from harness publicists across North America

Thursday’s (May 15) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Hoosier Park, Vernon Downs and Saratoga Casino and Raceway.

Ants Iner Pants upsets in Fillies and Mares Trot at Hoosier

Anderson, IN — Ants Iner Pants, driven by Sam Widger, provided the 6-1 upset in the $17,500 Fillies and Mares Preferred Trot at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Thursday (May 15). Ants Iner Pants scored her third win of the season, one length ahead of her rivals in 1:55.2, equaling her career best time.

Linscott Photography

Ants Iner Pants won the featured trot at Hoosier Park.

Widger elected to use off-the–pace tactics with Ants Iner Pans as he landed third in the early stages of the going with Lady Blitz and Verlin Yoder calling the shots through the opening panel in :27.1. Lady Blitz continued to lead the field of ten past the half in :56.2 and three-quarters in 1:26.1 before ever feeling a threat. Walked Into Heaven and Tyler Smith sat patiently in the pocket while Ants Iner Pants followed intently in third.

Around the final turn, Widger angled Ants Iner Pants off the pylons and was within striking distance of the tempo-setter at the top of the stretch. Ants Iner Pants continued to gain on Lady Blitz while a host of others began to close in from behind.

Using a :28.3 final panel, Ants Iner Pants dug in gamely to hold off her rivals and win by a length. Lady Laker and Peter Wrenn staged a big rally late in the lane to finish second while the 7-5 favorite, Walked Into Heaven, rounded out the trifecta.

Trained by Steven Searle, who co-owns the mare with Thomas Wisniewski, Ants Iner Pants has now won three of eight seasonal outings and 19 of 75 lifetime. With the win, the daughter of Band’s Gold Chip-Patient Dream increased her lifetime earnings to $174,071 for her connections.

— Emily Gaskin

Vernon Downs
Rocks N Bagels extended her winning streak at Vernon Downs to three on Thursday night with a victory in the $9,500 feature race. She won with a well-timed drive from Aaron Byron, who guided the mare to the outside of the heavy favorite, Let’s Go Higher, in the stretch and prevailed in a very close photo finish. The time for the mile was 1:51.4. Let’s Go Higher assumed the lead following a fast first quarter of :26. She then set the pace through a half-mile of :55.1 and three-quarters in 1:25.1. Rocks N Bagels settled in fifth in the field of six before attacking aggressively entering the final turn. It still took Rocks N Bagels the length of the stretch to finally get up for the victory by a scant nose. The complete order of finish for the feature race was Rocks N Bagels, Let’s Go Higher, Love You Bye, Market Dynamics, Artic Byrd and Elleofnxample. Rocks N Bagels is owned by Kelly Dawn Hope and trained by Jordan Hope. The driving star of Thursday night at Vernon Downs was Truman Gale, who recorded three victories on the 11-race program. He recorded victories in the second race with Campanile Hanover, the fifth race with Aritzia Hanover, and the seventh race with Upfront Secret. Upfront Secret’s win came in a $6,000 Open Pace for Fillies and Mares in a sparkling time of 1:51.1.

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
It was a good night for Yankee fans on Thursday night. As the Bronx Bombers prevailed over their crosstown rivals in Flushing, pacer Real Yankee Fan pulled off a mild upset at Saratoga Casino and Raceway. Mark Beckwith situated Real Yankee Fan in the pocket behind the race’s 1-9 favorite Smokin Band (Billy Dobson). After finishing second to that rival last week, Real Yankee Fan would not be denied on Thursday night and cruised by the public’s choice in the stretch before stopping the timer in 1:55. Smokin Band held on for second while Art Bettor Now (Chris Long) earned the show spot in the $6,420 featured race. Real Yankee Fan returned $14 to win in what was his third score of the season.