by M. Kelly Young, executive assistant, the Harness Horse Breeders of New York State

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — It was a big day for local owners at The Syracuse Mile on Saturday. The 14-race card valued at more than $200,000 was the fifth of the six-day harness racing meet at the New York State Fairgrounds.

Perfectly Sealed went over the $100,000 level in career earnings with her 1:55.2 victory by two lengths in the first race of the day, a New York Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies. She is owned by a group that includes Syracuse’s Robert Barnello and Paul Colosi.

Syracuse Photo.

Proud American remained undefeated in three career starts with this 1:53.3 career mark with driver Brian Allen at The Syracuse Mile on Saturday.

“It’s great to win here at home with your family and friends,” said Barnello, who is an electrical contractor. “I thought the race would be a little tougher today than it was, but I thought she really proved that she’s the one to beat. We knew she was good as a 2-year-old last, but she chipped a knee after racing here last year so we stopped with her. We nursed her back and took our time with her and she come back great.”

This season Perfectly Sealed has won six of nine starts–the last three in a row–and purses of $108,799.

Rocco Manzi, who owns the Yellow Taxi company in Syracuse with his brother, had a winner with Proud American in the 12th race New York Sire Stakes division for 2-year-old pacing colts. The son of Village Jove won in 1:53.3 by 2 1/2 lengths and is now undefeated in his three-race career.

“We made some changes today, put aluminum shoes on him and used a different race bike,” said Manzi. “He was good right from day one and he’s very sound.”

Regular driver Brian Allen steered the winner and it was one of four wins during the day for Allen. One of his victories was in a late closer event with the 3-year-old trotting filly Winners Only, who he also trains, for Ken Jacobs of Baldwinsville N.Y. Jacobs owns KJ Electric, a distributor of motors and other auto parts. He also scored for Syracuse’s Nicholas Angarano in another late closer division with Nicky J in 2:02.

The 3-year-old pacing colt Winbak Dimensions maintained his perfect record by winning the sixth race of his career, a New York Sire Stakes division with John Cummings Jr. driving. Owned by Ohio’s William and Jack Heinz, he cut the mile to win by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:55.2.

“This colt gets better every week and I can’t say enough about him,” said Cummings. “He’s so good, I’m already thinking about next year.”

Syracuse Photo.

Winbak Speed scored a 1:54.4 career mark with driver Joe Pavia Jr. in a New York Sire Stakes Saturday at The Syracuse Mile.

Racing concludes on Sunday with the $225,800 Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial Trot for 3-year-olds, the signature event of the day. It will be featured in two divisions as the seventh and ninth races on the 13-race card. Hall of Fame drivers Ron Pierce and Cat Manzi will be in the bike, along with Brian Sears, who is currently the leading driver in North America and the winner of Saturday’s Yonkers Trot at Freehold Raceway in New Jersey.

Also featured in the Zweig Trot will be morning-line favorite Muscles Memory, the third-place finisher in the $1.5 million Hambletonian two weeks ago who is owned in partnership by E. Carlyle Smith, Diane Smith and Paul Nojaim of Syracuse and Christina Takter of New Jersey.

With just one day left in the meet, defending driving champion Jeff Gregory leads all drivers with 10 victories and more than $98,000 in purses. He is followed by Allen, who has eight wins and just over $80,000 in wins. Conditioner Paul Doherty, who will start three horses in the Zweig Trot, leads all trainers with five wins and $39,000 in purses.

Post time is 1:10 p.m. and pari-mutuel wagering is available on all races. Admission and parking are free. Children can stop by to see the life-size model horse “Champ” under the grandstand and receive a free gift.

Free buses are available from downtown Syracuse to The Syracuse Mile each racing day. Blue Chip Transportation buses will depart from the intersection of East Washington and Salina Streets at noon on Fridays and at noon and 12:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Buses will depart for the return trip from the State Fairgrounds 15 minutes after the last race daily.

For more information on racing at The Syracuse Mile, call the track at 315-487-7711 ext. 1390.