Phoenix Rising, a late blooming star in the Frank Gannon barn, proved that her upset win Monday night (June 26) at Ocean Downs was no fluke as she bested rival Val’s Girl by a nose in the Maryland Sire Stakes 3-year-old pacing filly preliminary.
Author: from the Maryland Standardbred Race Fund
Stride The Hill strolls in Oak Grove Open
Wayne Oke trainee Stride The Hill found his way back to the winner’s circle of the top class at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel, taking the $35,000 Open Trot going coast to coast in 1:54.1 on Monday (June 26).
Athearn red-hot at Plainridge Monday
Matty “Ice” Athearn was cool as a cucumber at the lines on Monday afternoon (June 26) at Plainridge Park as he scored a grand slam during the afternoon, including both featured trots.
“Rock and Roll” Monday at Harrington
Elizabeth and Bret Brittingham’s Itsrockandroll A ($6.60, Allan Davis) was a 1:53 winner in the featured $20,000 Open Monday at Harrington Raceway.
Weather Vanes, Portulaca feature winners at Pocono
Odds-on favorite Portulaca clicked in one of the two $15,000 featured trots at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Monday afternoon (June 26) while 18-1 shot Weather Vanes set the pace and held on to win the other division.
Fields drawn for Friday Grand Circuit finals at Yonkers
On Monday (June 26), the open draws took place for Friday’s (June 30) four Grand Circuit finals for 3-year-olds at MGM Yonkers Raceway: the $300,000 MGM Yonkers Trot, the $250,000 MGM Grand Messenger Stakes, the $115,000 Park MGM Pace and the $100,000 New York New York Mile. The MGM Yonkers Trot and the MGM Grand Messenger Stakes are the first legs of the Trotting and Pacing Triple Crowns.
Bargain, Chaplind start careers with New York Sire Stakes wins
For the first time in 2023, the New York Sire Stakes circuit paid a visit to MGM Yonkers Raceway on Thursday night (June 22) with a couple of $77,300 divisions for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters on the 12-race program.
Cigars And Port, DP Realordeal star in Plainridge features
A pair of $20,000 conditioned paces topped the card at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon (June 22) with both Cigars And Port and DP Realordeal brushing late off the pace for their victories.
Four features at Philly Thursday; rookies debut
They saved the fastest for last on Thursday afternoon (June 22) at Harrah’s Philadelphia, as the 3-year-old Sweet Lou gelding Lite N Sweet won the $12,600 feature for his section — the last event carded on the day — in a career best 1:50.4.
Standardbred retraining clinic opportunities in New Jersey
The Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization of New Jersey has partnered once again with Olympian and former Standardbred trainer Neal Shapiro for a day of fun, flat and jumping sessions at Chesterfield Farm, in Chesterfield, N.J., on July 16.