from harness publicists across North America

Friday’s (Oct. 22) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Yonkers Raceway, Saratoga Gaming and Raceway, Vernon Downs, Batavia Downs and Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

I’m Betting On You, T Js Mr Lavec win $38,000 Open Handicaps

Yonkers, NY — I’m Betting On You (Daniel Dube) lived large on a lonely lead Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s co-featured $38,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.

Tom Berg photo

I’m Betting On You was a winner in 1:54.4 in the Filly and Mare Open.

Leaving from post position No. 5, I’m Betting On You stepped around Little Mermaid N (Stephane Bouchard), making the lead before a :28.2 opening quarter-mile. She then rated a :58.2 intermission before Cuz She Can (George Brennan) — as the 13-10 favorite — moved from sixth.

I’m Betting On You remained in control at the 1:26.4 three-quarters, widening to three lengths turning for home. She won by an unpressured 2-1/4 lengths in 1:54.4. Cuz She Can did get into second as Little Mermaid N bottomed out of the pocket. Jasperthat A (Cat Manzi), Style Semalu (Tyler Buter) and Ideal Newton (Jordan Stratton) completed the cashers.

I’m Betting On You, a 5-year-old daughter of Bettor’s Delight owned by Alain Durivage and trained by Rick Bilach, returned $8 (second choice) for her sixth win in 19 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $29.20, with the triple returning $159.

Friday night’s co-featured Open Handicap Trot was won by T Js Mr Lavec (Jason Bartlett) in 1:56.4.

Leaving from post No. 6, he wound up in a three hole behind 11-10 choice Don’ttellmywife (Brennan) and Shoeless White Sox (Jeff Gregory). After fractions of :28.4, :58.4 and 1:27.2, the outer flow was not an issue. T Js Mr Lavec dove deep in the passing lane, getting past the favorite by a head. Shoeless White Sox, a first-over KLM Express (Jim Marshall III) and Dink Adoo (Brent Holland) came away with the small change.

T Js Mr Lavec, a 6-year-old Mr Lavec gelding trained by Scott Blackler for co-owners Beverly Paganelli, Gary Paganelli, Leon Schickman and Allen Kaplan, returned $10.40 (second choice) for his fourth win in 16 ’10 tries. The exacta paid $40.80, with the triple returning $156.50.

— Frank Drucker

Saratoga Gaming and Raceway
Prime Interest moved his seasonal bankroll to over $100,000 for the third consecutive season at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway with another feature win. The Jackie Rousse trainee cruised to a wire-to-wire victory for Frank Coppola, Jr. on Friday night, his ninth of the 2010 season. The 2008 Horse of the Year at the track and longtime track record holder, Prime Interest has continued to dominate this season but has been equaled of late by Scorpion Moon. Scorpion Moon, who set the world record for trotting geldings on a half-mile track behind a 1:54 victory at Saratoga in August, has been the king of the Open lately. On Friday though, Prime Interest drew inside his major danger and marched right out to the lead. He would never look back before coasting to a convincing 1:56.2 win. Scorpion Moon (Dan Cappello, Jr.) closed to finish second while How’d That Feel (Brian Mattison) was third in the $16,500 Open for trotters.

Vernon Downs
Newcomer Lord Burghley made his first Vernon Downs venture a winning one in Friday night’s $12,000 featured ninth race. With Jack Rice doing the driving for owner and trainer Tracy Brainard, Lord Burghley ($4.40) raced on the lead throughout the week’s Miracle Mile-1 contest for representatives of the diagonal gait and drew off in the lane for a three length victory. The career-best 1:54.2 performance resulted in the second win in succession, the sixth this season and the 16th overall for the 9-year-old bay son of Armbro Invasion-Lady Of Substance, who raised his career winnings to nearly $129,000. Mystic Splendor continued his winning ways in the evening’s MM-2 confrontation, posting a front striding 1:56.3 victory in race eight that became his third first-place finish in succession and fifth in 2010. Howard Okusko, Jr. handled the reins for trainer Jessica Okusko, who owns the 4-year-old trotting horse with Kenneth Finnerty. In somewhat of a unique occurrence, Mystic Splendor’s older full brother Electronic Chip (Giant Hit-Mystic Virtue) captured Friday’s seventh session with a fast-closing 1:58.1 mile. Okusko also did the steering for his wife, Jessica, the 7-year-old gelding’s lessee. In addition to the Okuskos, driver Jimmy Whittemore also collected a pair of wins during Friday’s 11-race program.

Batavia Downs
Bankers Dream, proving last week’s win in the Brian Schroeder Memorial was no fluke, came right back and scored in the $9,000 Preferred Handicap Trot on Friday night at Batavia Downs Casino. Getting away fourth in the weekly trotting feature, reinsman Ray Fisher, Jr. pulled Bankers Dream first over at the half and the 6-year-old Dream Vacation gelding responded with an impressive one length score in 1:59.3. Speedy Ryan (Ron Abbott), who led for most of the mile, held on for second over the pocket sitting Heaven And Hall and Kevin Cummings. The win was Bankers Dream’s ninth of the season and it raised his 2010 earnings to more than $60,000 for owner Melinda Kash and trainer D J Millner. The $8,000 co-featured trot went to 1-5 favorite Zoom A Rail for trainer/driver Jim McNeight, winning by 6-1/2 lengths in 2:00.3. Zoom A Rail, a 3-year-old Donerail gelding, went gate-to-wire to win for the tenth time this season in only his 11th start. He’s now three-for-three since being transferred to the McNeight barn, after being purchased privately by owner Mike Calimeri.

Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs
Habanero, piloted by Larry Stalbaum, came on with a late rush to win his second straight trot race at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs on Friday night. Moving up into the $20,000-$25,000 claiming handicap trot company, Habanero stopped the timer in 1:56.4, a seasonal mark. Stalbaum came second over down the backside with the race winner after sitting fourth for the first half of the mile. It was a three-quarter length victory over Twocarlane (Joe Pavia Jr.). Habanero’s prior start at the Northeastern Pennsylvania oval was a winning effort in a $15,000 claiming trot on October 12.