from harness publicists around North America

Thursday’s (Dec. 2) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Dover Downs and Cal Expo.

Nova Artist, Foxland win Thursday Dover features

Dover, DE — Nova Artist and Foxland chalked up impressive victories in separate $14,000 3,4&5-Year-Old pace divisions on Thursday, Dec. 2 at Dover Downs.

Fotowon photo

Allan Davis guided the son of Real Artist-Avon Lady to victory in 1:53.1.

Early this season Nova Artist was a highly thought of colt in the 3-year-old ranks but some minor injuries prevented him from being a major item in the sophomore summer stakes. After racing in the Progress Pace and Matron, Nova Artist stood out in his first outing since as Allan Davis guided the son of Real Artist-Avon Lady to victory in 1:53.1. The retired Eddie Davis, the all-time leading driver in the Delaware Valley and his wife Kathy own Nova Artist, a winner of three races and $150,649 this year. Rafferty Hanover (Ross Wolfenden) was the best of the rest finishing second. Never Going Away (Tony Morgan) took show honors.

Foxland made good use of starting from post 1 as Tony Morgan steered the Badlands Hanover –Fox Valley Hooker gelding to the front and then held off fast finishing Mr Jerry C (Tom Curtin) and Perfect Gentleman (Ross Wolfenden) for a 1:54.3 win in the other $14,000 event for young horses.

— Marv Bachrad

Cal Expo
Racing first-over in the slop didn’t prevent Meringue from winning for the 22nd time in his career on Thursday night in the $4,300 featured trot. Coming away fifth for driver James Kennedy while not leaving from post position six, the 5-year-old remained fifth until pulling first-over to the half-mile pole after a :29.1 opening quarter and into a 1:00.3. first half. Moving nicely with 7-16ths of a mile to go, Kennedy decided to attack the pacesetting Easter Call (Ralph Silvestri III) midway through the final turn and put a long neck up at the three-quarter-mile station, timed in 1:31.4. Powering into the lead to the top of the lane and drawing clear by 2-1/2 lengths into the stretch, Kennedy went to work on his charge and there’d be no catching the gelding. Owned by Dawn Evango and trained by Kennedy Lindsey, Meringue won ($16.00) by 2-1/4 lengths in 2:02. Putoneonnetformom (Rich Wojcio) finished in second and Berkshire (Steve Wiseman) finished just a neck farther back in third.