by harness publicists across North America

Saturday’s (Oct. 3) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Vernon Downs, Yonkers Raceway, Pompano Park, Cal-Expo and Batavia Downs.

Hay Goodlooking a close winner in Vernon feature

Vernon, NY — Hay Goodlooking rewarded his backers with a 1:53 victory in Saturday afternoon’s Open handicap pace at Vernon Downs.

The stout showing resulted in the second local score, sixth of the season and 12th all-time for the 3-year-old son of Art Major-Monique’s Legacy, who has earned $315,349 during his productive career for owners Deborah Brunet (Gates’ wife), Theodore Gewertz and Samuel Dotro.

— Jim Moran

Lucky Man dominates Yonkers Open

Yonkers, NY — Lucky Man drilled his seven Saturday night rivals, wiring Yonkers Raceway’s $40,000 Open Handicap Pace in dominating fashion.

He won by three lengths in 1:52.2. Jeremy’s Successor (Jordan Stratton), last early from the eight-hole (seventh turning for home), snapped second over Lucky Bettor, with Psilvuheartbreaker (Jim Meittinis) and Runover Feeling (Jason Bartlett) completing the cashers.

For Lucky Man, a 4-year-old Camluck gelding owned by Thomas Hill it was his fifth victory in 20 seasonal starts.

— Frank Drucker

‘Dead Heat Night’ In South Florida

Pompano Beach, FL — With the photo finish camera already working overtime due to a succession of close finishes, the very rare situation of a pair of win dead heats played out on the Saturday evening, October 3 program at The Isle Pompano Park.

Under another postcard calm setting with a fast track and temperature of 82 degrees, the tone for the evening was set early as East Coast Girl with Wally Hennessey and Stoke driven by Walt Ross Jr. were inseparable at the wire in the third race in 1:56.3. East Coast Girl, a 3-year-old Totally Western-Goldstar Valentine filly is trained and owned by Dan Hennessey. Stoke is a 3-year-old House Of Fun-Financiere Stena colt co-owned and trained by Jean Beaulieu. An ownership share on Stoke is held by Harvey Weiner of Quebec.

Wally Hennessey and his training brother Dan were also involved in the card’s other win dead heat in the 8th race with Seeyall Later. The 8-year-old Northern Luck-Seeyall gelding was leading into the stretch when Andy Santeramo brought Doctor Gates out of the pocket for a thrilling stretch long duel. The photo finish camera couldn’t separate this pair either as they stopped the clock together in 1:54. Seeyall Later is owned by Vince Deni of Hillsboro Beach, FL while Doctor Gates, a 9-year-old Island Fantasy-Brunette Bay gelding is owned and trained by Joe Gravagna of Parkland, FL.

Object Of Art made it three straight in The Isle Pompano Park’s top class on Saturday night as he romped home in 1:51.4 in the $13,000 Open Pace. It was the fastest mile of the Fall Meet to date in South Florida. Trainer-driver Ray Vizzi landed third in the early stages from the assigned outside eight post and quarter pole moved to the lead. From there it was all over as Object Of Art began to pull away on the final turn after passing three quarters in 1:24. Cape Karuna closed next best for second in rein to Fern Paquet Jr. with Power Park and Walt Ross Jr. up for third. Object Of Art is a 6-year-old Camluck-Artful Angel gelding campaigning for the New Jenneration Corporation of Palm Beach Gardens, FL.

— Frank Salive

Thunder Seelster Wins With A Bang At Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — He was up in class, he was off a layoff as were his opponents, and he was used hard in a demanding opening quarter, but none of that prevented Thunder Seelster from a marvelous performance.

Open Handicap Pacers, racing for a $7,000 purse, were featured at Cal-Expo on Saturday night (October 3), on which Thunder Seelster reigned over his competition.

Under urging, Thunder Seelster would draw clear to the wire to win ($4.80) with a lot of pace to spare. Owned by Kc Carvalho and Jill Wine, the Tom Wine ll trained pacer stopped the timer at 1:52.2 for his 20th career win. Keystone Eli was a very good second, and Rod’s Famous Ribs raced fine while another three-lengths farther back, in third.

For the young Plano, who was the winning driver of all three featured events on the week, the victory was also one of three winners on the night and gave him 16 triumphs over the first five cards of the fall-winter meet. Not to be outdone was father Rick, who had five driving victories on the card.

— Scott Ehrlich