from harness publicists across North America

Thursday’s (Sept. 11) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Vernon Downs and Saratoga Casino and Raceway.

Asset Management rallies from last to win at Vernon

Vernon, NY — The Thursday night $8,000 featured pace at Vernon Downs had a tough field of five that was led by morning line favorite Love You Bye (Jimmy Whittemore), but when all was said and done, the winner was Asset Management (Western Hanover-Serious Comfort) in a time of 1:53.

Fotowon photo

Asset Management was a narrow winner in the Vernon feature.

Love You Bye had set the early pace through a quarter of :27.2 and a half of :56.1 before Ugly Betty (John MacDonald) grabbed the lead on the backstretch and led past three-quarters in 1:23.1.

Ugly Betty actually led into the stretch before the closers came calling. Asset Management (Fern Paquet Jr.) had to go four-wide when the field hit the top of the stretch, but had momentum built up as the field reached deep stretch. She surged past longshot Ubettorbeturlife (Chris Lems), who had taken the lead shortly before the wire, and was up in the nick of time for the win. Love You Bye had actually been relegated to last before re-rallying up the inside to get third.

The complete order of finish was Asset Management, Ubettorbeturlife, Love You Bye, Ugly Betty and Seascape Hanover.

Asset Management is owned by J&M Racing. The trainer is Alexandra Berube.

Asset Management was just one of three winners for driver Fern Paquet Jr. on the Thursday night program. He also won the seventh race with Fresh Squeezed (American Ideal-Squeeze Me) and the tenth race with Grand Majorette (Art Major-Grandiose Gal).

— Michael Chamberlain

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
Live racing resumed on Thursday night at Saratoga Casino and Raceway following a week and a half long hiatus. Young pacer Kid PK (Wearable Art) had the daunting task of overcoming post position eight in the evening’s $7,490 feature. The Jim Doherty Jr.-trained Kid PK is enjoying a solid comeback season after sitting out the 2013 season. Stephane Bouchard sat behind Kid PK following three consecutive second place finishes for the 4-year-old pacer. Showing early speed, Kid PK made the lead early but eventually had to pull the pocket behind a sharply tiring rival before drawing clear to win in a career best 1:57.3. Sweet Water Jack (Billy Dobson) was in the outer flow and wound up finishing second while Stirling Cadillac (Mark Beckwith) earned the show spot in the race for winners of two but not more than four pari-mutuel races lifetime.