After forcing 2-5 favorite Phoenix Rising through a :26.1 first quarter, Michael Somerville’s homebred Dice Dice Baby parlayed a pocket trip into a 7-1 upset in Wednesday’s (Feb. 5) $11,500 Mares Open Handicap Pace at Rosecroft Raceway.
Prix d’Amerique winner Idao de Tillard injured
Idao de Tillard, who was supposed to start in the Prix de France at Vincennes on Sunday (Feb. 9), has injured a fetlock in a foreleg in the paddock and will not be able to start.
$2,375 Pick-5 carryover Saturday at MGM Northfield Park
A trio of big longshots led to chaos in the mid-card Pick-5 on Wednesday night (Feb. 5) at MGM Northfield Park. The carryover of $2,375 rolls over to the Saturday evening (Feb. 8) card.
Live racing canceled Thursday at Monticello
Due to the winter conditions, live racing on Thursday (Feb. 6) at Monticello has been canceled.
Guarantees galore Friday at Cal Expo
Friday night’s (Feb. 7) program at Cal Expo will feature a Pick-7 carryover of $15,090 and a $35,000 guaranteed gross pool, along with guaranteed pools in both the Pick-5 and the Late Pick-4.
Steady improvement for Maria Rice’s Melanion
Melanion might not be the type of horse that enjoys sharing warm and fuzzy moments in the barn, but the New Zealand-bred pacer’s all-business disposition has produced its share of pleasant results on the racetrack since his arrival in the U.S. this past April. An 8-year-old gelding, Melanion has hit the board in 15 of 23 races, winning five, since joining the stable of trainer Maria Rice.
Last call for 2025 Harness Racing Immortal nominations
Time is running out for members of the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame to submit Immortal nominations for the Class of 2025.
Special Pacing For The Cure contest
Pacing For The Cure is a 501(C) (3) nonprofit organization who works to help provide mobility assistance and medical services for individuals living with autoimmune and neuromuscular diseases (Multiple Sclerosis, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), Cerebral Palsy, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Parkinson’s Disease). In addition, the organization has raised money for research since it was formed in 2016.
STA board elects officers
The Standardbred Transition Alliance (STA) elected its 2025-2026 officers during its annual board meeting, held Feb. 2 in Westerville, Ohio.