Due to inclement weather around the Lexington area that created unsafe track conditions, the Sunday night (Aug. 2) card of harness racing at The Red Mile has been cancelled.
Author: by Ray Cotolo, for The Red Mile
Stalbaum strikes twice Sunday in Batavia Opens
Saratoga shippers have been a major factor at Batavia Downs this meet, and that trend continued on Sunday (Aug. 2) afternoon when Larry Stalbaum, aka The Bomber, rolled in with a pair of his stable stars and left with the lion’s share of the purse after winning both $13,500 Opens as the heavily-bet favorite.
Three in a row for No Small Wonder at Cumberland
During the penultimate program for the Spring-Summer meet at First Tracks Cumberland on Saturday (Aug. 1) the story grew for No Small Wonder as the precocious filly took her third consecutive Maine Sire Stakes event for 2-year-old pacing fillies.
Captain Optimistic overcomes hard trip, wins Philly feature
In his three previous victories this year, two of them in sub-1:47, Captain Optimistic had secured the front end by the half. So when his backers at Philly on Sunday afternoon (July 26) saw him sixth and wide nearing the first turn, they might have been worried about the 1-9 choice’s chances. But driver Scott Zeron backed off the early speed battle, raced Captain Optimistic from second-over position, and had enough late kick to take the $16,000 fast-class handicap pace in 1:49.2.
Unreasonable wins Mohegan Cup in track record 1:48
Unreasonable won the inaugural $75,000 Mohegan Cup for free-for-all pacing mares Sunday evening (July 26) at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, tying Somwherovrarainbow’s 12-year-old track record for 4-year-old pacing mares with a powerful front-end victory in 1:48. That clocking is also the Pocono standard for females of any age.
Running Aces forced to cancel Sunday card
Due to extreme heat conditions and a dangerously high heat index, and under guidance from the Minnesota Racing Commission, officials at Running Aces have canceled the live racing program for Sunday night (July 26).
Merton and Harmon rule Sunday at Tioga
Driver “Magic” Mike Merton and trainer Rob Harmon combined for a grand slam on Sunday afternoon (July 26) at Tioga.
“Lanjo” and “Loco” matinee idols at Batavia Sunday
Lanjo Lee and El Toro Loco starred in co-features at Batavia Downs during the Sunday (July 26) afternoon matinee, and both were leading men from gate to wire.
Snowonthepines remains undefeated in Maine
While the industry’s attention may have been on the 60th Delvin Miller Adios on Saturday (July 25), Cumberland Raceway hosted their own showcase for sophomore pacers as two $15,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies featured the current, undefeated divisional star Snowonthepines.
Running Aces moves Sunday post to 8:15 p.m.
Running Aces officials have moved the Sunday night (July 26) post time to 8:15 p.m. due to concerns related to projected high heat indexes. The card will feature the $50,000 Dan Patch FFA final and also offers a Mandatory Payout of the Pick-5 Jackpot which starts with a carryover of $45,280.62. The Pick-5 sequence gets started with the Dan Patch final, race number eight of 12.