from Harness Publicists across North America

Sunday’s (May 23) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Harrah’s Chester and Saratoga Gaming and Raceway.

Mystery Chase repeats in Chester Open

Chester, PA — Much in the same fashion as his win last week, the Baron Racing Stable and Donnie Russell’s Mystery Chase ($10.60) kicked cover coming off the far turn and powered away to victory, taking the $32,000 Open Handicap Pace on Sunday afternoon at Harrah’s Chester Casino and Racetrack in a sensational 1:49.4.

World Wide Racing Photos

Mystery Chase scored in 1:49.4 in the Open Handicap Pace.

Settling in midfield on the first turn, well behind the pace-setting Atochia (Yannick Gingras), the 5-year-old Real Artist stallion was hardly subject to punishing early fractions of :26 and :53.4. Drafting with Chester newcomer Alexie Mattosie (Corey Callahan) into a stiff headwind up the backstretch, Mystery Chase was carried to within two lengths of the lead from second-over before angling three-wide on the far turn.

Past three-quarters in 1:21.3, George Napolitano fanned Mystery Chase off cover, and the response was instant. Mystery Chase pulled away past the eighth pole, taking the lead and widening the winning margin to 2-1/2 lengths from a hard-closing and five-wide One More Yankee (Tony Morgan). Arctic Warrior (Richie Silverman) rallied for show honors.

Earlier in the card, Gary and Barbara Iles’s Barber Pole ($4.20) turned in an identical 1:49.4 effort, pulling clear by four lengths under Ron Pierce from Tough Love in a $23,000 top level conditioned pace.

Darius Oshidar’s Trueys Legacy ($5.00) also was razor-sharp, prevailing in pillar-to-post fashion in a 1:50 mile, sprinting home in :26.4 in rein to Daniel Dube.

— Harrah’s Chester Publicity Department

Saratoga Gaming and Raceway
Invader Civil Shepherd posted the most impressive performance on the Sunday matinee at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway as the Rob Harmon trained pacer overcame an early break to dominate the race eight field. Billy Dobson was at the controls as the mare who was dismissed at 5-1 took a chance leaving. She made a break while trying to secure the lead and subsequently raced parked the mile once she got back pacing. Civil Shepherd would wear down the race’s favorite on the front end before drawing away to a seven length win, stopping the timer in 1:56, a seasonal mark for the 4-year-old mare who is owned by Jerry Zosel and Kathy Ratcliff, who also bred the daughter of Yankee Cruiser. The win was one of two on the day for trainer Rob Harmon and one of three for Dobson.