from harness publicists across North America

Wednesday’s (August 10) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Saratoga Casino and Raceway and Monticello Raceway.

Big night for Chris Long at Saratoga

Saratoga Springs, NY — Driver Chris Long had a big night on Wednesday at Saratoga Casino and Raceway. The veteran tallied three wins on the program, as he continues to knock on the door of the top five in the driver standings.

Dave Oxford photo

Sun Lover N was a 1:55.4 winner, one of three scores on the card for driver Chris Long.

Long started out his evening well as Subtle Perfection (The Panderosa) prevailed in his local debut for trainer Robyn Mangiardi. The first over victory came in 1:57.4 and served as a bit of an upset for the 4-year-old pacer who was released at odds of 7-1.

Long’s second win on the card came with Sun Lover N (Pacific Rocket). Probably the sharpest amongst the lower level claimers at the track, Sun Lover N recorded his fourth win in his last five tries as he stopped the timer in 1:55.4 on Wednesday. The Eric Adsit trained pacer has now finished first or second in seven of his last eight starts.

Long’s driving hat trick concluded with a mare who is a former Trotter of the Year at Saratoga. Ackbro Ms Perfect (Credit Winner) registered her first victory of the campaign as she played catch me if you can in the evening’s 11th race for conditioned trotters. The Jordan Derue trained mare completed the front running score in 1:59.2. Ackbro Ms Perfect, now age eight, was named the track’s top trotter back in 2007.

Live racing continues at Saratoga on Thursday night with a first post of 7:20 p.m.

— Mike Sardella

Monticello Raceway
Woody Hoblitzell is a happy man. And why shouldn’t he be? After all, he just watched his standout trotter Samsawinner cop the weekly trotting feature in 1:59.3 at Monticello Raceway on Wednesday afternoon. Jimmy Taggart, Jr. handled the driving chores for trainer Bruce Aldrich, Sr. and used the front-end route to score the victory. Sent off as second choice (9-5), Taggart and company got a break when the betting favorite and last week’s winner in this class, Buck ID driven by Zeke Parker, went off-stride as the field headed for the quarter pole. After that Taggart and Samsawinner cruised along unchallenged until they neared the three-quarters when Bruce Aldrich, Jr. moved Distinct Victory from fifth along the pylons and set his sights on the leader. Distinct Victory trotted around traffic and Aldrich settled her in behind the leader as the two rounded the final turn. When they straightened for home Aldrich angled Distinct Victory up the lightning lane and darn near stole all the marbles, falling short by just a neck. SF Sure Thing and Rick Harp finished third three lengths behind the top two. It was the fourth seasonal triumph for Samsawinner, a 5-year-old altered son of Victory Sam. With his victory Samsawinner has now bankrolled over $41,000 for Hoblitzell. The winner paid $5.90 for win.