Racing Roundup: Biletnikoff back on track at The Meadows
July 8, 2009,from Harness Publicists across North America
Tuesday’s (July 7) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows, Vernon Downs and Monticello Raceway.
Biletnikoff back on track at The Meadows
Meadow Lands, PA — Biletnikoff found the seas stormy in the Battle of Lake Erie, but he righted the ship Tuesday, capturing his fourth consecutive $27,500 Preferred Handicap Pace at The Meadows.
Saddled with post position eight for the Battle, Biletnikoff was parked the entire mile, finishing a creditable fifth. He had no such problems Tuesday, making the front from post position seven in :26.2. When Aaron Merriman was able to give him a :29.1 breather the second quarter, Biletnikoff was home free. He scored in 1:51.3, two lengths better than a rallying Vesuvio Grande, with Lite Me Up third.
Paul Kennedy, Jr. trains the 5-year-old gelded son of Keystone Raider-Strikadeeze, who won for the 29th time in 69 career starts, for Markus Ernst.
Elsewhere on the card, Special D remained undefeated in six lifetime races by taking a $15,000 conditioned race for Brett Miller. Brian Brown trains the 3-year-old gelded son of Stand Forever-Gray Lady D, who was unraced at 2, for James Koehler, Daniel Wozniak and William Robinson.
Dave Palone drove four winners on the 16-race card.
— Evan Pattak
Prettyasapageant and L’argent Hall share Vernon spotlight
Vernon, NY — The pacer Prettyasapageant and trotter L’argent Hall each raced with distinction during Tuesday’s Family Night program at Vernon Downs.
Fotowon photo
L’argent Hall won for the fourth time this year at Vernon Downs.
Prettyasapageant captured the $5,000 featured seventh race in 1:54.3 and tied fellow side-wheeler My Girl Lora at five for most equine victories after 34 programs, while L’argent Hall finished first in the $3,000 third test and deadlocked at four with Crown Rules for most tallies by a diagonally-gaited performer at the meet.
Prettyasapageant ($12.00) remained in sixth place to the half, before unleashing a three-wide rally around the final bend that propelled her to a one length triumph over On That Note. Fern Paquet, Jr. drove for trainer Jamie Paquet and the In Front Racing stable as the 6-year-old daughter of Tune Town-Swinging Meg secured her sixth season’s score and 13th lifetime. She’s now a career winner of nearly $70,000.
With Chris Lems doing the teaming for trainer/co-owner Joe Sansone and his partner, Laurie Roberts, L’argent Hall ($5.70) also came from behind, advancing from fourth at the half and third entering the homestretch to earn a 1-1/2 length decision over Glory’s Comer. It was the 24th overall victory for the 9-year-old son of Conway Hall-L V Goldie, who is now a career winner of more than $131,000.
Reinsman Howard Okusko, Jr. (54 victories) earned his meet-leading eighth hat trick, while driver Dude Goodblood, Jr. and top trainer Jessica Okusko (31 scores) each recorded doubles during Tuesday’s nine-race program.
— Jim Moran
P H Bestman wins weekly feature at Monticello
Monticello, NY — Canadian owned P H Bestman copped the pacing feature at Monticello Raceway in grand style on Tuesday afternoon.
With the talented Jimmy Marohn, Jr. at the controls, the Art Green-trained 4-year-old son of Cambest literally toyed with his competition when Marohn sent the pacer to the lead from post position five and was basically a passenger as P H Bestman romped through even fractions to score a 1:56.2 triumph over a track that had been soaked by pouring rain. He coasted to an easy four length victory over Blueridge D’Bang, driven by “Zeke” Parker. Jordan Stratton drove the third place finisher, Pro Art.
It marked the second victory of the season for P H Bestman, who is owned in Nova Scotia by Dr. R. James Shive.
Marohn also reined Blue Demon Racing Stables’ Gilt Edge to a 2:00.2 triumph in the second race on the card and now has 93 victories here this season which ranks him fifth on the local leaderboard.
All eyes seem to be on Kyle DiBenedetto as the 41-year-old driver inches closer to 5,000 driving victories. He added two more to his total and now is just 13 wins away from that milestone.
DiBenedetto drove Bob Horowitz’s McTrick Or Trick to a 1:59 victory in the sixth race and came back to win the ninth with Margaret Olmstead’s Windy City Buddy in a 1:59 clocking.
With those two victories DiBenedetto now has 131 this season, of which 116 were here. He is currently second in the local drivers’ standings and trails leader Parker by 36 victories.