from harness publicists across North America

Friday’s (Nov. 28) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Yonkers Raceway, Batavia Downs and Harrah’s Philadelphia.

Palm Patrol wins Friday distaff feature at Yonkers

Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway’s Friday night $21,000 featured fairer-sex pace was won by a cone-skimming Palm Patrol (Mark MacDonald, $34).

Sean Hamrock photo

Palm Patrol was a 1:54.3 winner in the Yonkers feature.

Sitting third along the pylons from post position No. 2, Palm Patrol saw Sir Jillian Z Tam (Pat Lachance) seemingly in control through fractions of :28, :58.1 and 1:28.2. Getting no grief from a first-up Rock N Load (Jordan Stratton), Sir Jillian Z Tam owned a 1-1/2 length lead into the lane, but was about to hit the wall.

Cooking The Books (Eric Carlson) edged from the pocket, leaving the passing lane for Palm Patrol and she did indeed pass. The latter whipped the former by a head in 1:54.3, with a closing Our Els Dream N (Jason Bartlett), Sir Jillian Z Tam and 3-2 favorite Road Bet (George Brennan) settling for the small change.

For sixth choice Palm Patrol, a 5-year-old daughter of Mach Three owned by Robert Burgess and trained by Carmen Auciello, it was her sixth win (third consecutive) in 35 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $120, the triple returned $1,580 and the superfecta paid $10,524.

Friday’s Pick-5, which began with a carryover of $3,699.73, saw a new $10,781.52 invested. The winning combination of 4-4-7-5-2 returned $734.50 for every half-buck, not entirely bad for a sequence that included three winning favorites and one second choice.

The Raceway’s five program per week live schedule changes, with first post every Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:10 p.m., and the fourth of six Sunday matinees (replacing Tuesday evenings) this weekend at 11 a.m. Evening simulcasting accompanies all night programs, with afternoon simulcasting available daily.

— Frank Drucker

Batavia Downs
An abbreviated field of five turned into a two horse race in Batavia Downs’ $11,000 Open Trot on Friday night and for the fifth time of the meet Lutetium prevailed. Driver Kevin Cummings utilized a very unconventional strategy with the front-running Lutetium, letting Second Hand News (Shawn McDonough) cut the mile and then taking a two hole trip. Second Hand News proceeded to dictate the pace with fractions of :28.2, 1:00 and 1:29.4 through the cold night air while Lutetium followed snug in second and the rest of the field watched from behind. At the top of the stretch Cummings pulled the pocket and Lutetium brought game while methodically running down the race-long leader to the wire, eventually winning by a head in 1:59. Second Hand News was second and Absolutely Certain (Ron Beback Jr.) finished third. The victory was number 16 overall for the year for Lutetium ($5.30) and pushed his earnings to $90,190 for owner Colleen Girdlestone. The 7-year-old Credit Winner gelding is trained by Mark Laidlaw. Drivers Kevin Cummings and Dave McNeight III had outstanding nights in the bike as they both won four races on the card. Ron Beback Jr. also registered a driving double. Lofty superfecta payoffs continued in race 12 at Batavia as the 4-5-6-7 combination returned $7,647. Live racing resumes on Saturday (Nov. 29) at Batavia Downs with the first of two doubleheader cards being presented. Post times are set for 12:15 p.m. and 6:35 p.m.

Harrah’s Philadelphia
A field of six went to post in the featured event at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Friday, a winners over $25,000 lifetime for filly and mare pacers. The heavy favorite was Ron Burke trainee Charisma Hanover (Yannick Gingras), coming off of a solid third place finish in the Breeders Crown Mare Open last Saturday at The Meadowlands. She wasted no time getting started, as she left swiftly off the wings to secure the lead. She was clear until just past the five-eighths, when Rockaround Sue (George Napolitano Jr.) moved first-over to challenge. By the top of the stretch, Rockaround Sue grinded away to a clear lead and was able to hold off late moves from Spirit Of Desire (Mike Simons) and Mach A Wish (Corey Callahan) to notch her 16th career victory. Rockaround Sue ($9.80) is owned by Bamond Racing and J&T Silva Stables, and is trained by PJ Fraley.