Racing Roundup: Awsome Valley gets up to win Dover trot
December 4, 2013,from harness publicists across North America
Wednesday’s (Dec. 4) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Dover Downs, Batavia Downs and Saratoga Casino and Raceway.
Awsome Valley gets up to win Dover trot
Dover, DE — Awsome Valley closed strongly along the passing lane to score a 1:54.2 victory in the $15,500 Winners Over Trot at Dover Downs on Wednesday.
Fotowon photo
Awsome Valley used the passing lane to win the Winners Over Trot.
Tony Morgan turned Barbara Boese’s Awsome Valley loose along the inside to just get up to catch early leader Royal Malinda, driven by Ross Wolfenden, in the final strides for the Valley Victor-Nonnina Ambrosio gelding’s ninth win of the season in a lifetime fastest clocking. Ryan McInnis conditions the winner of $96,742 this year.
Royal Malinda was second in her first local start since arriving from upstate New York. Baximum with Daryl Bier was the show finisher.
Meet leading driver Corey Callahan had to wait until the last race to keep his streak of wins each day of the meet going at 23. Callahan drove Justherighttouch to a victory by a nose in 1:56. It was his 58th win of the meet.
Tony Morgan and Allan Davis had driving triples, Trace Tetrick and Ross Wolfenden won twice. Meet leading trainer Wayne Givens and owner Legacy Racing of DE and owner-trainer Art Brewer also were two-time winners.
After taking a week off, Nova Artist returns to the $30,000 Preferred/Open Handicap Pace Thursday in a race named “In Support of Anthony Coletta,” the driver seriously injured in a racing accident recently. Horsemen are contributing purse distributions to this cause.
— Marv Bachrad
Batavia Downs
Regally Blonde ($34.80), the co-longest shot on the board, used a strong drive in the stretch and won the $8,500 Fillies and Mares Open in 1:57.1. She took the crown by beating the front-running Red Star Fiona (Ray Fisher, Jr.) by two lengths while Athleticlyinclined (Jack Flanigen) took third. Sitting sixth on the inside at the half, Batavia Downs’ leading driver Shawn McDonough managed to shake free with Regally Blonde at the three-quarter pole and fanned out three-wide down the stretch to overtake Red Star Fiona. She put up a :29 last quarter to surge to the victory. Trained by Jim Graham, the 4-year-old mare Regally Blonde (Stonebridge Regal-Highly Charged) has now won five times this season in 26 starts, improving her bankroll to $23,081 and $97,192 lifetime.
Saratoga Casino and Raceway
Ozymandias (Crazed) continued his winning ways on Wednesday night at Saratoga Casino and Raceway. The 3-year-old trotter was the odds-on favorite from the rail in the $4,200 conditioned-claimer and driver Jay Randall drove him accordingly. Randall pulled the pocket just past the half-mile pole and quickly rolled into a commanding lead before stopping the timer in 2:00 for Ozymandias’ third victory in a row and fifth in his last seven starts. The Jody Weidman trainee has been a picture of consistency, hitting the board in seven straight tries and in 18 of his 28 starts on the year. Longshot Wee Small Hours (Billy Dobson) finished second to Ozymandias while Ilari (Chris Long) earned the show spot. Ozymandias was the 1-2 favorite in the betting.