from harness publicists across North America

Wednesday’s (April 10) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Pompano Park and Saratoga Casino and Raceway.

Andover America takes trotting feature at Pompano

Pompano Beach, FL — Andover America, with Bruce Ranger handling his lines, eked out a narrow victory in Pompano Park’s Open I Trot on Wednesday night in 1:55.2.

Skip Smith photo

Andover America eked out a narrow win in Pompano Park’s top trot on Wednesday night in 1:55.2.

The classy 8-year-old son of Andover Hall dug in late in his mile to hold off the furious late charge of I’ll Tell You What (Dave Ingraham) to win by a head with the very fast closing Pure Barre (Mickey McNichol) third and only three parts of a length away.

The favorite, Illusionsndreams, handled by Andy Santeramo, finished fourth while Increditable, trotting the fastest final panel for Stephane Lareau, picked up the “nickel” in the field of eight.

Andover America, relaxed early on from the rail post, was five lengths away at the quarter as Illusionsndreams cut an opener of :27.2 and preceded to the half in :56.2 with Lugar (Kevin Wallis), leaving from the outside, nestled in second followed by I’ll Tell You What and Andover America.

On Pompano’s backside, Ranger sent his charge first up and into contention with I’ll Tell You What following that live cover.

With the three-quarters in 1:25.3, Andover America moved alongside Illusionsndreams, put that one away turning for home and just did manage to hold off I’ll Tell You What at the wire for his 46th career victory. The win pushed Andover America’s lifetime bounty just a smidgen away from $680,000. Mc Trade Enterprises owns the winner.

In a post race interview, Ranger said, “He’s been a bit off his game recently but, last week, gave me a hint that he’s starting to return to his great form in the past. He probably trotted his third quarter in :28 and a small piece (:28.3) and he kept digging to the wire. He’s a classy, hard fighting trotter.”

— John Berry

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
Trainer Allan Johnson brought a pair of trotters to town on Wednesday night at Saratoga and both recorded impressive victories. Dreamnwillie (Dream Vacation) and Beautiful Windsong (Windsong’s Legacy) both set their seasonal marks at Saratoga last year and made their 2013 local debuts on Wednesday. Jordan Derue piloted Dreamnwillie to the upset victory in the evening’s second race, scoring first over in 1:59.3. His stablemate Beautiful Windsong did her work on the front end and as the odds-on favorite in her $6,000 non-winners of two lifetime trot. The mare stopped the timer in 2:02.1 while a convincing open length winner.