from Harness Publicists across North America

Thursday’s (August 6) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Yonkers Raceway, Vernon Downs and Ocean Downs.

Bartlett wins seven on Thursday at Yonkers

Yonkers, NY — A quick look at Thursday night’s results from Yonkers Raceway showed leading driver Jason Bartlett winning six races, which he did, during the 13-race pari-mutuel card. However, throw in one non-betting division of the Empire City Claiming Series, and fast math says Bartlett notched a Lucky 7 for the second consecutive Thursday.

Bartlett’s happy half-dozen on the wagering card included his own personal Pick-4, after Einstein’s Theory ($2.60) won the $10,000 third race pace in 1:56.1, Hard Hitter ($3.90) won the $15,000 fourth race Empire City Claiming Series pacing event in 1:55.4, Pacific Flora ($3.60) won her $15,000 fifth race portion of the same series (1:56.1) and Winbak Bunny ($4.60) was a passing-lane winner (1:57) in the $15,000 sixth race Empire Series pace.

Allikait Fighter ($6.50) was Bartlett’s fifth winner, taking the $10,000 eighth race pace (1:56.1) before odds-on Thebeastfromtheast ($3.20) ambushed her foes in the $20,000 pacing finale (1:54).

Bartlett began the night with AB Ruff Stuff sticking his nose out at the right time, winning the second Empire non-bettor in a blanket finish (1:59.1).

Four of the seven winners were trained by Matt Medeiros.

Bartlett entered Thursday ranked fourth in the 2009 North American driver standings with 418 victories.

— Frank Drucker

Allamerican Celeb captures Vernon feature

Vernon, NY — Bille Bella Chick and L’Argent Hall became the winningest pacer and trotter of the meet, respectively, while Allamerican Celeb captured the $9,000 feature at Vernon Downs on Thursday night.

With Chris Lems driving for trainer Lonny Hale in the $5,000 first event, Bille Bella Chick ($5.70) rallied from third at the half to post her third win in succession and seventh during Vernon’s 56th season. It was the 12th lifetime tally for the 5-year-old mare, who is shared in ownership by Dr. Michael Kessler and the Speed To Burn Racing Stable.

Two races later, L’Argent Hall ($3.50) topped all trotters in local first-place finishes this season after securing his second straight score and sixth in 50 programs. Lems, sitting in for owner-trainer Joe Sansone and Laurie Roberts, earned his 11th driving double of the meet.

Fotowon photo

Allamerican Celeb was a 1:54 winner in the Thursday feature at Vernon.

Competing in the eighth event, the week’s top test for female pacers, Allamerican Celeb ($3.20) advanced from sixth at the quarter to gain the lead entering the homestretch, and then stayed in front to the finish, winning by three-quarters of a length over Chantal Hall in 1:54. Fern Paquet, Jr. did the teaming for his wife, Jamie, the 4-year-old mare’s trainer, and the In Front Racing Stable. It was the second win in the last three outings, sixth at the meet and 11th lifetime for the career winner of $103,320.

Bill Bailey, the track’s fifth-leading reinsman, was unseated after winning the seventh session with the pacer Heckuvarosa. Immediately after finishing the mile, a contending horse hooked wheels with Bailey’s charge, who then fell to the track and dislodged her driver. Bailey was said to have suffered a shoulder injury, the extent of which was unknown at the end of Thursday’s nine-race program. The 45-year-old horseman plans to be checked by his personal physician on Friday. It was a maiden-breaking victory for Heckuvarosa, who is owned by Charles Whitmer, Jr. and his wife, trainer Lynn Whitmer.

— Jim Moran

Two wins for Turk’s Ali at Ocean Downs

Berlin, MD — Turk’s Ali is a 3-year-old filly that has two lifetime wins. The first came in her last race at Ocean Downs on July 27. On Thursday evening the daughter of Ataturk stole away with her second win, two lengths ahead of a late charging field.

Robert Shahan drove the horse that is trained and owned by Ronald Short. The morning line gave the filly underdog odds at 10-1, but no one told that to the young filly. Starting in the five hole, Turk’s Ali raced to the rail early to pace the field. Coming around the last turn, Turk’s Ali ($20.80) was heavily challenged by Gold Like U and Ourdreamwave. Holding off their advances, the eventual winner sped up her pace to take the wire in 2:01.3.

Also having a payoff in excess of $20 was Invincible Sun at $26.80. The 5-year-old gelding was nowhere near the front of the pack during the race, sitting mostly in fifth position. Streaking down the homestretch, Invincible Sun refused to take any other position but first, passing four other horses to win by a half-length. Ronald Malone is both Invincible Sun’s trainer and driver.

— Ozi Menakaya