Author: by John Berry, for the USHDC

Harness racing’s United States Harness Drivers Club had a triple header at Shenandoah Downs on Saturday (April 20) with Jack McNeil, Brian Tomlinson and Stacey McLenaghan each reaching the winner’s circle in their respective events.

For the second race in a row, Lip Reader A lagged off the starting gate, dropping back to last, but closed with a rush to claim the $14,000 Open Pace at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday night (April 20). He beat Optical Illusion N by a neck in 1:55.2 over the fast track.

Upsets were the order of the day on Saturday afternoon (April 20) at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, as in seven $20,000 third and final preliminary events of the Bobby Weiss Series for 3-year-olds (four for males and three for females), the only favorite — the only horse who paid less than $10 — was Beautiful Roz, who completed a sweep of her prelims in a lifetime best 1:53.

The prestigious Prix de l’Atlantique raced Saturday afternoon (April 20) in front of 11,013 spectators at the Enghien Track in the outskirts of Paris, France, was won in a convincing style by Horsy Dream with Eric Raffin in the bike.

French trotter Elegant Dulupin FR was parked every step of the way and resolutely prevailed over the favorite McStoned Again to take Friday’s (April 19) $6,000 featured trot at Cumberland.

Sabonis stole the show on Friday (April 19) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, steamrolling to a series sweep in the $20,000 Mark Fransen Memorial final which highlighted the 14-race card. Entering the night perfect through two starts in his 3-year-old campaign, Sabonis delivered a convincing victory as the heavy 1-9 favorite.

The front end was not the place to be at The Meadowlands Friday night (April 19), at least not in the three MADC events as all winners came from mid-pack to find the top spot when it counted. What played a pivotal role in all races was the first half-mile and starts, which is common in these contests.

JL Cruze, aka The King, might be 13 years of age, but he is far from done. Consider what he did Friday night (April 19) in the featured conditioned trot at The Meadowlands and you would draw the same conclusion.