from harness publicists around North America

Thursday’s (Jan. 20) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Dover Downs, The Meadows and Cal Expo.

Cool, Bryson Seelster win Dover features

Dover, DE — Cool, one of Ron Pierce’s five winners, and Bryson Seelster won the $14,000 4&5-year-old co-features on Thursday, Jan. 20 at Dover Downs.

Fotowon photo

Cool was one of four winners driven by Ron Pierce on Thursday’s card at Dover Downs.

In the first $14,000 pace for young horses, Ron Pierce squired Cool into the lead and then led the rest of a front-pacing 1:54.1 mile for his first 2011 win. Ron Dixon trains the Village Jolt-Winwood Gambler gelding for WJ McDougall Racing. Elijah Hanover (Matt Kakaley) finished second with Pinehaven Rusty (Brad Hanners) closing from far back for third.

In the co-feature, Bryson Seelster and driver Corey Callahan worked their way up on the outside to take command after the opening quarter and continued onward. The Camluck-Bolero Bogota gelding opened up at the three-quarters and breezed home a 1:55.1 winner for the sixth time in his last eight starts with two seconds. Dylan Davis trains the winner and shares ownership with Mike Casalino. Albanian Artist (Ross Wolfenden) was second with Red Hour Back (Matt Kakaley) coming on for third.

— Marv Bachrad

The Meadows
Aided by live cover down the backside, Bettis powered wide through the stretch to capture Thursday’s $22,500 Preferred Handicap Trot at The Meadows. Bettis was sitting fifth for Aaron Merriman and seemingly facing a long first-over grind when Tough Call popped off the pylons to provide escort service. Bettis, the 6-5 favorite, outkicked Tough Call in the lane to defeat that rival by 2 lengths in 1:56 over a track rated “good.” Springboard shot the Lightning Lane for third. David Wade trains Bettis, a 6-year-old Sierra Kosmos-SJ’s Shad Roe gelding who has won four of his last five starts, and owns with William F. Peel III and Gerald Brittingham. It was one of three wins on the 14-race card for Merriman.

Cal Expo
Conditioned and claiming trotters, racing for a $3,400 purse, were featured at Cal Expo on Thursday night, in which Alpine Hawk won for the 34th time in his career. Owned by Jim Winske, trained by Gordy Graham and driven by Rich Wojcio, Alpine Hawk scored ($4.60) strongly by two lengths in 1:57.3, a seasonal best. Berkshire (Steve Wiseman) was a good second and Twice The Ruckus (James Kennedy) finished 1-1/2 lengths farther back in third.