from Harness Publicists across North America

Tuesday’s (July 21) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows and Vernon Downs.

Atochia survives inquiry at the Meadows

Meadow Lands, PA — Atochia had little trouble with the $27,500 Preferred Handicap field Tuesday at The Meadows, but he had to survive a judges’ inquiry before his second straight victory in the track’s top pace was confirmed.

Dave Palone sent Atochia to the lead, where he kept Third Day at bay in the pocket. However, the 4-year-old gelded son of Dragon Again-Hot Shot Michelle took several bad steps in the lane, prompting the judges to explore possible interference with Third Day. The judges upheld the victory in 1:51.4. Third Day was two lengths back, nosing out Valentowner for place.

Ron Burke trains Atochia, who pushed his career bankroll past $400,000 for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, JJK Stables and M1 Stable.

With his five wins on the 15-race card, Palone has driven 12 winners in The Meadows’ last 30 races. Aaron Merriman enjoyed his second consecutive driving triple.

— Evan Pattak

Sears wins four in return to Vernon

Vernon, NY — Brian Sears, former three-time percentage driving champion here (1991-93), made a triumphant return to Vernon Downs on Tuesday, capturing four of the eight races he competed in, including the Jack “JL” Bailey Memorial Trophy race and the night’s top test for female pacers.

Sears, who began his provisional driving career here in 1990, steered Olivia’s Native to a career-best 1:56.3 maiden victory in Tuesday’s $3,000 sixth race, the Bailey Memorial, then piloted Perched to a 1:53 tally in the $5,500 seventh session.

Currently ranked among the Standardbred sport’s top reinsmen in both races won and purse earnings, Sears also won with the 2-year-old filly trotter Photogenic Lens (2:00) and veteran high-stepper Flying Scotsman (1:58.4).

The 41-year-old horseman came from off the pace to capture the Bailey Memorial, named in honor of his friend and former Vernon horseman. It marked the first score in three season’s starts for the 3-year-old pacer, who is trained by Bailey’s father, Jack, the track’s all-time driving champion and a member of the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame. Lawrence Broadway owns the gelded son of Allamerica Native-Perfect Look.

In the very next event, the third generation horseman urged Perched into the lead early in the week’s feature for distaff pacers and kept the 7-year-old daughter of Astreos-Chirp To Me alive throughout the mile, scoring by more than four lengths over Crazy Cathy, a winner in this class two weeks ago. It was the second local victory, fourth of 2009 and 21st all-time for the career-winner of more than $198,800, who is now owned by Ken Jacobs.

L’Argent Hall became the winningest trotter through 42 Vernon programs after a lifetime fastest 1:58.3 tally in Tuesday’s fifth event. All five of the 9-year-old gelding’s season’s scores have come at the Downs. Trainer Joe Sansone shares ownership of the $132,882 career winner with Laurie Roberts.

— Jim Moran