from harness publicists across North America

Friday’s (June 28) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Tioga Downs, The Meadows, Northfield Park, Vernon Downs and Buffalo Raceway.

All Spirit wins Tioga Downs Friday feature

Nichols, NY — All Spirit won for the third time this season in the mares top pacing class, the Miracle Mile 1, this one in a front-stepping 1:52.2 on Friday at Tioga Downs.

Fred Brown photo

All Spirit was a 1:52.2 winner on Friday at Tioga Downs.

With a track listed as ‘good,’ All Spirit left from her assigned outside post and cruised unchallenged through fractions of :26.4, :55.1 and 1:23. In the stretch, All Spirit remained unopposed until Haggin Oaks made a late bid, but was just too far back to catch the heavy favorite.

The win was one of three on the night for the combination of driver Jim Marohn, Jr. and trainer Judy Lanpher. The pair made trips to the winner’s circle in the third race with Ideal Temptation and the fifth race with Sinspirational. Ideal Temptation was a $23 upset winner in the non-winners of three while Sinspirational was sent off as the bettors’ choice in the Miracle Mile 3.

Jim Marohn, Jr. picked up one more win in the finale to finish off his total at four for the evening. Antonino Buttitta picked up a driving/training double in back-to-back races while driver Aaron Byron also managed a driving double in back-to-back races.

Tioga Downs continues live racing action on Saturday (June 29) with a post time of 6:50 p.m.

— Jason Bluhm

The Meadows
While the Meadows Racetrack & Casino was celebrating its 50th anniversary, Do Me Honor observed the event in her customary style, winning her 11th race of the year in the $18,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Pace. But it wasn’t easy for her, despite a comfortable half on the point in :58. She was headed around the final turn by the first-over Ali Rush and had to dig in for Aaron Merriman to recapture the lead and down Ali Rush by a neck in 1:53.4. The pocket-sitting Ole Miss was third. Bill Bercury owns and trains the 5-year-old daughter of Cheyenne Rei-Do Me Right, who now boasts $353,218 in career earnings.

Northfield Park
Pebble Creek won the $6,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace for the second straight week on Friday at Northfield Park. She is trained by Virgil Morgan, Jr. for owner Debbie Bird. Morgan retained Wyatt Irvine as her driver. Pebble Creek (Modern Art-Hayser Creek) started from post six. Irvine sent her straight to the lead and she never looked back. Pebble Creek paced fractions of :28, :57, 1:25 and 1:53.4. She was 1-1/4 lengths in front at the finish. Completing the race were Shez Good Osborne, Posey Patch, Fly To The Angels, Haley Louise, Mias Star and It Must Be Magic. Pebble Creek now has 12 career wins and earnings of $140,845. She returned $7.40 to win.

Vernon Downs
Cowgirl Hall and driver Rick Plano shared top billing during Friday night’s 12-race program at Vernon Downs. Former New York Sires Stakes standout Cowgirl Hall collected her first win of the season with a fast-closing 1:55 effort in Friday’s $6,200 feature, while Plano, the track’s leading reinsman and trainer again this season, posted five first-place finishes to tie Roman Lopez for most victories on a single card after 29 current programs. Trainer Gates Brunet did the teaming in Friday’s seventh session as Cowgirl Hall settled into fifth place during the early going, advanced to fourth around the final turn, and then turned on the speed in the final furlong to defeat the pocket-sitting Salome Marvel by a little more than two lengths. Friday’s first marked the 12th lifetime tally by the 4-year-old daughter of Cash Hall-Centerfold Hall. The career earner of $411,304 is shared in ownership by Deborah Brunet, Y. Jean Brunet, Theodore Gewertz and Michael Rosenthal. Plano, the 2012 driving and training champ, captured the second (Cannae Barron), fifth (Armbro Doyle), sixth (Ulay Boko), eighth (Mchoffman) and 11th (Keystone Sapphire) events. The 61-year-old horseman also chalked up a second-place finish and a trio of thirds while raising his leading win count for the meet to 57 and his top training total to 25. The trotters Ulay Boko, owned by Maryann Plano, and Don Dinero, registered to owner and trainer Jenny Melander, each collected their fifth Vernon victories of 2013 and moved into a tie with the square-gaiter Hold On Tightly and pacer Canaco Star for most equine scores through June 28.

Buffalo Raceway
Haste, an 11-year-old Inquirer gelding, won the $11,000 Open Trot in a season’s best 1:59.1 for owner Garry Martin at Buffalo Raceway Friday night over a track labeled good. It was the second win in 11 attempts this season for Haste, who finished second in the Open II last week. Haste ($20.40), dismissed by the bettors at 9-1, settled in second from post two with Shawn McDonough in the bike, as Hailstorm Volo (Jack Flanigen) hit the quarter in :28.4. Last week’s Open winner Mythical Hall (Ron Beback, Jr.) cleared the leader and hit the half in a swift :58.2. Haste, who was shuffled back to fifth at the top of the stretch, was able to use the passing lane and with a :30 last quarter-mile beat second place finisher Headingforaruckus (Ed McNeight, Jr.) by 1-1/4 lengths at the finish line. Rocky Boy (Jacques Beaudoin) came in third. Trained by Sue Stockwell, the $5,500 share of the purse put Haste’s season’s earnings at $12,470 and $542,098 lifetime. It was his 37th win in 258 lifetime starts. John Cummings, Jr. led all drivers with four wins on the card.