from harness publicists across North America

Saturday’s (March 16) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Yonkers Raceway, Saratoga Casino and Raceway and Buffalo Raceway.

Flem N Em N scores in Yonkers Open

Yonkers, NY — Flem N Em N (George Brennan) prevailed from the pocket Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $35,000 Open Handicap Pace.

Sean Hamrock photo

Flem N Em N was a 1:54 winner in the Open Handicap Pace.

Leaving from post position No. 3, Flem N Em N made the lead, then deferred to Something For Doc (Matt Kakaley) before a :27.2 opening quarter-mile.

Something For Doc was able to rate a “sloppy” :29.2 second interval (:56.4 half) before Village Beat (Jason Bartlett) moved from third. That one turned up the heat going toward the 1:25 three-quarters, with Something For Doc taking a 1-1/2 length lead into the lane.

However, Something For Doc was about to meet up with some interlopers on both sides. Flem N Em N went by, widening out by a length in 1:54. Second went to Modern Day Clyde (Brian Sears), with Village Beat, Four Corners (Jordan Stratton) and a tiring Something For Doc completing the cashers.

Flem N Em N, an 8-year-old Down Under Courage Under Fire gelding owned by Bamond Racing and trained by PJ Fraley, returned $28.60 (sixth choice) for his fourth win in nine seasonal starts. The exacta paid $155, with the triple returning $529.

Series action is in full force next week with the second leg of the Petticoat (Monday), second leg of the Sagamore Hill (Tuesday) and opening legs of both the Blue Chip Matchmaker and George Morton Levy Memorial (Friday and Saturday, respectively).

— Frank Drucker

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
Code Word moved his local record to two-for-two behind an impressive second half surge in Saturday’s Open Pace at Saratoga Casino and Raceway. Joe Bongiorno piloted the standout pacer for trainer Conor Flynn and sat patiently throughout the first half. Silent Swing (Billy Dobson) cut the mile but could not withstand the pressure that Code Word (Western Terror) put on him. Code Word drew away late before stopping the timer in 1:53, the fastest mile of the young season at the Spa. Cash Cab (Tyler Buter) closed up the rail for second while Silent Swing held on for third. The win was one of three on the night for reinsman Joe Bongiorno.

Buffalo Raceway
Spender Hanover, a 7-year-old gelding by Cam’s Card Shark, won the $11,000 Open Pace in 1:56.2 for owner Michael Ouriel at Buffalo Raceway Saturday night. It was the second win this year for Spender Hanover, who registered nine wins in 39 starts last year. Spender Hanover ($22.40), dismissed by the bettors at 10-1 and driven by Jim McNeight, settled in second from post two as Every Girls Desire (Jack Flanigen) set all the fractions in the race, :29.2, :58.1 and 1:27.3. As the field hit the top of the stretch, Spender Hanover swung inside to the passing lane and with a :28.3 last quarter-mile edged second place finisher Dontgetinskyway (Dave McNeight III) by a half- length at the finish line. Cole Hard Cash (Dan Noble) came in third. Trained by Don Rothfuss, the $5,500 share of the purse put Spender Hanover’s season’s earnings at $18,800 and $250,553 lifetime. John Cummings, Jr., and brother Kevin Cummings led all drivers with three wins apiece on the card.