Racing Roundup: FWF Successor captures Colonial feature
September 19, 2010,from harness publicists across North America
Sunday’s (September 19) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Colonial Downs, Harrah’s Chester and Saratoga Gaming and Raceway.
FWF Successor captures Colonial’s Sunday feature
New Kent, VA — FWF Successor scored a wire-to-wire victory in a lifetime best time Sunday afternoon in the $6,000 pacing feature at Colonial Downs.
Driver Corey Braden, who had a pair of wins on the card, guided the 8-year-old Sign of Success gelding for trainer/owner Cheryl Whitsell, who had a pair of conditioning wins herself. FWF Successor faced a modest field of four other rivals, and triggered fractions of :27.4, :57.3 and 1:25.4.
Colonial Downs photo
FWF Successor bettored his lifetime mark by one-fifth of a second.
Exiting the turn, Out Of My Hands continued a first over trip outside and came within half-length of the leader before tiring and finishing last. FWF Successor didn’t face any other challenge in the final quarter, and crossed the wire 1:53.2, three-plus lengths ahead of runner-up Castle Oaks. Chris Fatta finished third. The upset winner paid $23.20 to win.
FWF Successor bettered his previous life mark by one-fifth of a second. His prior best was set at Colonial Downs two years ago.
Braden scored his other driving win aboard Life Uptown in the seventh, while Whitsell earned her other training triumph when Imadragon reached the winner’s circle in the fifth.
— Colonial Downs
Harrah’s Chester Casino and Racetrack
Mystical Marker Farms and John Carver’s Lisagain braved a grueling first-over trip in Sunday’s $32,000 Open Handicap Pace, taking over the lead on the far turn before staving off a late charge from Presidential Order in order to score a 1:49.1 victory. Andy Miller handled the driving duties on the 4-year-old son of Dragon Again for his brother, trainer Erv Miller. Four other races were timed at 1:50 or faster, with Delivered From Zin (1:49.3), Estero Bay (1:50), Schoolkids (1:49.3), and Bettor Sweet (1:49.4) prevailing over the lightning fast oval. In all, 16 horses were clocked at 1:50 or faster on the day.
Saratoga Gaming and Raceway
Classy veteran pacer Ubetterthink Think recorded another win in the Saratoga Sunday feature as the Mark Ford trainee went wire-to-wire in the matinee’s $16,500 Fillies and Mares Open. Brandon Simpson catch drove the 6-year-old and pointed the top mare to the lead at the start. They would never look back before registering a 1:55 victory, holding off Up Front Kellie Jo (Dan Cappello, Jr.) in the stretch. The win was the tenth of the season and the 36th in the tremendous career of the Bettor’s Delight veteran who recorded her third Open win at Saratoga this season. The win moved Ubetterthink Think’s lifetime earnings to just dollars shy of $700,000. She is owned by Robert Di Nozzi.