from Harness Publicists across North America

Friday’s (Feb. 5) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Yonkers Raceway, Pompano Park, Cal-Expo and Buffalo Raceway.

Yonkers, NY — Impressive Earl (Stephane Bouchard) defended his Open Handicap Trot title, getting a perfect second-over trip and Yonkers Raceway’s line just in time in Friday night’s $32,000 co-feature.

Impressive Earl lasted in 1:57.3, a tick slower than last week but good enough here. Ripped, American Lane (Cat Manzi) and Bet to Win (Brent Holland) rounded out the payees.

For Impressive Earl, a 7-year-old Valley Victor gelding owned by Lightning Lane Stable and trained by Lou Pena, he returned $14.40 (fourth choice) for his third win in four seasonal starts.

The weekly $32,000 distaff derby saw Little Mermaid N (Jim Pantaleano) go from pocket to pay-dirt.

The short way proved the best way, with “Mermaid” beating Symphony in Motion by three-quarters of a length in a season’s-best 1:55.2. “Tess,” Call Me Yours and Lady Mach completed the cashers.

For Little Mermaid N, a 6-year-old Road Machine Down Under miss trained by Ettore Annunziata for owner Michael Spaccarelli, she returned $20.60 (sixth choice) for her second win in six seasonal starts.

— Frank Drucker

I’m Just Special returns to form

Pompano Beach, FL — A pedigree that quickly became familiar in South Florida last November was at the forefront of the Friday night, February 5 proceedings at the Isle Casino Racing at Pompano Park.

Skip Smith/Lap Time Photo

Major Trap stepped to a life’s mark of 1:52.3 in rein to George Napolitano Jr. on the February 5 program at the Isle in the $10,000 Mares Open-2 Pace.

I’m Just Special, a 5-year-old mare by Camluck-Ladys Special Girl scored a dominant class dropping victory in 1:52.4 with co-owner Ted Colby of Bronxville, NY in attendance for the occasion. In 2008, at age 3, I’m Just Special was a winner in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series, the Grand Circuit Simcoe Stakes and the Standardbred Breeders Ontario Association stakes.

Tom Artandi trains both I’m Just Special and her younger sister, Special Sweetheart. The latter set the three year old filly pace track record of 1:52.1 at the Isle last November. I’m Just Special made only 9 starts in 2009 in her 4-year-old campaign and earned just over $7,000 last year but prior to that at ages 2 and 3 she’d banked over $465,000 while competing against many of the continent’s best in her division.

The top event of the program was the Fillies and Mares Open-2 Pace for a $10,000 purse. Just before the rain began after the 3rd race, Major Trap was a sharp front-end winner through fractions of 26.3, 56.4, 1:24.4 and 1:52.3 in rein to George Napolitano Jr. The Art Major-Hare Trap 5-year-old mare is owned and trained by Ron MacArthur of Boynton Beach, FL. It was her 2nd win in 6 trips this year and increased her career bankroll to almost $125,000. Coreys Apache with Wally Hennessey up and M A Jackie, in rein to Bruce Ranger, followed next under the wire.

– by Frank Salive

TV Mom is as game as usual at Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — Being off two weeks and racing first-over didn’t stop the tough as nails TV Mom from winning for the 33rd time.

A field of seven trotters, five in on a condition and two to be claimed, were featured at Cal-Expo on Friday night (February 5), on which TV Mom repeated.

Getting one moderate urge with a sixteenth of a mile to go, then one lesser urge in deep-stretch, TV Mom scored ($5.00) by an easier than it will look neck. Owned by Maurice Sigmon and trained by George Reider, the 7-year-old stopped the timer at 1:58, equaling a seasonal mark. Cherry Tree Luke tried hard off a three week layoff and was second, and Easter Call (Jim Lackey) was just a neck farther back, in third.

On the Friday night card, driver Luke Plano recorded five wins, while trainer Jill Wine conditioned four winners.

— Scott Ehrlich, Publicity

A Work In Progress does all the work in feature at Buffalo

Hamburg, NY — In the $9,000 Open Handicap Trot, A Work In Progress, a 6-year old chestnut gelding by SJ’s Caviar out of the Lindy Lane mare Angela Lane, went coast to coast in a season’s best 2:00.1 to register his second win of the year for owner Betty Tauber of East Brunswick, N.J., here at Buffalo Raceway, Friday night. (February 5)

The $4,500 share of the winning purse boosted A Work In Progress’ season bankroll to $9,720 and $109,259 lifetime.

In the $9,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace, Newberry Winner ($22.60) and driver Jamie Dunlap, made a three-wide sweep of the field around the far turn heading for home, and beat second place finisher All Deuce (Ray Fisher, Jr.) by two lengths in 1:59.3.

Trained by Neal Russo, it was the second win in a row, and third of the season for Newberry Winner, who is owned by Howard M. Ouriel, of Rochester NY.

— Sam Pendolino