by Ellen Harvey, Harness Racing Communications

Goshen, NY — With the 2,000 seat grandstand full and an overflow crowd lining the outer rail at Goshen Historic Track, 3-year-old New York-breds took the stage on the nation’s birthday, July 4.

Geri Schwarz photo

Where’s Waldo was a 1:56 winner for driver Stephane Bouchard.

Where’s Waldo and driver Stephane Bouchard turned in the day’s fastest performance, with a nearly wire-to-wire, 1:56 win for trainer Linda Toscano and owner Ken Jacobs. The purse for the New York-bred event was $15,000. My Last Laugh (Billy Dobson) was second and Big Rock Star (Jordan Stratton) was third.

In another division of the same class, Hay Goodlooking and trainer Gates Brunet did indeed make it a gate-to-wire win in 1:56.4 by a length, which came as a bit of a surprise to Brunet.

“I knew I was going to the front with an inside post (#2), but I never dreamt that Handsome Harry (driven by Jason Bartlett from post five) could drop in the two hole (behind him) like that,” said Brunet. “I thought I was going to have to let him go. We got an easy half (1:00.1) and got him pretty comfortable and then Howie (Okusko, driving Diamond Stick Pin) comes pretty hard at me. He thinks he’s going to beat me to the next turn and he almost gets there, but he didn’t.

“I pulled the plugs at the last turn and he was pretty strong, but got a little bumpy and dropped a knee boot and hit his knees, got real rough and just did get around the last turn. I knew I had Howie (driving Diamond Stick Pin) put away, but I was looking for Handsome Harry (winner of eight of 12 races this year). He just came late and I don’t know how much room or pace he had, but I was comfortable and he was in an easy gear and was pretty much coasting.”

Handsome Harry was a length back in second and Diamond Stick Pin three quarters of a length back of that in third. Hay Goodlooking is owned by Brunet’s wife Deborah, along with Ted Gewertz and Sam Dotro.

Brunet noted that the result could have been very different.

“Everybody knows half-mile track racing is all about post position and if post positions were reversed, the results might have been the other way around.”

USTA/Ellen Harvey photo

Driver Howard Okusko is all smiles after Six Of Hearts’ win in a $15,000 New York sired race at Historic Track.

The fastest New York-bred filly of the day was Six Of Hearts, winner in 1:57 by a half-length, trained by Jessica Okusko and driven by Howard Okusko for owners Purple Haze Stable and Conrad Zurich.

Six Of Hearts sat off the pace set by On The Glass (Jason Bartlett) to the :27.4 quarter and the :57 half before the lead was taken by JK Cameo (Stephane Bouchard) at the 1:25.2 three quarters. From that point, Six Of Hearts took off for the lead and won by a half-length.

“There were a bunch of nice fillies in there, but you have to get lucky,” said Howard Okusko. “We got a good trip. She doesn’t draw very good. She had the two hole last week at Monticello (where she was second in a New York-sired event) and he (Billy Dobson) drove her good. But she likes to be someplace up near the front and sometimes it’s hard to get her there. She’s not a top filly but she gives her best all the time. Today I went without earplugs and she was fine in the hole. Billy drove her last week and didn’t have the plugs in her; maybe she was a little too quiet.”

Retirement ceremony held for Clyde

Clyde, owned by Standardbred trainer/driver Jody Riedel, was retired from his 22-year career as an outrider’s mount at Goshen Historic Track on July 4.

USTA/Ellen Harvey photo

Jody Riedel leads Clyde across Historic Track after a retirement ceremony celebrating his 22-year career of getting Standardbreds back to the barn safely after every race.

“I’m so happy for him,” said Riedel. “He really deserves this and he loves the attention. He’s made me look good so many times.”

Clyde was fed many pounds of carrots by several hundred racing fans during an hour long meet and greet event.

Riedel had a second trip to the winner’s circle earlier in the card as she guided Goin To The Gate, a 6-year-old pacing gelding, to victory in the Dr. John R. Farrell Memorial Pace in a time of 1:59.2. Riedel guided the gelding from last at the three-quarters to first to win by three-quarters of a length.

Goin To The Gate is owned by Joseph and Marilyn Segall and trained by Leonard Segall.

The race featured all women drivers and was part of the Mildred Williams Series.

Racing resumes at Goshen Historic Track for the final day of the year on July 5 at 1 p.m. Highlight of the card is the $15,000 Mr. and Mrs. Elbridge Gerry Trot featuring Hall of Fame drivers John Campbell, Jim Doherty, Clint Galbraith, Wally Hennessey, Ron Pierce, Ray Remmen and John Simpson, Jr. Admission, with a program included, is $5 for adults and free for children under 12.

Inductions to the Harness Racing Hall of Fame will be held on Sunday at 7 p.m. at the Harness Racing Museum, 240 Main Street in Goshen. The museum is free and open to the public. Induction ceremonies are by ticket. For more information, call 845.294.6330.