Racing Roundup: Badboy Paparazzi A wins Saturday’s feature at Pocono
November 7, 2009,from Harness Publicists across North America
Saturday’s (November 7) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, The Isle Pompano Park, Saratoga Gaming and Raceway, Vernon Downs and Batavia Downs.
Badboy Paparazzi A wins Saturday’s Feature at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs
Wilkes Barre, PA — Badboy Paparazzi A, driven by Mike Simons, won the Saturday (Nov. 7) afternoon featured race at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. It was a $25,000-$30,000 claiming trot with a field of nine horses.
The 8-year-old trotting gelding sat second or third for most of the mile before edging Super Discipline (Eric Goodell) in 1:54.4, just three fifths of a second off the lifetime mark for Badboy Paparazzi A.
Gail Wrubel trains Badboy Paparazzi, a winner for only the second time in 2009 on 25 starts. Third behind Super Discipline was McKelvie (Greg Grismore).
— John Zimich
Kakaley Wins three at Pompano
Pompano Beach, FL — 21 year old driver Matt Kakaley has been in the driving colony at The Isle Pompano Park for less than two weeks and wasn’t long compiling his first hat trick since re-locating from Ohio.
Kakaley was involved in a win dead heat in the Saturday night feature race, the $13,000 Open Handicap Pace. He was parked the route with I’m In Luck and the pair survived the wide trip alongside Cape Karuna with Bruce Ranger for a share of the dead heat win in 1:52.1. I’m In Luck is a Camluck-Be My Guest 8-year-old gelding trained by Mike Deters for Pine Vue Stables of Saranac Lake, NY. Cape Karuna survived cutting the mile and persisted for the dead heat for owner-trainer Peter Blood, and co-owners Rick Berks and Roger Slobody.
— Frank Salive
Kelly’s Noah takes Saratoga feature
Saratoga, NY — The Saturday open pace went the way of Kelly’s Noah at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway on a beautiful fall night for harness racing in upstate New York. The victory was the second in three weeks for the young pacer who enjoyed some success this summer in the New York Sire Stakes.
The James Harvey trainee won his first ever open two weeks ago at the Spa as he upset at 9-1 and set a lifetime mark of 1:54. After being a beaten favorite last week in the feature, Kelly’s Noah returned to longshot status on Saturday and was aided by a ton of early speed in the evening’s $16,000 feature.
As favorites Skipper Jove (Dan Cappello Jr) and Roxie’s Big Guy (Brian Cross) battled early, Jay Randall waited to put the speedy sophomore in gear and started to move him at the half. After the first lap was paced in :56.1, the race was ripe for a closer and Kelly’s Noah picked off his rivals one by one before stopping the timer in 1:53.4, another career best. This week, Kelly’s Noah was dismissed at 24-1 in the open.
— Mike Sardella
Merton puts on clinic at Vernon
Vernon, NY — Visiting catch-driver Greg Merton put on a clinic at Vernon Downs on Saturday night (Nov. 7) winning five of the track’s 12 closing night races.
Merton, who had posted just seven Vernon scores this season prior to Saturday’s successful showing, earned a purse check in all but one of his 11 starts. His victories included a 1:51.4 performance with Captain Grin ($4.80) in the week’s $10,000 Open pace.
Leaving from post one in the featured ninth event, Captain Grin, the crowd wagering favorite, gained the lead after a :27.2 opening quarter, and then set sail through additional splits of :56.1 and 1:24 en route to a five length tally over the second betting choice, Four One One.
It was the second win in a row, fifth at the meet and 11th this season for the 5-year-old son of Grinfromeartoear-Centerfold Hanover, who is trained by Tracy Brainard and owned by William Williams, Jr. and Arnie Marks.
The convincing victory raised the gritty gelding’s lifetime bankroll to $74,485.
— Jim Moran
New York Prime in rare form at Batavia
Batavia, NY — New York Prime tied Outlaws Ransome for the winningest horse at the 2009 Summer-fall meet when he took the featured $8,000 Open Handicap, Saturday night at Batavia Downs Casino.
In eight Batavia starts, New York Prime has won seven and finished second in the other. He’s won 18 races this year which makes him one North America’s best, only three horses, Shortest Distance, Bell On Wheels and Real Expresso have won more this year.
it was a determined New York Prime who scored a neck victory over a game Arm and a Leg in 1:56.3. Oh Geez Whiz wound up third.
New York Prime, a 6-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight, is trained by Alex Giuliani for owners Richey Edward Myers, Jeffry Myers, Robert Marsjanik and Robert Stern.
— Todd Haight