by harness publicists across North America
Wednesday’s (Jan. 11) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Dover Downs, The Meadows, The Isle Casino Pompano Park, Buffalo Raceway and Monticello Raceway.
Anders Bluestone makes amends in Dover Open Trot
Dover, DE — Anders Bluestone made amends following breaking stride last week to win the $24,000 Open Handicap trot on a rainy Wednesday over a ‘sloppy’ track at Dover Downs
Ross Wolfenden pulled Eric Ell-conditioned Anders Bluestone out of fourth heading to the clubhouse turn and eventually went three-wide on the backstretch to take the lead and then rang up a :28.4 final panel to notch a 1:55.3 verdict in the week’s top trot. Owned by Ken Wood and Bill Dittmar, who claimed the now 6-year-old son of Yankee Glide-Annette Hanover at Chester in late Summer two seasons back, Anders Bluestone, a former stakes regular when a juvenile, has now upped his lifetime bankroll to well over a half-million dollars. Blueridge Tornado (Matt Kakaley), who saw a five-race win streak end, was a game second edging gritty Lets Get Serious N (George Dennis), third.
— Marv Bachrad
The Meadows
The only mare in the field, Kandor Hanover, made a decisive quarter-pole move and handily beat the boys in Wednesday’s $22,500 Preferred Trot at The Meadows. Kandor Hanover was hammered down to 1-2 and justified that support by brushing to the lead early for Brian Zendt and scoring in 1:56.2 in the slop. NJ Express was second, 1-3/4 lengths back, with Springboard a rallying third. Bill Zendt trains Kandor Hanover, a 6-year-old daughter of Tagliabue-Katelyns Glory who has won six of her last eight starts, for Online Stables, John Burns and J. Patrick Huber. Brett Miller drove three winners on the 15-race card.
The Isle Casino Pompano Park
The Wednesday evening program saw trotters in action on more than half of the card on another ideal warm January evening, including the $12,000 weekly Open Handicap event. Jaavos Boy made his recent front-end tactics work this time out for driver David Ingraham as they disposed of a third quarter challenge by Grand Victory in rein to Wally Hennessey to the final turn in 1:25.4. In the stretch, Jaavos Boy also turned back the challenge of the pocket-sitting favorite, Keystone Thomas in rein to Bruce Ranger, with the final time showing 1:54.4. Lord Darby with Anthony Napolitano closed next best for third. Barry Probber conditions Jaavos Boy for the Probber Morse Stable of Ft. Lauderdale, FL. The 6-year-old S J’s Photo-Hayworth Hanover gelding made over $103,000 last year and sports a lifetime bankroll of $237,483.
Buffalo Raceway
When Eagle Art M crossed the finish line first in 1:58.4, with last year’s dash leading driver Jack Flanigen in the sulky, the official start of 2012 season in Western New York had begun. In the featured $10,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace, HF’S Super Star, ($5.10) a 5-year-old mare by Dags, out of the Indian Sunset mare Superstar Sunset, made a strong backside brush, took command at the top of the stretch, and won in 1:59 for owner Roger D. Roland of Grinnell, Iowa. Keith Kash, Jr. was at the controls for trainer Kevin Hough, as HF’S Super Star won for the eleventh time in her career. It’s Only Roni (Troy Boring) came in second, while Wildflower Hanover (Ray Fisher, Jr.) came in third. Driver Jack Flanigen continued his mastery of this half-mile oval, steering home four winners on the night. Besides Eagle Art M in the first race, Jack also connected with Silveresque ($17.40), Every Girls Desire ($7.90), and Whitaker Blue Chip ($3.80).
Monticello Raceway
When Larry Stalbaum moved from the Wolverine State to the Empire State in 2005 he settled at Monticello Raceway where he was a force to be reckoned with. And for the year and a half that he called the Mighty M home he was either the leading driver or among the leaders. Then, like many, he moved to greener pastures. He’s back again this winter with some of his horses and on Wednesday, Stallbaum reined three winners on the card including the weekly trotting feature with Eric Prevost’s Picture Perfect. After starting from the pole position, Stallbaum sent Picture Perfect to the lead and they cut all the fractions en route to a solid two length, 2:00.2 triumph over even-money shot Heaven And Hall, driven by Brandon Simpson. Stallbaum also was victorious behind another Eric Prevost-owned trotter, Perfect Scam, in a time of 2:00. He also scored with his own trotter, Gotta Be Perfect, in a 2:01.4 clocking, giving him a “perfect” hat trick.