from harness publicists across North America

Saturday’s (June 29) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Vernon Downs, Saratoga Casino and Raceway, Northfield Park and Pompano Park.

Northern Companion wins Vernon feature

Vernon, NY — The pacer Northern Companion and driver Truman Gale were each prominent performers during Saturday night’s 60th Anniversary celebration program at Vernon Downs.

Fotowon photo

Northern Companion was a 1:51.2 winner in the Open Pace.

Northern Companion charged home from third in a :27.3 final quarter to defeat track record-holder JK Panache in Saturday’s $10,000 featured Open Pace, while Gale, a former provisional driving champion at the track, captured four of the evening’s 13 races.

Competing over a rain-soaked “sloppy” track in Saturday’s 10th contest, Northern Companion laid back in fourth while JK Panache carved fractions of :26.3, :55.1 and 1:23.3. With trainer Robert Hoffman doing the steering, the 5-year-old son of Cambest-Smoke It Out began his closing kick near the three-quarter mark before drawing off in the final stages of the mile to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:51.2. It marked the third local score, the eighth season’s tally and the 28th lifetime win for the career-earner of $147,452, who is owned by Dorothy Zarza.

Gale started the program with wins in the Early Double behind Tobell and Hot Cowboy. He added victories with Ringo Hanover in race four and No More Drama in race 11 to join Rick Plano, Roman Lopez and Jimmy Whittemore as the only drivers to have posted four or more wins during a single Vernon card through 30 programs.

Lopez logged three wins during the evening, while Hoffman hustled up a pair of first-place finishes, as did trainer Jocelyn Lavigne.

Trainer Lopez guided the Tanah Merah Farm’s Glorious Winner to a 1:55.2 triumph in Saturday’s $8,000 Open-2 Trot.

— Jim Moran

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
Kyle Major won his second consecutive try in the local Open at Saratoga Casino and Raceway on Saturday night. The Rene Allard trainee parlayed a pocket ride to win the Saturday feature a couple of weeks ago, but this week the 6-year-old had to tough it out first over. Stephane Bouchard piloted Kyle Major to the 1:53.4 score after wearing down the front running Poker Hat (Harry Landy), who ended up second best. Ethan Hanover (Dan Cappello, Jr.) earned the show spot in the $21,400 Open Pace. With the win, Kyle Major moved his lifetime earnings past the $600,000 mark.

Northfield Park
Mosh Pit paced home for his fourth straight win Saturday in Northfield Park’s fifth race. The sophomore is owned by the partnership of Carl Howard, John Devito and Virgil Morgan, Jr. Morgan also trains. Aaron Merriman drive the first two victories and Wyatt Irvine has kept the streak alive by also steering consecutive wins. Mosh Pit started from post five, went straight to the lead and never experienced an anxious moment. He was in complete control the entire mile. Irvine rated the pacer through fractions of :28, :57.3, 1:27 and 1:56.1, winning by four lengths over his closest competitor, Mathamerica (Dale Edwards). The time was a new lifetime mark for Mosh Pit. Saturday’s triumph increased Mosh Pit’s (Rocknroll Hanover-Panevolence) lifetime win tally to five and his career earnings to $5,584. He was the overwhelming favorite and paid $2.80 to win. Mosh Pit’s win was one of three driving victories on the card for Wyatt Irvine. The gold, maroon and white Irvine colors were also in the sulky of Ataway Aidan ($9.20) who won race one and Stately’s Revenge ($8.00) who won race seven. Irvine, 34, began driving in 1995 and has since garnered 1,455 career victories and more than $4.3 million in purse earnings.

Pompano Park
Young American and Hillybilly put on star performances at Pompano Park on Saturday night while Maxine’s Menace finally reached the winner’s circle after a drought that lasted almost one full year. In the pacing feature for the mares, Young American, a 4-year-old daughter of American Ideal, scored a handy win measuring 2-1/4 lengths for Bruce Ranger over the very tough 10-year-old mare Windsun Countess (Stephane Lareau) in a lifetime best 1:54.1. She’s A Pegase (Tom Sells) finished third in the mile. Hillybilly, the sharp Florida bred 3-year-old son of N Aboriginal, used a :27 backstretch blast to put away his competition in a conditioned/optional claiming event. Also handled by Bruce Ranger for trainer Marc Aubin, Hillybilly coasted home by 2-1/4 lengths over the stout closing Freeneasy Hanover (Walter Ross, Jr.). Angle Of Attack (Joe Sanzeri) finished third. Finally, Maxine’s Menace, a rugged 10-year-old son of Cambest, ended a 51 week drought by winning for Louie Ginesi in 1:54.3 for his initial win this year in 21 starts. His last win win was on July 7. 2012. Maxine’s Menace is owned by Phyllis Smith along with trainer Howard Klohr and the win pushed his lifetime bankroll over the $225,000 mark.