by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Goshen, NY — Cookouts, fireworks, and Linda and Robert Kenney in the winner’s circle at Historic Track. These are the traditions of the Fourth of July weekend.

At least it seems that way.

The Kenneys, from Belchertown, Mass., saw a horse from their small stable win a Landmark Stakes division for the fourth consecutive year on Friday. Fast Vacation, a 3-year-old filly trotter, beat New Hampshire Girl by three-quarters of a length in 2:01.2.

Fast Vacation, driven by Steve Smith and trained by Karen Garland, has won four of 19 races in her career, earning $48,282, and is 2-for-2 lifetime at Historic Track.

USTA/Ken Weingartner photo

Robert Kenney meets Fast Vacation and driver Steve Smith after their win in a Landmark Stakes division for 3-year-old filly trotters.

“We’re very excited. I don’t know how we continue to get lucky, but we seem to,” said Robert Kenney, who wears his lucky Stars and Stripes tank top to the winner’s circle every year. “I appreciate it very much. This place is great to us. My wife is so excited, I can’t hold her down. She’s 5-feet tall, but I think she’s on the roof right now.”

“I love this track. I love this track,” Linda Kenney said. “It’s a nice track and a nice place for the young horses to come. I can’t believe it. The only thing I hope is that I can do this for quite a few more years.”

Caviar Russe won the other Landmark division for 3-year-old filly trotters, beating O Dana O by a quarter-length in 2:01.4. Jack Baggitt, Jr. drove the filly for trainer/owner Robert Horowitz. It was her fifth victory in 15 races this year.

Eagle Way, last year’s New York Sire Stakes champion for 2-year-old filly pacers, won the Landmark Stakes for 3-year-olds by 1-1/4 lengths over Co Ed Desire in 1:58. The Mark Ford-trainee has won nine of 15 career races and earned $282,745.

“She’s a good filly, especially for the sire stakes,” driver Jason Bartlett said. “We changed the bridle on her today; put a hood on her and closed her up a little bit. Her last race, she won, but she didn’t get off the gate the way we wanted. She was a lot better today.”

Bartlett also won the Landmark Stakes for 3-year-old male pacers. I’m So Blue, a gelding trained by Ken Rucker, was victorious by 1-1/2 lengths over Mr Vitti in 1:56.1. It was his second win in 15 starts this season.

“He’s a handy little horse,” Bartlett said. “He got around the track real good. His attitude is great. He did everything I asked him to do.”

Photosmart, driven by trainer Angus MacDonald, used a late rush to win the Landmark Stakes for 3-year-old male trotters by a head over Bobbi Jo’s Lindy in 2:01.2. The gelding has won three of 10 races this year.