from harness publicists across North America

Sunday’s (March 17) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Harrah’s Philadelphia, Saratoga Casino and Raceway and Dover Downs.

Ideal Champ scores in Sunday feature at Harrah’s Philadelphia

Chester, PA — It was a cold, overcast day at Harrah’s Philadelphia, but it was “ideal” for one winner.

Ideal Champ at 5-2, with Eric Goodell in the sulky, overtook the 4-5 favorite, pacesetter Man He Can Skoot, in the passing lane to take the $18,000 featured race on Sunday.

Driver David Miller took the 4-year-old gelding Man He Can Skoot out of the gate as Eric Goodell fired out with Ideal Champ to fight for the early lead. Ideal Champ got the lead of :27.1 at the first quarter pole, as Man He Can Skoot was on the outside second. Then Miller asked for some more speed from Man He Can Skoot and cleared Ideal Champ to take the lead past the grandstand the first time. Man He Can Skoot hit the half-mile pole in :55.3.

As they rolled up the Delaware River backside, Tim Tetrick took Machapelo on the outside to challenge Man He Can Skoot for the lead, going almost head to head, but Man He Can Skoot repelled the challenge and hit the three-quarter pole in 1:23.4.

Goodell was itching to take Ideal Champ, who was saving ground behind Man He Can Skoot, to the passing lane. As they turned for home Man He Can Skoot was all out in mid-stretch, as Ideal Champ shot up the passing lane to win by a half-length in 1:51.3. Man He Can Skoot was second, while Lindwood Player finished third.

The $15,000 co-feature was the first race of the day as the 4-year-old gelding Astor went wire-to-wire in 1:52.2 to give Tim Tetirck his first win of the day. Arpeggio Hanover at 8-1 was second and Maytime Terror at 5-1 was third. Astor paid $2.60 for the win. It was Astor’s second win this season out of six starts.

With today being St. Patrick’s Day and the color of the day is green, any driver who had green in their uniform colors had a “green” day for patrons. Tim Tetirck and Corey Callahan had three winners each.

— Millard Beatty

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
It was a big weekend at Saratoga for the Mark Ford-Billy Dobson combination. On the Saturday night card, they teamed up for three victories. Dobson, who piloted five winners on the Saturday program, got the assignment behind classy mare Up Front Kellie Jo (Bettor’s Delight) on Sunday afternoon. The mare, who has been a force in Open company in past seasons, dropped down in class on the matinee card despite finishing second in the Fillies and Mares Open on opening day two weeks ago. Up Front Kellie Jo wound up as the second choice in the betting but raced like the classy mare she is. The 7-year-old mare endured a first over journey to get the best of the favorite Legerdepan (Bruce Aldrich, Jr.) and record her 30th career victory. Legerdepan was the runner-up while longshot Farouche Hanover (Simon Allard) secured the show spot in the mile paced in 1:57.3. One night after piloting five winners, Dobson added four more to his total on Sunday afternoon.

Dover Downs
Aiden’s Artist won for the second time in his last three outings on Sunday in the Delaware $20,000 male claiming pace at Dover Downs. The victory by Aiden’s Artist was the second of three on the day for Allan Davis. Wayne Givens trains the Artiscape-Lady Kimberly Lynn gelding who won for the second time in 2013. Smile A Little (Jim Morand) was the place horse with early pacesetter Come Together (George Dennis) saving third. The win was the 13th for Aiden’s Artist, now a career winner of $176,759. In addition to Davis and Vic Kirby with three win afternoons, Ross Wolfenden and Ben Stafford, Jr. had two wins each and trainer Ben Stafford also had two winners.