from harness publicists across North America

Friday’s (September 17) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Colonial Downs, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, Cal-Expo and Saratoga Gaming and Raceway.

New Kent, VA — Colonial Downs ushered in its thirteenth annual harness racing season Friday night as three different late closer pacing series kicked off.

Coady photography

Chris Page directed Hi Im Johnny Kash to a wire to wire effort in 1:24.4 (three-quarter mile distance) in the Mark Jonathan gelding’s first start of 2010.

Of the six late closer divisions that were contested Friday, three were at a three-quarter mile distance, including the Horace Martin Memorial and the U Gotta Win One Now Series’.

Gotapikapoketortwo broke before the start of the Martin stake, regained the pace shortly after the start and stormed past five front-stepping rivals in deep stretch to win by a head over Allamerican Solo in 1:25.4. Jason Thompson directed the 11-year-old In The Pocket gelding for trainer/co-owner Erik Jaeck Jr.. Take The Field was third, also a head behind the victor.

Hi Im Johnny Kash and Salalah N each scored respective division wins in the latter late closer within a fifth of a second of each other. Chris Page directed Hi Im Johnny Kash to a wire to wire effort in 1:24.4 in the Mark Jonathan gelding’s first start of 2010. Dunavant’s charge swept this same series last fall.

Salalah N was a tick faster in the next race as trainer/driver Megan Fortna guided her charge to a 2-1/2 length victory in 1:24.3. The 9-year-old Life Sign gelding, who was second at the quarter marker, cruised home in the final half.

— Colonial Downs

Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs
O-Georgie, a 7-year-old trotting gelding starting for the initial time for the Tyler Raymer Stable, won the $20,000-$25,000 claiming handicap trot Friday evening at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. With Tony Morgan in the sulky, O-Georgie crossed the finish line in 1:56.2 for the first win in 2010 on the 13th start.The winner was claimed for $20,000 by Raymer, H.R. and H. Solomon of Rockville Center, N.Y., and S.M. Moss of Philadelphia, Pa., on September 4.

Cal-Expo
Filly & Mare Open 2 Handicap pacers, racing for a purse of $5,200, were featured at Cal-Expo on Friday night (September 17), on which Haggin Oaks repeated in solid fashion. Well driven in an excellent mile, Haggin Oaks reported home a winner ($2.80) by three lengths. Owned by Shari Burns, Ferris Funk & Gerald Cimini, Haggin Oaks stopped the timer at 1:54.3, a lifetime best. Scooter Babe finished in second, and Blue Note was another four lengths farther back, in third. “It was a great accomplishment for her and for me because it has been a long haul with her because she has made breaks at times. So this was a nice reward for hard work,” said trainer James Kennedy.

Saratoga Gaming and Raceway
Scorpion Moon continued his sensational 2010 season on Friday night at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway as the champion trotter secured his thirteenth victory of the year. Tracy Brainard trains and co-owns the 9-year-old trotter with Andrew Herzog. Scorpion Moon was fourth at the three-quarters, forced to change tactics from his earlier weeks of displays of early speed, and charged up in the final strides to secure the 1:56.3 victory for driver Dan Cappello Jr. The win is the fourth straight for the Armbro Scorpion high-stepper who just a month ago broke the world record for trotters on a half-mile track behind a 1:54 win at Saratoga. Prime Interest (Frank Coppola Jr) finished second while Strong Hall (Barry Segel) earned the show spot in the $16,500 Friday night feature.