Racing Roundup: Classic Line N wins 44K Open at Yonkers
June 6, 2009,from Harness Publicists across North America
Saturday’s (June 6) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Yonkers Raceway, Rockingham Park, Rosecroft Raceway, Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs, Buffalo Raceway, Scioto Downs, Saratoga Harness and Cal-Expo.
Classic Line N wins 44K Open Handicap Pace at Yonkers
Mike Lizzi photo
Classic Line N (1) got up by a head in 1:52.1.
Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway returned after a brief, early-June hiatus Saturday night, with a baker’s-dozen bonanza highlighted by a $44,000 Open Handicap Pace.
Classic Line N edged out for the drive in the lane then wore down the leader late. The stalker was up by a head in 1:52.1, matching both a season and life-best. B B Torio, Southwind Tabor (Billy Dobson) and Blue Boy (Jason Bartlett) completed the cashers.
Classic Line N, a 6-year-old Down Under son of Life Sign, is trained by Darren Cassar for Pace to Place and Fiddler’s Creek Stables.
Saturday night also included a pair of $20,000 elimination races for the Lismore Pace. Eleven 3-year-old fillies tried to wedge their way into eight berths for next Saturday’s $293,970 final.
Elim honors went to Jim Moriill Jr., Tracy Brainard and Bulletproof Enterprises, who swept ’em both as driver, trainer and owner, respectively.
Kabbalah Karen grabbed the lead from her outside five-hole in the first elimination, and then finished what she started.
The daughter of Western Terror held off Jkmusicofthenite (Stephane Bouchard) by a neck in 1:56.1. Indulge Me (Mike Lachance), the 7-10 favorite, was a non-threatening third, with Notjustaprettyface (Jordan Stratton) earning the final “final” invite from this race.
Not Enough, the lone $30,000 supplemental entrant into this event, was a pocket victress from the pylons in the second Lismore trial. The daughter of Grinfromeartoear picked off a stubborn, pace-setting Spoiled Beach (Dave Palone) by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.2. In the Game (Manzi), a third Bulletproof rep to make the final of the Lismore, grabbed third here, with Pumptuous (Stratton) fourth and into the final.
B Intensified (Bartlett)–parked for her troubles–and an outrun Jordan’s Jewell (Gregory) rounded out the order.
Next Saturday night is also, of course, the 19th edition of the Art Rooney Pace. Seven 3-year-old colts–alphabetically, Barber Pole, Fireintheshark, Hypnotic Blue Chip, If I Can Dream, Mobile, Monkey Off My Back and Venice Menace–are set to chase $421,850.
— Frank Drucker
Opening day at Rockingham Park
Rockingham Park photo
Bruce Ranger captured the $10,000 featured pace in 1:54 with Arid N.
Salem, NH — The live harness racing season got underway at Rockingham Park on Saturday as the track welcomed back full fields of quality horses as well as enthusiastic fans and horsemen happy to be participating in the Salem landmark’s 103rd season.
It’s great to be back at The Rock and great to be back with my family and friends, said owner-trainer Arthur Brewer, who grew up only 10 miles from the track and bases his powerful stable in Delaware over the winter months.”I shipped in with 22 horses and I’m hoping for a good meet here this summer.”
Brewer certainly got off to a fine start, winning two races on the opening day 10-race card with horses he owns and trains. His 8-year-old gelding Arid N was the star of the day, capturing the $10,000 featured pace in 1:54 on a fast track with top driver Bruce Ranger despite being sent off as the 5-1 third choice in the field of six.
“Bruce is the best,” Brewer said in the winner’s circle. “It looked like the horse wasn’t going to get it done at the top of the stretch but then he dug in and came on to pass the horse in front. Then he looked like he wasn’t going to finish but he came back and dug in again. A lot of the reason he won is Bruce. He’s been driving for me for 35 years and Bruce gets the best out of every horse he drives.”
Arid N returned $12.00 for a $ 2 wager while 6-5 favorite PH Bestman was a half-length back and Manchine rallied for third.
— Lynne Sneirson
Freshmen hit the track at Rosecroft
In times of ups and downs for the “Raceway By The Beltway” one think is certain, horsemen still love bringing their 2-year olds to Rosecroft. Four of the ten qualifiers Saturday went forth as 2-year-old qualifying events.
On the trotting side, Cassini Hall (2:06.1 – Tom Ridge-Centerfold Hall-Garland Lobell) and Classic Viking (2:05 – Classic Photo-Lulabula-Valley Victory) emerged victorious.
On the pacing side, Shakerosa and Half Moon Bay made their debut a winning one.
Shakerosa (The Panderosa-Shake Away-Dream Away) and driver Jim King Jr. made a move to the front past the quarter and never looked back to score by 2-1/4 lengths in 2:01:4. Fulfilled (Western Hanover-Empty Feeling-Abercrombie), a half- brother to Ponder ($1,522,936) and a $50,000 Harrisburg purchase was second. Trainer/Driver Roger Hammer co-owns the youngster with Mark Ford. More Power Rusty (Western Hanover-Toy Dragon-Dragon’s Lair), a $70,000 yearling purchase at Harrisburg was third for Bobby Myers.
In the finale of the day Half Moon Bay (Western Hanover-Sun N Moon-Artsplace) emerged victorious for trainer/driver Roger Hammer in 2:02:1. Half Moon Bay comes from a great family. He is a half-brother to Ideal Weather ($848,808) and Moon Beam ($718,696). He was purchased in November 2008 at Harrisburg for $40,000 by Roger Hammer and Todd Schadel of Pennsylvania.
— Scott Warren
Handsome Harry handsome indeed at Tioga
Nichols, NY — Handsome Harry was handsome indeed in the $32,700 final of the Tioga Country Club pacing series at Tioga Downs on Saturday night.
Andy Santeramo steered the 3-year-old son of Dream Away-Princess Jocelyn to a new lifetime mark of 1:51.3. Really Rockin and Howard Parker hung on for second, while Up Front Red River and Tom Jackson got up for third.
It was the fourth straight win at Tioga Downs for Handsome Harry who is trained by Mark Ford for Ralph Del Priore and Harry Doyle of New York and New Jersey.
Handsome Harry now sports a record of six wins, two seconds, and two thirds in ten seasonal starts with earnings of more than $46,000.
— Dustin Ross
Sires Stakes champion back on winning track at Vernon
Vernon, NY — Four One One and Hay Goodlooking were notable winners during Saturday night’s 12-race program at Vernon Downs.
Four One One rallied from fifth to first in the stretch to capture the week’s $9,000 Open pace, while Hay Goodlooking, a 2008 New York Sires Stakes champion, got back on the winning track with a 1:54.1 triumph in the $5,500 seventh event.
It was the second season’s score and 16th all-time for the career-earner of more than $285,500, who paid $29.00 to win.
Rebounding from a third-place finish in last outing, Hay Goodlooking ($3.10) had his regular driver, trainer Gates Brunet, back at the controls on Saturday, and the familiar pair polished off eight capable foes with an impressive gate-to-wire pacing performance, defeating longshot How Forever Feels by 2-1/2 lengths. The capable 3-year-old colt earned his second score in three current outings while improving his career earnings to more than $221,600 for owners Theodore Gewertz, Samuel Dotro and Deborah Brunet. He has now won nine of 14 lifetime starts.
— Jim Moran
Keystone Nite Hawk cruises in Albatross final
Hamburg, NY — Keystone Nite Hawk, a 3-year-old Western Hanover colt out of the Grinfromeartoear mare Nevertheless, won the $15,500 “Niatross” Final in 1:55.2, which now stands as his lifetime best, for owners William Switala and James Martin here at Buffalo Raceway Saturday night.
The $7,750 share of the winning purse put Keystone Nite Hawk’s season bankroll at $13,950 and $27,980 lifetime. It was Keystone Nite Hawk’s second win of the year in five attempts.
— Sam Pendolino
Moreland Flash wins Billy Dart final at Scioto
Columbus, OH — Moreland Flash won a hard-fought victory in the $8,200 final of the Billy Dart pacing series at Scioto Downs on Saturday night. He defeated 4-5 favorite Cruzin Bayou to score an upset at 18-1.
The mile was timed in 1:53.3.
Andrew Coblentz of Ohio owns the winner, who is a sophomore gelded son of Memphis Flash.
— Dean A. Hoffman
Jacobs Western wins 4th straight at Saratoga
Saratoga, NY — Jacobs Western completed racing’s version of a grand slam on Saturday night at Saratoga as the claiming pacer went wire to wire from his inside post.
The meet’s leading connections, trainer Colin Johnson and driver Frank Coppola Jr teamed up once again for the veteran pacer’s fourth consecutive Saturday night win.
Despite early fractions of 27.2 and 57 in the first half, Jacobs Western dug in to complete the grand slam. Another Johnson trainee, Maes Boy Blue, stayed red hot on Saturday night as the claiming pacer recorded his fifth win in his last six starts. Denis St Pierre was at the controls for Maes Boy Blue’s sixth win of ’09.
— Mike Sardella
Reno Rose shines again at Cal-Expo
Sacramento, CA — Open Handicap Filly & Mare pacers, racing for a $6,800 purse, were featured at Cal-Expo on Saturday night (June 6), on which Reno Rose recorded her 22nd career victory.
Owned by Ron and Charles Mansfield along with Joshua Schoeneman, the Jim Wilkinson Jr. trained 5-year-old actually drew clear on the wire to win ($6.40) by two-lengths, in 1:54.1. Don’t Tempt Me had to settle for second, and Dawnlikeslillies (Steve Wiseman) finished another 2-1/2-lengths farther back, in third.
— Scott Ehrlich