from harness publicists across North America

Saturday’s (September 17) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Colonial Downs, Yonkers Raceway, Freehold Raceway, Vernon Downs, Cal-Expo and Saratoga Casino and Raceway.

Belote Memorial highlights Colonial Downs opening

New Kent, VA — Colonial Downs opened its 14th harness racing season Saturday on a damp, cool afternoon, but Dan O’Mara’s Dreamanotherdream and Jason Mac Dougall’s Willin Dylan didn’t mind as they each scored come from behind division victories in the Hal Belote Memorial Trotting Series.

Coady Photography

Willin Dylan captured a division of the Hal Belote Memorial Trotting Series on Saturday at Colonial Downs.

Willin Dylan’s win came over a track labeled good while Dreamanotherdream’s came after the track condition was downgraded to sloppy.

After starting from post 1 0 in the first division, Mac Dougall’s trotter was seventh heading into the top of the stretch, six lengths behind Lee Wind. Red Rocks, another O’Mara trainee, stormed past Lee Wind early in the stretch and opened up what seemed like a comfortable four length cushion. Willin Dylan came up strong on the outside as the finish neared and passed Red Rocks in time to gain victory in 1:57.4.

The 4-year-old CR Kinetic gelding won by 1-1/2 lengths in earning just his second triumph this year. In 2010 Willin Dylan won 10 of 13 races for over $86,000 in purse earnings. Red Rocks took second and Blue Boy Yankee was third.

In the later division, Dreamanotherdream had a similar trip to Willin Dylan, though the comeback was less dramatic. The 5-year-old Dream Vacation gelding was fifth coming out of the turn, but was within three lengths of front-stepping Viking Mia. In mid-stretch, O’Mara’s trotter made its move and ended up crossing two lengths better than fast closing Techalong in 1:59. Concertino, who also closed with a rush, took third.

In the next two series legs, the distance of each division race will increase to one and one-quarter miles.

— Darrell Wood

Yonkers Raceway
Rank outsider Silent Swing (Brent Holland) upset the apple cart Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $52,000 Open Pace. The longshot caught and passed the public choice, One More Laugh, widening out late. Silent Swing won by a length-and-a-half, getting the mile-and-one-sixteenth in 1:59. Southern Allie (Jim Pantaleano), Valentino and Shoobee’s Place (Cat Manzi) completed the cashers. For Silent Swing, a 9-year-old Northern Luck gelding co-owned by (trainer) Mark Ford and David Shea, he returned $46.40 for his eighth win in 22 seasonal starts. The winner sports career cash in excess of $1.5 million.

Freehold Raceway
Driver Steve Smith scored two wins at Freehold on Saturday, bringing his lifetime mark to 2,999. The 50-year-old Freehold resident made the winner’s circle in the second race with Brandon’s Colt (6.00, 4.00, 2.20) and again in the sixth race with Cam’s Future (4.80, 3.00, 2.20).

Vernon Downs
Track record-holder Pacinello pulled off a comeback victory in Saturday night’s $10,000 featured 10th race at Vernon Downs. With Rick Plano as the pilot, Pacinello ($10.00) paced to the lead before the quarter, then got shuffled back into the pocket as the favorite, Riggins, took charge and led until the final furlong. Pacinello, two lengths back enter the stretch drive, responded with a :26.3 final quarter to defeat the on-rushing Thanks For Stoppin’ by two lengths in the week’s Open-1 contest, Riggins faded to third in the 1:51.2 mile. Saturday’s score was the second in succession, the seventh this season (fifth at the Downs) and 27th all-time for the 5-year-old son of Little Steven-Princess Kiara, who is owned by the D&E Racing stable. The career-winner of more than $287,100 set a 1:50.2 Vernon standard for aged pacing horses back on July 23.

Cal-Expo
Winners-Over pacers, racing for a $4,500 purse, were featured at Cal Expo on Saturday night (September 17), on which Ivegotwhatuneed won for the 35th time in his career.Owned by Marty Garey in partnership with trainer Bob Johnson, Ivegotwhatuneed, under some urging until late, won ($5.20) by 2-3/4 lengths, in 1:54. Haggin Oaks put in a burst of late speed with pace to finish in second, and Stanza fought hard in the lane to hold third, another 1-1/4 lengths farther back.

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
Kelly’s Noah made his return to the winner’s circle on Saturday night at Saratoga Casino and Raceway. The defending Horse of the Year at the track, Kelly’s Noah started out his 2011 campaign in June. The James Harvey trainee picked up right where he left off last season and has continued to be the one to beat almost every week in the Saturday feature despite not winning one in two months. On Saturday, Jay Randall sat behind the 5-year-old son of Dream Away. Kelly’s Noah marched right out to the early lead and set honest but comfortable fractions of :27.4, :57.2 and 1:25.4 before starting the sprint home. Pocket-sitting Domitian Hanover (Mark Beckwith) never got close to the favored leader and had to hold off a late charge from Master Of Desire (Billy Dobson) to earn the place spot. The race’s 3-5 favorite, Kelly’s Noah stopped the timer in 1:53:4 in the $18,000 open pace to register his fourth win of the season in twelve tries.