from Harness Publicists across North America

Sunday’s (October 5) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Saratoga Gaming and Raceway, Colonial Downs, and Balmoral Park.

NYSS Late Closer series concludes at Saratoga

Saratoga Springs, NY — The curtain closed on the 2008 New York Sire Stakes Late Closer series for juvenile horses on Sunday as Saratoga Gaming and Raceway hosted four $25,000 events for 2-year-old trotters and pacers bred in the Empire State.

Never Missed coasted home unchallenged to take his $25,000 NYSS Late Closer series final in 2:00.

Never Missed led every step of the way en route to an impressive victory in the NYSS Late Closer series final for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters, cutting the mile in :29.2, 1:00, and 1:30 before coasting home unchallenged to prevail by 6-1/2 lengths while stopping the timer in 2:00 for driver Claude Huckabone III.

Owned by Brent Schlossberg and trainer Ray Allen, the son of CR Excalibur-Phyllis Doll has gotten his picture taken in four of six career starts, with a lifetime bankroll in excess of $34,000.

On With The Show tallied her third straight victory when holding on gamely to take the NYSS Late Closer series final for juvenile filly trotters in 2:00.2.

Driven from post four by Brian Allen, On With The Show was parked on the lead through an opening quarter in :29.2, before finding the pylons through middle splits of :59.4 and 1:30.3 and holding sway down the lane to prevail by a half-length.

Owned by Joel Weiss, John Sixt, and conditioner Judith Blaun, the daughter of Conway Hall-Martini Time has found the wire first in five of her last six outings, including consecutive victories at Saratoga Raceway.

Kenneth Jacobs’ Where’s Waldo dug in determinedly to score a 1:55.4 triumph in the NYSS Late Closer series final for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers, prevailing by a head after cutting a brisk mile in :27.4, :57.4, and 1:26.1.

Dave Oxford photos

Sealed In My Heart captured the $25,000 NYSS Late Closer series final for juvenile filly pacers in 1:56.4.

Trained by Tracy Brainard and driven to victory by Dan Cappello, Jr., the son of Bettor’s Delight-Mystical Trick has visited the winner’s circle in four straight appearances, and boasts a lifetime bankroll that exceeds the $68,000 mark.

Mathias Meinzinger’s homebred Sealed In My Heart captured the last NYSS Late Closer series event of the afternoon when taking the 2-year-old filly pace final in 1:56.4 for driver/trainer Dan Daley.

The daughter of Sealed N Delivered-Nukesbrowneyedgirl tracked the leader intently from the pocket through splits of :28, :58, and 1:28, before angling off the pylons at the top of the stretch to charge home aggressively and post a 3-1/2 length triumph.

— Michael Costanzo

Rompaway Alvin scores Parker Memorial win

New Kent, VA — Rompaway Alvin parlayed a perfect ground-saving trip into a half-length victory in the $14,300 Todd Parker Memorial Late Closing Series Final on Sunday afternoon at Colonial Downs.

Rompaway Alvin was marooned in post position ten but was quickest off the gate for trainer-driver Don Harmon. Rompaway Alvin quickly cleared the field as he trotted an opening quarter in a sizzling :26.3.

Electric Chicken rushed up to take the lead entering the turn and Rompaway Alvin was content to sit in second around the turn. Electric Chicken got the half in :54.4 and continued to speed around the turn with Rompaway Alvin following closely at the rail.

Electric Chicken turned for home with a 1-1/4 length lead over Rompaway Alvin but Koala Kat launched a three-wide bid to seize command in upper stretch.

Koala Kat and Electric Chicken dueled on near even terms for most of the stretch drive with Koala Kat putting away Electric Chicken inside the eighth pole.

Koala Kat briefly looked home free but Rompaway Alvin was resurgent on the rail, taking the lead inside the sixteenth pole and outdueling Koala Kat late to post the half-length victory in 1:53.2. Electric Chicken held on well for third.

Rompaway Alvin picked up his fourth win of the season in the Parker Final for co-owners Rompaway Farms and Waldo E. Frankenstein.

— Kyle Fitzgerald

Venusinbluejeans cruises in Direct Dottie Stake

Crete, IL — Illinois conceived and foaled pacing fillies grabbed the headlines on Sunday night as a field 10 sophomores met in the $12,500 Direct Dottie Stake.

Balmoral Park photo

Venusinbluejeans had no trouble disposing of nine rivals in Sunday’s $12,500 Direct Dottie Stake.

As expected, John Carver’s Venusinbluejeans proved to be too much for this group to handle as she uncorked a wicked :26.2 final quarter en route to a 5-1/4 length victory in a career best of 1:52.1.

Given a confident steer by driver Brent Holland, this daughter of Ft Apache Hanover-Swift Sister ranged up first over from mid-pack, then left her rivals in her dust as she rolled to her second win in eight starts this season. She’s Not (Del Chupp) followed the cover of the winner but was no match for her in the lane and was forced to settle for the bridesmaid role while Miracle To Me (Todd Warren) rallied from far back to be third.

The Ervin Miller trained miss now boasts four wins, two seconds and five thirds in 18 career starts with earnings of $105,825. Sent off as the 8-5 favorite, Venusinbluejeans returned $5.20, $4.20 and $2.80.

In other action on Sunday night, the $14,000 Filly & Mare Open Pace went to Sheryl Erickson’s Bow Wow Wine and driver Brandon Simpson in 1:52.

The $14,000 Open Trot was taken by the Panhellenic Stables’ classy veteran Dink Adoo (Mike Oosting) in 1:55.

— Tom Kelley