from Harness Publicists across North America

Thursday’s (December 4) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows, Dover Downs, and Cal-Expo.

Whotookwhat back in Meadows winner’s circle

Meadow Lands, PA — Uncharacteristically absent from the winner’s circle for several months, Whotookwhat took matters into her own hands on Thursday at The Meadows, using a quarter-pole move to control the race and capture the $25,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Trot.

Although she has won 45 times in her career, Whotookwhat slumped in her first three races following 12 weeks on the sidelines, finishing off the board on each occasion. On Thursday, however, she was sharp as ever, moving to the front for trainer/driver Ray Paver and thwarting the uncovered bid of Afternoon Dreams.

Whotookwhat scored in 1:56.3 over a sloppy track, three-quarters of a length better than the closing Penn Tag. Afternoon Dreams saved show.

William and Barbara Paull own Whotookwhat, a 6-year-old daughter of Inquirer-Overtookthem who has compiled lifetime earnings of $530,539.

— Evan Pattak

Sugar Valley Alley wins $15,000 Dover trot

Dover, DE — Sugar Valley Alley closed with a rush to score a 1:56.1 victory in the $15,000 featured trot at Dover Downs on Thursday. Tony Morgan won five races and is now at 901 for the season.

Fotowon photo

Sugar Valley Alley was a half length winner over Adam Gram in the Dover feature.

Carlo Poliseno wheeled Sugar Valley Alley out of fifth heading to the three-quarters and continued on three wide around the final turn on the way to a 1:56.1 triumph in the top trot of the night. It was the sixth win of the year for the Big Victory-Sugar Valley Babe gelding, lifting his 2008 bankroll to $81,420 for owner, trainer, and driver Poliseno. Adam Gram (Tony Morgan) finished a hard-fought second. Meadowcroft Man (Eddie Davis, Jr.) collected third money.

Tony Morgan drove Matt Bailey, Walt Benton and trainer Joe Johnson’s Bud to a 1:53.3 win in a $15,000 Delaware claiming allowance and followed that up two races later by driving Lloyd Arnold’s Cam Patch to a 1:54.2 win in a $7,500 male pace, his fourth victory on the card, and sport-leading 900th victory of the season.

— Marv Bachrad

I Give Youmy Word flies like a jet at Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — Conditioned-claiming pacers were featured on Thursday night at Cal-Expo, in which I Give Youmy Word was fastest of all.

Making her first start since a November 13 win, driver Bruce Clarke knew what was best for the filly.

“She hadn’t raced in three weeks and I wanted to give her a trip,” said Clarke.

Coming away in third position from post two, Clarke would stick to his game plan as he’d remain inside despite opportunities to pull past the 7-16ths pole and again at the 9-16ths marker, all through first half fractions of :29.2 and 1:00. Now able to advance to the three-quarter station, timed in 1:28.4, Clarke had a good feeling.

“I knew at the three-quarters if I shook loose that she’d win because she has a lot of pace, plus as I’ve said before — all the Dragon Agains love to finish.”

Beginning to gain ground as the field entered the stretch, Clarke would find racing room to the seven-eighths pole while now three-wide. Now under a drive with the wire fast approaching, I Give Youmy Word would fly in very deep stretch to get up by a head. Owned by David Neumeister and trained by Bob Johnson, I Give Youmy Word would win ($5.20) in 1:57. Gentle Dragon (Rick Plano), who looked a winner very late, had to settle for second in a fine effort, and the pacesetting Sing Herbie Sing (Luke Plano) finished another three lengths farther back in third.

“The filly raced very good, I really like her,” finished Clarke.

— Scott Ehrlich