), A Little Crazy ($10.20), Yohansbastion Mach ($5.50) and Jettison ($5.10). Shawn Gray, who also had four winners on Wednesday, came back with a double on the frigid Friday night. Racing will continue on Saturday evening at 6:35 p.m. with a 13-race card. The feature is the $10,500 Open Pace that has attracted a field of six. Youwillwishyouhad is the morning line favorite at 2-1 with John Cummings Jr. in the sulky. Youwillwishyouhad starts from the rail and has five victories and a pair of second places finishes in his last seven appearances. No Real Surprise will start from the two post as the 3-1 second choice with Frank Milby in the bike. No Real Surprise comes in on a four-race win streak.