from harness publicists across North America

Wednesday’s (Jan. 15) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Dover Downs, The Meadows and Buffalo Raceway.

Traverse Seelster captures Dover Open Trot

Dover, DE — Traverse Seelster made his first start in a month a winning one, taking the $20,000 Open Trot in 1:53.1 on Wednesday at Dover Downs.

Corey Callahan, the meet and currently the sport’s leading driver in 2014, guided Traverse Seelster into the lead early and led seven rivals home in 1:53.1. The holder of the track record for an older trotter notched his 22nd lifetime win, earning $425,009 in purses. Keith Pippi owns Traverse Seelster, an Angus Hall-Travelin Lavec gelding trained by Josh Green.

Awsome Valley, who had been racing on the lead with Tony Morgan in recent starts, closed along the passing lane from third to finish second. Modern Family and Daryl Bier challenged for the lead but had to accept third.

Lovely Vacation and Ron Pierce started from post one and controlled the action, scoring a 1:55.4 wire-to-wire victory in the $15,000 Winners Over Handicap Trot. Nick Surick conditions the Majestic Son-Short Vacation 5-year-old mare, the only female in the event, for owner Diane Giuliano. Can Do (Vic Kirby) closed well for second-place honors with I’m So Striking (Eddie Dennis), who had a two-race win streak halted, finishing third.

Both Corey Callahan and Ron Pierce scored a grand slam, driving four winners apiece.

— Marv Bachrad

The Meadows
Princess Pablano roared past her stablemate Perfect Chance in the stretch and notched her third consecutive victory in Wednesday’s $18,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Pace at The Meadows. Fourth down the backside, Princess Pablano followed the live cover of Definitely Mamie before Dave Palone tipped her wide for the drive. The 4-year-old daughter of Holy Guacamolie-CR Princess Bride scored in 1:57.2 on a “good” track, a neck better than the rallying Sam’s Princess. Perfect Chance saved show. Ron Burke trains Princess Pablano, who soared over $100,000 in career earnings, for Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Tony Hall, Mike Wilder and Palone each drove three winners on the 15-race card.

Buffalo Raceway
Little Santamonica arrived for Buffalo Raceway’s season opener on Wednesday night with some impressive credentials from Yonkers, Saratoga and Vernon Downs in 2013. The 6-year-old mare started out 2014 great as well. Despite being assigned the far outside post, the eight spot, it didn’t make a difference as Little Santamonica ($3.60) easily disposed of the field in the $10,500 Fillies and Mares Open Pace in 1:57.2. Sitting third behind the pacesetting High Speed Life (Ray Fisher, Jr.) and Red Star Fiona (Ron Beback, Jr.), Little Santamonica and driver Billy Dobson went first over down the backstretch the final time and used a :28.4 final panel to win by 2-3/4 lengths. High Speed Life held on for second and Red Star Fiona was third and never threatened in the lane. Little Santamonica (Little Steven-Torianne N), trained by Jordan Hope and owned by Kelly Hope, bankrolled $106,221 in 2013.