Racing Roundup: Artic Byrd prevails in Vernon feature
May 1, 2014,from harness publicists across North America
Thursday’s (May 1) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Vernon Downs, Northfield Park, Saratoga Casino and Raceway and Miami Valley Raceway. Artic Byrd prevails in Vernon feature Vernon, NY — Rallying off cover as the pacesetters ruthlessly wore each other down, Donn Lewandrowski and Gail Farrell’s Artic Byrd ($10.00) passed every other mare in the race en route to a 1:53 victory over sloppy going in Thursday’s (May 1) $8,000 Fillies and Mares Miracle Mile 2-3 Handicap Pace at Vernon Downs. The 6-year-old Art Major mare settled at the rear of the field initially before advancing two-wide on the backstretch to join the front flight prior to a :55 half-mile. On the far turn, trainer-driver Truman Gale moved third-over with Artic Byrd, while pacesetting favorite Market Dynamics (Rick Plano) faced stiff pressure from the first-over Got The Munchies (John MacDonald) approaching head-stretch. Aided by live cover from Elleofnxample (Todd Frocione), Artic Byrd launched a four-wide stretch bid, pulling clear at will for a 1-3/4 length victory. Elleofnxample stayed on for second, while the pocket-sitting Steuben Ruthless (Fern Paquet, Jr.) squeezed through at the pegs to save third. Earlier in the program, Ben McNeil scored his first pari-mutuel driving win aboard Want More ($5.30), edging out Sudden Desire in 1:55.4 in a conditioned event for distaff pacers. Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Friday (May 2) evening, with the first of nine races slated for 6:45 p.m. (EDT). — James Witherite Northfield Park Saratoga Casino and Raceway Miami Valley Raceway
So Long My Love captured the $11,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace on Thursday in Northfield Park’s third race. She is owned and trained by Scott Cox. Greg Grismore was aboard for the winning drive. So Long My Love (American Ideal-Letmedowneasy) started from post four and led at every call, posting fractions of :27, :56.1, 1:25 and 1:53.3. She was a neck in front at the wire and the mile clocking represented a new lifetime mark. Completing the race were Up Front Kellie Jo, Sweetheart Dance, Power Everywhere, Riverdancer and Jolting Kate. Thursday’s win was the fifth victory this year and ninth career score for So Long My Love and it bolstered her lifetime earnings to $54,253. She was an upset winner, returning $27.00 to win.
Panpero Firpo (No Pan Intended) recorded his first victory of the season on Thursday night at Saratoga Casino and Raceway. The Jackie Rousse-trained 4-year-old recently added lasix and has shown significant improvement since doing so. Coming off a fast second place finish in his last start, Panpero Firpo moved first over on the race’s favorite in the $8,000 conditioned pace feature on Thursday and overpowered his rivals before stopping the timer in 1:54.4. Stephane Bouchard, who recently hit the 8,000 career win plateau, piloted Panpero Firpo to the convincing victory. Lucky Mctrucky (Jordan Derue) charged hard late to be second while favored Aled Hanover (Shawn Gray) held on for third.
Driver Jim Pantaleano had his best night thus far at Miami Valley Raceway, winning five of the 11 races on Thursday night to bring his lifetime victory total to 6,300. The 52-year-old reinsman has won more than 150 races in 20 of the last 21 years and his mounts have now earned more than $41 million. Pantaleano, who fell in love with harness racing as a teenage busboy at Northfield Park, has enjoyed a fruitful first season at Miami Valley, scoring 53 victories and earning more than $250,000 for horse owners. With three nights remaining, he is tied for fifth in the local dash standings. He started his own early ‘Cinco de Mayo’ celebration with three straight triumphs in the third through fifth races. Miss Fineline was first with a 1:56.3 score for trainer Chris Scicluna. Sharkupnkissme and Arts Chip N Gail followed up with Pantaleano presenting trainer Mark Gillenwater with a back-to-back double. Favored Miss Panthers gave Pantaleano his fourth tally with a track record performance for 4-year-old female trotters. Trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. had the mare primed for an impressive 1:55.4 winning performance, despite strong gusting winds, in her first start since joining his powerful stable. C L Life Road won the nightcap for Pantaleano and trainer Conor Flynn by pacing to a 1:54.4 victory.