by harness publicists across North America

Wednesday’s (Oct. 29) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows, Harrah’s Philadelphia and Batavia Downs.

Ohio champ Lady’s Dude sets track record 1:53.2 at Meadows

Washington, PA — Lady’s Dude, Ohio’s champion 3-year-old trotter, showed Wednesday (Oct. 29) at The Meadows that he doesn’t need to take his state with him. He set a track record 1:53.2 while capturing a $12,200 conditioned event for his fourth consecutive victory. The time, a career best, knocked a tick from the previous mark for sophomore gelding trotters jointly held by Rembrandt Spur and Rose Run Mac.

Lady’s Dude was sitting third for Dave Palone when he launched an overpowering first-over move and rolled home, defeating TSM Photo Bugger by 7-1/4 lengths. Bound For Fame earned show.

Ron Burke trains Lady’s Dude, a son of Victory Sam-Lady’s Star who was unraced at two but has banked $162,736 this year, for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Johnny Yoder.

Palone drove four winners and Jim Pantaleano three on the 14-race card.

— Evan Pattak

Harrah’s Philadelphia
A field of eight mid-level conditioned pacers lined up behind the starter for the Wednesday (Oct. 29) feature from Harrah’s Philadelphia. The wagering public put their support behind veteran gelding McClelland (Brett Miller). The 8-year-old son of Cam’s Card Shark is a 32-time winner, with career earnings of over $435,000. At the start, it was the classy Southwestern Dream (Yannick Gingras) leaving aggressively from the outside. He was parked to an opening quarter in :27. His lead was short-lived however, as Yonkers invader Ideal Champ (Tim Tetrick) quickly wheeled by just after the quarter pole. After a half in :55.2 (:28.2), Ideal Champ was challenged by race-favorite McClelland, who drew within a half-length of the leader at three-quarters, which was timed in 1:22.3 (:27.1). As they turned for home, Ideal Champ kicked away from a stalling McClelland to win by three lengths, stopping the clock in 1:50.4 (:28). Southwestern Dream finished second, while Ooh Bad Boy (David Miller) rallied for third. The winner paid $11.40, keying an exacta that paid $33.80, and a trifecta worth $279.60. Ideal Champ was one of two winners for owner Francis Azur and trainer Kevin Mc Dermott. In other news, driver Tim Tetrick had six driving wins on the afternoon, following up Yannick Gingras’ six driving wins on Sunday’s program. Tim Tetrick is approximately 20 wins behind Geo. Napolitano Jr. in the driving standings, with Yannick Gingras currently third.

Batavia Downs
For the fourth time this meet, Batavia Downs leading driver Kevin Cummings won five races on one card Wednesday night to extend his insurmountable lead in the dash category. His outing included visits to the Purple Haze winner’s circle with Western Heart ($2.90), Serendipitous ($4.80), Outoftexas ($4.70), Aberarder Smitty ($11.40) and Tymal Torch ($6.10). For the current Batavia Downs meet, Cummings has 122 wins, almost double his nearest competitor, along with a gaudy UDR of .386. For the year he has 298 wins and is currently 12th in North America for UDR with a .360. His current win total, UDR and just under $1.4 million in earnings are all career bests.