from harness publicists across North America

Sunday’s Racing Roundup features results stories from Saratoga Harness and Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

Cocoa Beach victorious in Saratoga feature

Saratoga, NY —Sunday marked the return of the Fillies and Mares Open at Saratoga. Eight top mares slugged it out for the winner’s share of the $20,000 purse and it was Cocoa Beach who reigned victorious on the beautiful afternoon in the Spa City.

Dave Oxford photo

Cocoa Beach pushed her bankroll over $100,000 by winning Sunday’s Fillies & Mares Open at Saratoga Harness.

Just two weeks ago, Cocoa Beach (Mach Three) was a $10,000 claim for owner-trainer Brittany Robertson and on Sunday, the mare added Open winner to her resume. For Cocoa Beach, her fifth win in a row came in a career best 1:52.4 in the feature for distaff pacers. Dan Cappello Jr was the winning driver. Terror Rising (Bruce Aldrich Jr) sat the pocket to the favored winner and ended up second while Bell On Wheels (Harry Landy) closed to earn the show spot.

Just a month ago, Cocoa Beach had lifetime earnings of just over $70,000 but after Sunday’s Open, she now is the owner of a bankroll of over $100,000.

— Mike Sardella

Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs
Lorrie Please held up under intense pressure in the stretch to capture Sunday night’s featured Preferred pace for mares at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. The race carried a purse of $25,000. Leaving from an inside post in a field of five as the 5-2 second choice, Lorrie Please (Western Ideal-National Gallery), a 6-year-old mare from the Michael Hall barn, took the lead around the first turn by passing early pacesetter Rhapsody Rose. The mare held the lead from there and in the stretch somehow sustained despite horses closing fast on both sides of her. Driver Eric Carlson guided her to the win by a neck in a career-best 1:50:2. Sweet Hedge just missed in second while Unred Hanover picked up the show. Owned by Allen Kaplan, Ira Kaplan, and David Sheib, Lorrie Please won for the fourth time in 15 races this season. It was her 26th career victory, giving her lifetime earnings of $351,290.