from harness publicists across North America

Saturday’s (April 30) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Scarborough Downs, Vernon Downs and Cal Expo.

The queen reclaims her throne at Scarborough Downs

Scarborough, ME — Track record holder Shady Sabrina returned to the winner’s circle on Saturday at Scarborough, claiming victory in the $5,400 Fillies and Mares Free For All for her first win after an eight-month absence from the races due to a flexor tendon injury.

Michael Newman photo

Shady Sabrina proves she is still the Queen, winning the $5,400 Free For All for Fillies and Mares on Saturday.

The “Queen” appeared in familiar form and fettle as she strode down victory lane, stopping the clock in 1:56 with driver/trainer Kevin Switzer calling the shots.

“It’s hard to bring a horse of that caliber back after that type of an injury,” said Switzer, “especially to compete at the highest level in only her second start back. I couldn’t be prouder. She was just waiting for her chance to race today, and when she cleared from the pocket, the outcome was never in doubt. She’s all horse.”

Saturday’s win marks the 65th career victory for the 9-year-old daughter of Cam’s Dignity, who is owned in partnership by Golden Hour Stable and KDK Standardbreds.

Shady Sabrina holds the track distaff record at Scarborough Downs (1:53.1), representing the second-fastest mile ever recorded in the 61-year history of the Seaside Oval.

— Susan Higgins

Vernon Downs
The pacer Mystical Valentine shrugged off a rise in class and captured Saturday night’s $10,000 Open feature at Vernon Downs. Fresh off a 1:54.2 tally in Open-2 competition here last week, Mystical Valentine ($19.00) zoomed out for the early lead, then drafted along behind Diamond Stick Pin until the stretch drive, where he battled back to the top and held off the on-rushing He’s Gorgeous by three-quarters of a length in Saturday’s 10th contest. Diamond Stick Pin finished third in the 1:51.2 mile. It was the second win in succession and the fourth in seven season’s starts for the 5-year-old son of Dream Work-Sneakheravalentine, who now sports 17 lifetime victories and winnings of $267,277. Frank Milby, sitting in for former track training champ Dave Dewhurst and owner Philip K. Hale, completed a driving double during the 12-race card. Ten-time Downs driving champ Howard Okusko, Jr. was credited with three wins during the track’s sixth live program, while driver Jack Rice and trainer Tracy Brainard each recorded a pair of first-place finishes.

Cal Expo
A field of five were featured at Cal Expo on Saturday night for a purse of $4,500, in which Ivegotwhatuneed won for the 32nd time in his career. Leaving until yielding into the first turn to Keystone Eli (Lemoyne Svendsen), driver Steve Wiseman and his 8-year-old sat a loose pocket into a :27.4 first quarter. Narrowing the gap at the 5-16ths pole in a slow :30.3 second quarter against a pretty strong headwind, the gelding remained in the pocket through a first-half mile, timed in :58.2. Getting the trip he excels off of while heavily favored Pacinello was nowhere to be found at the three-quarter station, timed in 1:27.3, Wiseman was still being patient, for the moment, with his seemingly anxious pacer. On the move to the head of the lane while under wheel-disc encouragement and responding into the lead with an eighth of a mile to go, it appeared Ivegotwhatuneed was standing tall. All-out to hold off the 2-5 Pacinello who flew home in :26.1, Ivegotwhatuneed prevailed ($10.40) by a half length. Owned by Marty Garey in partnership with trainer Bob Johnson, the son of Givemewhatineed stopped the timer at 1:55.1. A wire surging, but late on the scene Pacinello finished in second and Western So (Scott Cisco) finished one length farther back in third. For Johnson, the owning and training triumph was the start of a triple in both categories.