by harness publicists across North America

Friday’s (Oct 2) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Pompano Park, Cal-Expo, Saratoga Gaming Raceway and Batavia Downs Casino.

Pompano Beach, FL — Though show wagering was banned on the Florida Sunshine State Stakes 3-year-old filly pace championship due to the presence of Goldstar Rosie, it was Bling that gathered all the glory in the end.

The daughter of Scoot Outa Reach-C The Glory was well meant from the outset as David Ingraham sent her through fractions of 26.4, 55.2 and 1:24.2 with the favored Goldstar Rosie and Bruce Ranger right on his helmet. In mid-stretch Bling finally put away the favorite to stop the clock in 1:52.3. Mark Friedman trains Bling for the Polo Stables of Boca Raton and the outstanding effort was just a fifth of a second from the category track record of 1:52.2 set by Miss Easy with John Campbell in October of 1991. The win also helped Ingraham creep to within six victories of the 6,000 lifetime plateau.

A pair of $13,000 purse Open events were also contested on the 82 degree evening in South Florida.

In the Open Trot, Colies was making his second start back from a two week rest which followed a Summer campaign at Saratoga. Wally Hennessey sent the 4-year-old son of Credit Winner-Just For Sport right down the road for a 1:55 life’s mark. Dan Hennessey trains the career winner of over $204,000 for the Fred Monteleone Stable of Pompano Beach. Favored Gale Warning raced second over in rein to Tom Sells but he could not catch Colie’s at the finish. Battleshoe Victor went a tough first over trip with Bruce Ranger up and stayed for third.

Ranger would count a total of four wins in the bike on the Friday night card at The Isle Pompano Park. The biggest win he turned in was the front end score by Alice Springs in the Fillies and Mares Open Pace. The 4-year-old mare by N Aboriginal-Ilsa withstood late stretch pressure from the pocket sitting Shytown Lightning with Andy Santeramo to win by a nose in 1:53. Alice Springs is trained by Tom Harmer for Michael Polansky and Ciara Stable and she’s now won 21 of 28 career starts. Finishing a close-up third was Chapsboots N Spurs with Wally Hennessey.

Prior to Friday evening’s pari-mutuel card, the $12,000 Florida Sunshine State Stakes Final saw 3-year-old filly trotter Pearl Of Capri rack up her 15th consecutive win.

The homebred daughter of Famously-Jettas Pearl campaigns for Inge and Frank Smith and trainer Veral Bowman. At the end of the comfortable 2:00.3 with Bruce Ranger at the helm Pearl Of Capri was almost four lengths better than Famous Angel and Parsley Sprig.

— Frank Salive

Cherry Tree Luke reaches money milestone at Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — A perfect trip was a perfect way for Cherry Tree Luke to go over $200,000 in career earnings.

Winners-Over Handicap Trotters, racing for a $6,500 purse, were featured at Cal-Expo on Friday night (October 2), on which Cherry Tree Luke notched his 42nd career victory.

Debuting for Michael Lugar, the Rick Plano trained gelding won ($6.60) by one-length, in 1:56.4, while pushing his career earnings to $201,268. TV Mom finished in second and Hitchiker finished another 2-1/2-lengths farther back, in third.

— Scott Ehrlich

Pablo Angus prevails at Saratoga

Saratoga, NY — The Friday night feature went the way that so many before have at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway.

Pablo Angus has been a formidable open threat for the past couple seasons at the Spa and his task on Friday was to battle seven contenders and familiar foe Prime Interest. Pablo Angus had a one post advantage on his “major danger” on Friday and that would end up making all the difference.

Pablo Angus got the best of the Prime Interest and secured a 3/4 length win, stopping the timer in 1:57.4.

The win was the eighth of the season for the Bert Belanger trainee, matching the number of wins posted this season by last year’s Horse of the Year Prime Interest. Pablo Angus is owned by Mario Bourgea or Quebec, Canada.

— Mike Sardella

A sloppy racetrack can’t stop Jack Sparrow

Batavia, NY — A sloppy racetrack, unseasonably cool temperatures and a furious backstretch challenge couldn’t stop Jack Sparrow (1:59.4) from winning the featured $8,500 Open Handicap trot, Friday night’s (Oct 2) at Batavia Downs Casino.

Jack Sparrow, a 6-year-old chestnut son of Humorous Harry notched his 9th win of the season for owner Mike Calimeri.

Racing fan are reminded of Saturday nights promotion. In conjunction with the Western New York Harness Horsemen’s Association, Batavia Downs is guaranteeing that one patron will win the 8th race superfecta; all possible winning combinations will be given out free of charge beginning at 5:00 p.m. at Players Club. The patron holding the ticket of the actual winning superfecta numbers will win the one dollar payoff.

“It’s an interesting promotion,” Mike Kane, Vice President of Live Racing said. “What makes it so interesting is somebody is going to win but nobody knows how much until the race is over. We want to thank the Horseman for partnering with us on this promotion.”

— Todd Haight