from Harness Publicists across North America

Tuesday’s (Jan. 19) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows, Dover Downs and Monticello Raceway.

Beeeyouuuuuu beautiful in Meadows $25,000 Pace

Washington, PA — Undeterred by four months on the bench, Beeeyouuuuuu powered to the lead and drew off late to capture Tuesday’s $25,000 Preferred Pace at The Meadows.

Injury sent Beeeyouuuuuu to the sidelines after his Sept. 18 victory at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. Following two sharp qualifiers, Dave Palone had no qualms about sending the 5-year-old Yankee Cruiser-Fava gelding to the front. He scored in 1:53 over a sloppy surface, 3-1/4 lengths better than his entrymate, Transcending; the pair gave trainer Ron Burke a 1-2 sweep. Dan Chaz was a ground-saving third.

Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, JJK Stables and Larry Karr own Beeeyouuuuuu, who won for the ninth time in 23 career starts.

In the co-featured $25,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Pace, Shady Matilda demonstrated that her 22-1 victory last week was no fluke, as she rallied once again to score in 1:54.2. Spring Break, who raced well on the point in her 2010 debut, was a half-length back in second, with Natalie third.

Bettors weren’t sold on Shady Matilda — they dismissed her at 13-1 — but her win Tuesday was even more impressive than last week’s victory. She moved first over for Brett Miller only to see her momentum halted when Jans Luck left the pylons in front of her. Miller guided the 8-year-old Shady Character-Shore Drive mare back to the pylons, where she gathered herself and came on again in the stretch from fourth.

James Perry, Jr. trains Shady Matilda, who pushed her lifetime bankroll to $195,611 for Joann Perry.

Palone drove five winners and Brian Zendt three on the 15-race card while Burke fashioned a four-bagger.

— Evan Pattak

Apache Dame chalks up win in $27,000 Mares Open Pace

Dover, DE — Last season’s ‘Horse of the Meet,’ Apache Dame, romped to a 1:51.3 victory in the $27,000 Mares Open pace on Tuesday at Dover Downs.

Fotowon photo

Apache Dame was a 1:51.3 winner in the Mares Open Pace.

Ross Wolfenden and Apache Dame quick stepped past Chloes Silver Star (Ron Pierce) at the three-quarter pole and then sped away to victory in the top distaff event of the week. A change of post positions from seven to one did not hurt. The 9-year-old daughter of Apaches Fame-Amerissa, herself a dam of a now 2-year-old Badlands Hanover filly, scored her first win of the year after making the winner’s circle nine time in 2009 for owners Paul McDougall and WJ McDougall Racing Inc. Alice’s Restaurant closed well for Tony Morgan to take second money while Gabrielles Girl and Corey Callahan finished third.

Kellytuck Sophie circled the field on the way to a 1:53 triumph in the $18,500 female pace. Jon Roberts recorded his second win on the card, driving the Cam’s Magic Trick-Kellytuck Ann 8-year-old to her second win of the meet for M & W Stables, Graham Grace Stables and trainer Bib Roberts. Yada Yada Yada A (Jim Morand) streaked down the passing lane to take second in front of early leader Boca Hanover (Frank Milby).

Corey Callahan won four races, Ross Wolfenden had a triple, while Ron Pierce and Jon Roberts made the winner’s circle twice.

— Marv Bachrad

Four-bagger for Stratton at Monticello

Monticello, NY — On a gloomy Tuesday at Monticello Raceway, 22-year-old Jordan Stratton reined four winners on the afternoon card, an output that he has had many times here over the last two seasons.

Jordan Stratton

Stratton, at age 21, became the youngest driving champion in the 52-year history of Monticello Raceway when he captured the title during the 2008 campaign and now with just a fraction more than three full years of racing “the Kid,” as he was initially referred to, has reined 1,446 winners to date.

He began Tuesday with a 1:59.3 victory with Josh Wharton’s Yankee Vigilante ($6.90) in the first race on the card and then came back to win the third with David Reich, Edward Reich and Mike Belotti’s Color Library ($11.00) in 2:02.2.

Stratton proceeded to win the fifth race with Mike D’Abbaccio’s Behind Enemy Lines ($8.90) in a time of 1:59.2 and then scored a 2:00.2 triumph with John Kiwczak’s Lazy Running N ($23.20).

Besides his four victories Stratton also had three second-place finishes on the day.

Stratton, who vaulted into prominence at the Mighty M, will receive the U.S. Harness Writers’ Rising Star Award at the scribes’ national banquet which will be held at Yonkers Raceway & Casino on Sunday night, February 28.

— John Manzi