from harness publicists across North America

Friday’s (Feb. 4) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Yonkers Raceway, The Meadows, Cal-Expo and Buffalo Raceway.

Fast-closing Farmer’s Tuition takes co-feature at Yonkers

Yonkers, NY — Inside assignee Farmer’s Tuition (Cat Manzi) sat fourth around the Friday night oval, then closed ranks late to win Yonkers Raceway’s co-featured $32,500 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.

Tom Berg photo

Farmer’s Tuition rallied late to win Yonkers Raceway’s co-featured $32,500 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.

Breakheart Pass (Dan Dube), as the 2-1 choice, crossed over from her outside venue, putting up fractions of :27.2, :56.2, and 1:25. Twin B Tiara (Eric Goodell) sat a tight pocket, with B Intensified (George Brennan) third in a strung-out octet.

However, the fractions began to take their toll on the leader, who came back to her pursuers nearing the 1:53.4 mile marker. Farmer’s Tuition had the most momentum, going on to win by a length-and-a-half in the 1-1/16 time of 2:00.4. Twin B Tiara was second, with Breakheart Pass, B Intensified and Park Avenue (Tyler Buter) grabbing the remainder.

For Farmer’s Tuition, a 5-year-old daughter of Apache’s Fame trained by Joe Anderson for co-owners Gerrie Tucker and Debbie Bird, she returned $13 (fourth choice) for her second win in three seasonal starts.

Friday night’s co-featured $32,500 Open Handicap Trot saw 2-1 favorite Pembroke Prayer (Brennan) survive a long, first-over battle with T J’s Mr. Lavec (Jason Bartlett), then get the wire just ahead of a fast-closing Baby Boy Grin (Larry Stalbaum).

Pembroke Prayer found the wire a half-length before Baby Boy Grin, getting the added distance in 2:02.3. T J’s Mr. Lavec, Rompaway Beau (Manzi) and Shoeless White Sox (Jeff Gregory) came away with the small change.

For Pembroke Prayer, a 7-year-old Like a Prayer gelding co-owned by (trainer) Mark Ford and William Varney, he returned $6.70 for his first win in five ’11

— Frank Drucker

The Meadows
Jans Luck ended an uncharacteristic drought Friday at The Meadows when she moved first-over and went on to capture the $22,500 Filly & Mare Not Listed Preferred/Preferred Handicap Pace. Jans Luck boasts more than $805,000 in career earnings, but she endured a troubled 2010 when she could manage only four starts and was off the board in three previous outings this year. Her frustration ended when she moved from third before the three-quarters for Dave Palone and overtook the leader, Personal Ad, in short order.Jans Luck prevailed in 1:53.2, a length better than the game Personal Ad, with Tremor Hanover a rallying third. Ron Burke trains Jans Luck, a 7-year-old daughter of Camluck-Jans Scooter, for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, JJK Stables and M1 Stable.

Cal-Expo
Leg 2 action of the Denali Conditioned-Claiming Series for pacers was featured at Cal Expo on Friday night (February 3) for a purse of $3,500, on which Lily’s Hi Ho was the pocket-rocket. Wearing down an all-out Hi Ho Steverino in deep-stretch while not all-out himself, the Bob Johnson owned and trained four year-old won ($3.40) by three-quarters of one-length, in 154.3. Hi Ho Steverino went down fighting while settling for the place honors, and Amigo De Garcia (Tim Maier) finished 5-1/2-lengths farther back, in third.

Buffalo Raceway
Artistry In Rhythm, a 9-year-old Real Artist chestnut mare, won the $10,000 Filly and Mares Open Pace in 1:59.4, for owner Betty Tauber, of East Brunswick NJ, here at Buffalo Raceway Friday night (February 4). It was the first win this season for Artistry In Rhythm, who won $83,913 last year. Artistry In Rhythm ($3.20) leaving from the pylons in the field of seven, and driven by reinsman Ken “Doc” Holliday made every pole a winning one, setting all the fractions in the race, :29.2, 1:00, and 1:30.3. A :29.1 last quarter-mile put the winner 1-1/4 lengths ahead of second place finisher Hidden Touch (John Cummings, Jr.) at the finish line. Dappers Flash (Jamie Dunlap) came in third. “She’s (Artistry In Rhythm) just a good old gal who knows how to get the job done”, said Holliday. Trained by Ken’s wife Sherri, the $5,000 share of the winning purse put Artistry In Rhythm’s season bankroll at $7,500 and $318,742 lifetime.