Robin I Scoot wins season opener at Hoosier Park

Anderson, IN — Robin I Scoot, Indiana’s 2008 Horse of the Year, proved he hasn’t lost his touch, winning the season opener at Hoosier Park Racing and Casino on Tuesday. The victory for Robin I Scoot and driver Bill Dailey was recorded in their first start of the season in the $23,000 Inaugural Pace for invitational horses.

Robin I Scoot hustled out of the gate for the top spot, getting to the first quarter in a brisk :25.2. He was immediately overtaken by Roxies Big Guy and driver Elliott Deaton before the half-way mark in :56.1. The Dick Macomber entry of Gotta Go Moe and Vapor In The Wind began to move in around the final turn, but Dailey kept Robin I Scoot firmly in the pocket until the three-quarter marker was reached in 1:24.2.

Linscott Photography

Robin I Scoot crossed the finish line in 1:52.4 on opening night at Hoosier Park.

In the stretch, Robin I Scoot tipped off of Roxies Big Guy’s back and began to dig in for the victory. Roxies Big Guy would not back down, putting up a fight until the final strides, but in the end, Robin I Scoot was the stronger finisher, posting a time of 1:52.4 into a head wind for the victory. Roxies Big Guy finished second while Rocket Fuel and Mark O’Mara rallied gamely from behind for third.

“I thought the roan horse (Rocket Fuel) would be the one to beat,” said Dailey. “I also thought the Macomber crew (Gotta Go Moe and Vapor In The Wind) would be more aggressive. I drove this horse (Robin I Scoot) once before last year at Indiana Downs and had a win with him. I feel very fortunate to get to drive a horse like this. He’s a class horse and knows how to win.”

Robin I Scoot earned 10 wins in 25 outings last season for nearly $200,000 in earnings. Now four, the gelded son of I Scoot Hanover has 20 career wins and a bankroll of more than $300,000 for Shady Lane Meadows of Grabill, Ind. Dan Perdue trains Robin I Scoot.

“I didn’t expect him to win tonight in his first start of the year,” admitted Perdue. “We were hoping for a little easier trip. He (Robin I Scoot) was in against some tough horses, but it usually takes the ones from Florida a few weeks to acclimate to the change in weather and to recuperate from the trip north. I couldn’t believe he paid that much, though, for the win.”

Robin I Scoot rewarded his backers with $14.40, $6.20, and $15.00 across the board. He paced home in :28 flat for the three-quarter length advantage over Roxies Big Guy.

In other racing action on the 12-race season opener, driver Andy Shetler brought home four winners to lead the early race for leading driver. Shetler connected with Meritage Hanover in the fourth race followed by Frankthebank in race six. Shetler completed his evening with wins in the seventh race with The Tappan Zee and the ninth race with Royalton Star. Two of the wins were for trainer Bernie Wolin (Frankthebank and The Tappan Zee.).

The highest purse of the night was awarded to Speed N The Tunnel and driver Sam Widger. The duo claimed the top spot in the $25,000 Invitational Trot, slated as race 11. Speed N The Tunnel was a one length winner over Azur and Verlin Yoder in a time of 1:56.3. MJ’s Victory and Steve Carter trotted home for third from the back of the pack.

Speed N The Tunnel is owned by Brett and Lynn Wilfong. Brett also trains the 6-year-old Armbro Tunnel mare, who was making her first start of 2009.

Widger, one of the top drivers on the Chicago circuit the past decade, is planning to drive at Hoosier Park on Tuesdays and Saturdays during the 80-race meet.

— Tammy Knox

World champion Esmeralda Semalu wins again at Pompano

Pompano Beach, FL — World champion Esmeralda Semalu ($2.60) strutted her stuff once again, winning the $16,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace on Tuesday at the Isle Pompano Park.

Racing again against rival world record holder, U All BB, Esmeralda Semalu and trainer/driver Joe Pavia, Jr. left little doubt that she is one of the top pacing mares currently in harness racing.

After getting parked out by U All BB (Bruce Ranger) to the opening quarter in the third race feature in :27.3, Pavia settled Esmeralda Semalu on the front end and she led the field to the half-mile in :56.4 and then the three-quarters in 1:24.3. Then Pavia let Esmeralda Semalu pull away from the field with a :27.2 last quarter to win by 5-3/4 lengths in 1:52. Atlantic Filly (Andy Santeramo) was able to close for second place with U All BB fading to third.

It was the second straight victory and sixth win in nine starts this year for Esmeralda Semalu. Owned by the BJR Stables of Boca Raton and the AGC Stables of Highland Beach, Esmeralda Semalu is a 5-year-old daughter of Electric Stena from the Magical Mike mare Anemone Semalu. She has yet to finish out of the money in her nine starts. In her last start she became the world’s fastest older mare on a five-eighths-mile track with a lifetime best 1:49.4 victory.

— Steve Wolf

Bickmore trains three winners at Plainridge

Plainville, MA — It was another very cold and windy day at Plainridge Racecourse on Tuesday, but the 11-race card went off without a hitch and it turned out to be a great day for trainer Randy Bickmore.

Randy Bickmore

Bickmore brought down five horses from Maine and watched three of them cross the wire first under very windy conditions.

His first win was in the fifth race with Sheeza Shady Lady in a time of 1:57.3, and the second one came in the seventh race with Tough Company in 1:56, which was a new lifetime mark. His third winner came in the ninth race with I’m A Lucky Man in 1:55.4, which was also a lifetime best.

The cold weather certainly brought out the best in his horses because he also had a second with Keystone Natalie in the tenth.

Bob Dinning and Drew Campbell were both able to bring across double winners themselves.

— Robert Lieberman