Racing Roundup: Jans Luck passes $600k in career earnings
March 13, 2009,from Harness Publicists across North America
Thursday’s (March 12) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows, Dover Downs, Saratoga Raceway and Cal-Expo.
Jans Luck passes $600k in career earnings with Meadows victory
Meadow Lands, PA — Jans Luck had her way on the front end Thursday at The Meadows, cruising to a victory in the $25,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Pace that sent her over $600,000 in career earnings.
Dave Palone urged Jans Luck to the front, a move made easier by the break of the speedy Spring Break. Without a serious challenge, Jans Luck scored in 1:53.3, a length better than the pocket-sitting Vysoke Tatry. Lickcreek Jazzy was third.
Ron Burke trains Jans Luck for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, JJK Stables and M1 Stable. It was the sixth win in the last nine starts for the 5-year-old daughter of Camluck-Jans Scooter, who now has banked $609,928.
Palone and Tony Hall each drove four winners on the 13-race card.
— Evan Pattak
Dina’s Gamble, Bluffs Real Deal win Dover co-features
Dover, DE — Dina’s Gamble and Bluffs Real Deal won the male and female co-feature races at Dover Downs on Thursday.
Fotowon photo
Dina’s Gamble was a 1:53.3 winner for driver Brandon Givens.
Brandon Givens drove Dina’s Gamble, owned by Vicki Givens and Louie Paglierani, to a 1:53.3 victory in the $14,000 male pace. It was the Tune Town-Webb 4-year-old gelding’s first win of 2009. The Other Cheek (Tony Morgan) came on to finish second. MJBudah Baby (Vic Kirby) closed along the passing lane to finish third.
In the $10,500 filly and mare pace, Bluffs Real Deal, with Corey Callahan holding the reins, took the lead and never relinquished it on the way to a 1:57.3 victory. Bred and owned by trainer Tony Domino, the McArdle-Call Her Bluff sophomore was never troubled on the way to her third win of the year. Minny Sota (Tim Curtin) came on to finish second. Freedom’s Light (Frank Milby) was the show finisher.
Ross Wolfenden, Corey Callahan and Brandon Givens each drove three winners. Tony Morgan and trainer Les Givens and owner Nanticoke Racing each had two trips to the winner’s circle.
— Marv Bachrad
Brandicruiser, Seeshark repeat at Saratoga
Saratoga Springs, NY — On Thursday night, Brandicruiser and Seeshark joined Pronger, Circles Dragonlady, Kash Luv and Blissful Jessie as repeat winners at Saratoga this season.
Dave Oxford photo
Seeshark was a 1:58.3 winner in a $5,500 conditioned pace on Thursday at Saratoga.
Seeshark pulled off an upset as he again outclosed his rivals, getting up in the stretch to repeat for Mark Beckwith, who was driving for trainer Dave Corlew and owners Anthony and Gloria Swiatek.
Brandicruiser also repeated, prevailing for the second consecutive Thursday night as a front running favorite for driver Brian Cross.
Cross was the star of the evening as he piloted four winners on the card, including a sweep of the late double with Brandicruiser and Jack’s Reef.
Brandicruiser went back-to-back for trainer Dave Spagnola, who also co-owns the 4-year-old pacer with Al Buzanowski and prevailed for the third time in just five lifetime starts at the Spa.
Jack’s Reef completed a training double for conditioner Jody Weidman when he trotted to victory in the evening’s finale.
— Mike Sardella
Wire comes up in time for Amber Delight at Cal-Expo
Sacramento, CA — Filly & Mare conditioned pacers, racing for a purse of $4,000, were featured at Cal-Expo on Thursday night, in which Amber Delight got an overdue win.
Leaving from post position six in the field of nine for driver Jim Lackey, the 4-year-old would be put in the pocket an eighth of a mile past the start by Lemoyne Svendsen behind Originalability.
“Originalability went a pretty solid mile in her last,” said Jim “Chip” Lackey. “So I figured it was reasonable to take the pocket and follow her — which enhanced my chances.”
Sitting in the garden spot through first half fractions of :29.2 and :59.1, Amber Delight would be tippy-tapped while now sitting a loose pocket at the five-eighths-mile pole when Originalability was asked to go on. Back on and out of the pocket at the three-quarter marker, timed in 1:27.4, Lackey knew what everybody had.
“It seemed like Originalability still had some strength left, but my horse seemed to have some as well, plus it seemed like my horse was “chipping” away at the deficit.”
Now under a drive in the stretch and forging into the lead with a sixteenth of a mile to go, Lackey would be all-out with his mare when a foe came calling.
“It looked like we were going to be the winner, but the reason you never ease up or stop driving is because you never know who might be coming from where. And sure enough, here comes Crazy Cathy (Bruce Clarke) flying up the inside. I wasn’t totally sure I got to the wire first, but I did.”
Owned by Cheri Clarke, Richard Morita and David Yamada, the Sparky Clarke trained young lady would just hold off a charging Crazy Cathy to win ($10.20) by a nose in 1:55.3. Crazy Cathy had to settle for second, and Charter Ridge (Luke Plano) finished another three-quarters of a length farther back in third.
“She got a real nice trip, but it was still a good mile and a real nice effort,” finished Lackey.
On the Thursday night card, driver Steve Wiseman piloted four winners, of which three of them were owned by Owen Eiler, Jr. and trained by Frank Petrelli.
— Scott Ehrlich