from harness publicists across North America

Saturday’s (May 25) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Tioga Downs, The Meadows, Saratoga Casino and Raceway, Vernon Downs and Buffalo Raceway.

In Your Room scores in Saturday night Tioga feature

Nichols, NY — In Your Room and Mike Simons took home the $16,000 Open Handicap Trot on Saturday night at Tioga Downs.

Fred Brown photo

In Your Room was a 1:53.4 winner in the Open Handicap Trot.

Leaving from post three in a field of seven, Simons settled in third as the field went to the quarter in :27.4 with the favorite, Spice It Up Lindy, pressing to the front. Spice It Up Lindy and Jim Meittinis gained control of the race and took the field through a half-mile in :56.1 as Simons got underway with In Your Room first over.

At the three-quarter mark, Simons had surged to the front in 1:24.4. Around the final turn In Your Room was in total command and opened up on the field to win by three lengths in 1:53.4. Strong Hope (Mike Merton) closed late to be second, while Spice It Up Lindy hung on for third.

The mile was a new lifetime mark for the 5-year-old daughter of CR Excalibur–Chris Image. Gail Wrubel trains the winner for Classico Stables of Pennsylvania.

Greg Merton posted a driving triple on the night’s 10-race card, while Mike Simons and Aaron Byron each enjoyed driving doubles.

— Dustin Ross

The Meadows
Hugadragon vaulted right to the lead for Dave Palone and easily captured his third straight victory in Saturday’s $22,500 Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Pace at The Meadows. Although he smoked the first quarter in a demanding :26.4, Hugadragon had little trouble downing the pocket-sitting Object Of Art by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:52.3, with Western Churchill third. Ron Burke trains the 5-year-old Dragon Again-Hip Huggers gelding, who soared past $900,000 in career earnings, for Burke Racing Stable. Palone and Aaron Merriman left little on the plate for other drivers, as Palone rolled up five wins and Merriman four on the 12-race card.

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
Trainer Mark Ford has won dozens of Opens at Saratoga Casino and Raceway over the last few years and on Saturday night, he brought a new member of his stable to town to compete in the $20,000 feature. Foreign Officer (Western Ideal) teamed up with leading driver Billy Dobson as they overcame a first over journey to win the Open, wearing down the favorite in the process. Foreign Officer persevered and scored in 1:54.4 over an off track as the weekend of rain continued at the Spa. Bet On Roulette (Wally Hennessey) finished second while Money Twitch A (Dan Cappello, Jr.) charged hard late to grab the third spot, winning the photo for show over the favored Ru Ready To Rock (Bruce Aldrich, Jr.). The Ford trainee moved over the $700,000 mark in lifetime earnings behind his third win of the season.

Vernon Downs
The favorite A Penny Earned lived up to his top billing with a 1:54.4 victory in the $10,000 Open Trot, while Scofanman secured the fastest mile, a 1:54.1 pacing triumph, on Saturday night at Vernon Downs. Assigned the outside six post in Saturday’s first race, A Penny Earned went right to the front off the starting gate and stayed in the lead throughout, defeating Margarita Man by nearly four lengths. Chris Lems did the steering for trainer/part-owner George Ducharme as the 4-year-old son of Conway Hall-Penny Dream delivered a fresh win-mark, his second season’s score and 10th lifetime tally. The lifetime winner of $216,556 is also owned by Alfred Ross, Nicola Oliva and Paul Fontaine. Trainer Brian Connor was the chauffeur of Scofanman, who zipped around a damp Vernon oval to post his first current victory and third career tally in Saturday’s $3,000 third event. The 4-year-old son of No Pan Intended-Dark Fiber took command in the clubhouse curve and never looked back en route to a 3-3/4 length score for owners Arnold Merola, Kathleen Merola and Bob Barnello. Lems also won Saturday’s second race with the Champion Stable’s trotter Rockway (2:00.4) to chalk up his meet-leading fifth double. Driver Truman Gale (the pacer Western Deuce in 1:55.4 and trotter Here Comes Annie in 1:56.3) also earned a pair of win credits during the track’s 13th racing program. Leading trainer Roman Lopez (14 conditioning credits) also posted two driving tallies during Saturday’s nine-race card.

Buffalo Raceway
Goodnite Goodluck, a 7-year-old horse by Bettor’s Delight, won the $11,000 Open Pace in 1:55.3 for owner Mark Jakubik at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday night. It was the sixth win this year for Goodnite Goodluck, who went over $40,000 this year with the win. Goodnite Goodluck ($3.80), driven by Kevin Cummings, took the lead from post four and set all the fractions in the race, :28.3, :58.2 and 1:27.2. A :28.1 last quarter-mile put the winner three-quarters of a length in front of second place finisher Adelia’s Prince (Ray Fisher, Jr.). Fireyourguns (Jack Flanigen) came in third. Trained by J. D. Perrin, the $5,500 share of the purse put Goodnite Goodluck’s season’s earnings at $41,725 and $264,112 lifetime. Kevin Cummings led all drivers with four wins on the card.