Racing Roundup: Another Lindy not ready for retirement
August 14, 2009,from Harness Publicists across North America
Friday’s (August 14) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Scarborough Downs, Yonkers Raceway, Vernon Downs, Saratoga Gaming and Raceway, Scioto Downs and Batavia Downs.
Ed Szalajeski, Sr. photo
Another Lindy notched career win no. 56 Saturday at Scarborough Downs.
Scarborough, ME — Another Linky, a 14-year-old trotter, won his 56th career race this evening at Scarborough Downs timed in 1:59 flat with Drew Campbell driving for owner/trainer Richard Bartlett.
— Mike Sweeney
50K co-features at Yonkers
Yonkers, NY — Stonebridge Diablo repeated as local Open Handicap Trot champ, winning Yonkers Raceway’s Friday night co-feature…with a life mark in career start No. 106, no less. “Diablo” also went over the $600,000 career cash plateau.
Stonebridge Diablo defeated One Man Show S by a length in that career-best effort, with Green Day salvaging the bottom of the ticket. Spur-Ann-E (Greg Grismore) and Armbro Barrister (Steve Smith) completed the cashers, while 17-10 favorite Beach Nut Brand (Jeff Gregory) was a non-factor sixth.
For Stonebridge Diablo, a 7-year-old Angus Hall gelding co-owned by California’s Alan Kirscehenbaum, along with two Waples (Ron Jr. and Randy) and one Dr. (Sheila) Atmore, he paid $10.20 (second choice) for his seventh win in 21 seasonal starts.
Friday night’s co-featured Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace saw inside assignee Eagle Hilarious (Gregory) mind her business in a three-hole, get the passing lane and author a 14-1 upset, defeating Twin B Tiara by three-quarters-of-a-length. The 1:54.2 effort knocked four ticks off the previous personal best she had in her most recent try two weeks ago.
Saymynamesaymyname, K G Delight and 3-2 choice Pancleefandarpels (Jordan Stratton) grabbed the loose change.
— Frank Drucker
Jack’s Reef in career best in Vernon feature
Vernon, NY — Jack’s Reef turned in a seamless 1:56 performance to capture Friday night’s (Aug. 14) $7,000 featured eighth race at Vernon Downs.
Chris Lems, the meet’s third leading dash-winner with 60 scores, urged Jack’s Reef ($5.70) into the lead as the starting gate pulled away and the 5-year-old horse remained in command throughout en route to a career-best mile that resulted in his second local tally and fourth of the campaign.
Jody Weidman conditions the-career winner of $173,283 for owner Pauline Nower.
— Jim Moran
Up Tempo sets lifetime mark in Spa feature
Saratoga, NY — Up Tempo picked a good time to set a lifetime mark at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway on Friday night as the 4-year-old trotter won his first ever crack at the Saratoga feature.
A Paul Kelley trainee, Up Tempo is enjoying a monster season in his first season at the Spa. Utilizing the speedy trotter’s early gate speed, driver Brian Mattison positioned Up Tempo in the pocket, tracking the race’s favorite Pablo Angus (Dan Cappello Jr). While finding open road late in the stretch, Up Tempo came on to record the win, his eighth already this year after a sophomore campaign in 2008 in which he won nine races out of town.
— Mike Sardella
Marvel Sahbra wins Capital City Pacing series
Columbus, OH — Marvel Sahbra got up in the final strides to win the Capital City Pacing series for mares on Friday night at Scioto Downs. The 9-year-old mare was clocked in 1:53.3.
In an exciting homestretch drive, Marvel Sahbra got up by a nose to win for Dan Noble, trainer Tommie Smiley, and owner Rick Gehron.
Danika Hanover hung on gamely to save second place while Shell I Attack was only three-quarters length back in third. Cat Burglar faded to fifth in the six-horse field.
— Dean Hoffman
Australian Stock cruises at Batavia
Batavia, NY — The saying you can’t keep a good man down certainly applied to Batavia Downs Casino dash leading driver Kevin Cummings on Friday night (Aug-14). Back in the bike after a nasty spill on Monday night, Cummings won the featured $9,000 Open Handicap Trot with Australian Stock (1:58.4) and the $7,200 co-featured Open II trot with Ima a Cricket Also. Both horses are conditioned by D. J. Millner.
“My hip still hurts and I’m all bandaged up (his arm and elbow) but I’m happy to be back,” Cummings said in the paddock before the start of the races.
The victory was the seventh of the season for Australian Stock, a 5-year-old son of Angus Hall. He raised his 2009 earnings to over $45,000 for owner David Slyman of Ohio.
Ima a Cricket Also, parlayed a perfect trip into a 10-1 upset score in the co-feature. Down the lane Ima a Cricket Also powered away to a 1-1/2 length score over a closing Cade Callihan (Ray Fisher Jr.) in 1:59.3.
— Todd Haight