The Saturday (Aug. 31) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows, Batavia Downs, Scioto Downs, Saratoga Casino Hotel, Vernon Downs and Running Aces.

Bluebird Recon springs 14-1 upset in Meadows pace

Washington, PA — Bluebird Recon let Summer Travel do the heavy lifting, then blew by him in the lane to spring a 14-1 upset in Saturday’s $20,000 Open Handicap Pace at The Meadows.

Bluebird Recon downed Summer Travel by three-quarters of a length in 1:51.2. Chris Gooden photo.

Although Summer Travel reached the point from post eight, he needed a :26.3 opening panel to get there. He was strong enough to discourage any backside challengers but could not hold off the pocket-sitting Bluebird Recon, who roared past for Ronnie Wrenn Jr. and downed Summer Travel by three-quarters of a length in 1:51.2. Macadoodledoo completed the ticket.

Ron Burke trains the 4-year-old Net Ten Eom-Colette gelding, who vaulted over $100,000 in career earnings, for Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi.

Dave Palone and Burke each fashioned a four-bagger on the 13-race card while Tony Hall enjoyed a triple.

After a Labor Day break, live racing at The Meadows resumes Tuesday, first post 1:05 p.m.

— Evan Pattak

Batavia Downs

If last week’s seven length romp wasn’t proof enough he’s on top of his game, Black Is Back beat the best on the grounds again on Saturday in the $12,500 Open I Handicap Pace at Batavia Downs. In a no-nonsense move, Dave McNeight III pushed Black Is Back off the gate and to the lead and set down the marching orders from there. With the field in post position order behind him, Black Is Back cut the quarters in :28.3, :57.2 and 1:25.3 with the only horse staying close to him being the pocket-sitting In Runaway Bay N (Drew Monti). Rolling off the far turn Monti pulled In Runaway Bay N off the pylons and took dead aim at Black Is Back and momentarily put a nose in front at the top of the stretch. McNeight asked for more from his horse and Black Is Back was up to the task; surging back to the lead and winning by a half-length in 1:54. Black Is Back now has eight wins and $56,360 earned in 2019. The 6-year-old gelded son of Western Terror-Magic Moments is owned by Curtis Edholm and Mihajlo Zdjelar Sr. and is trained by Mihajlo Zdjelar Jr.

In the $11,000 Open II Pace Race Me Rocky (Shawn McDonough) got away fifth off the gate before pulling with cover behind Iammrbrightside N (John Cummings Jr.) past the half, tipped three-wide in the last turn and out hustled the competition to the wire to win in 1:53.2. It was the third win in the last four starts for Race Me Rocky ($12.40) who is owned by Delmis Esquivel and trained by Pat Galbraith.

The fastest circuit of the night came in a $9,000 mid-level condition race where Mr Euroman N (Billy Davis Jr.) went gate-to-wire by a gapped advantage and won by two in 1:52.3 which tied his seasonal mark for 2019. Mr Euroman N ($3.90) is owned by Vogel & Wags Nags Stable, Jack Rice and Adelphi Bloodstock. Maria Rice trains the winner. Mr Euroman N was one of three winners for driver Billy Davis Jr. Saturday, who extended his lead as the top dash driver of the meet.

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Monday (Sept. 2) with a special 1:15 p.m. post time for the annual Labor Day matinee.

— Tim Bojarski

Scioto Downs

Saturday brought 12 races to the track where it was again one of the Smith boys who stole the spotlight, getting a driving triple. Picking up his first in race two with Letitrock for trainer Pat Melloy Jr., Tyler Smith and Letitrock brought a big ticket of $49.60 to win overcoming Tiffany Marie (Josh Sutton) and Blazin Baron (Jason Beattie). Smith picked up his second win on the card with Angela J Fra for the Kris Hinchcliff stable in race three. Then Smith was back at it again in race five, bringing New Patrol to the winner’s circle, making it a training double for Hinchcliff. New Patrol beat Vinovio and No Trouble Here by a neck in 1:52.4.

Miso Fast (Brett Miller) highlighted the $20,000 Open II Pace for trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. The 2-5 morning line favorite and Scioto Downs’ People’s Pacer did not disappoint the fans. The People’s Pacer donates part of the horse’s earnings to fans that have been to the track for a selected amount of races. Miso Fast knew he was in the spotlight and worked hard to stop the clock in 1:50.4, paying $2.80 to win.

— Taylor Johnston

Saratoga Casino Hotel

Crockets Cullen N (Christian Cullen) took advantage of sizzling fractions in the Saturday feature at Saratoga Casino Hotel to secure his first Open Pace victory of the season. Larry Stalbaum owns and drives the Tracy Tarantino-trained 8-year-old who is once again enjoying a strong season in 2019. Crockets Cullen N is no stranger to the Spa and in fact, he won the local Open on two different occasions last year.

On Saturday night, regular Open winner Hudson Phil was once again the betting public’s odds-on favorite but that one’s early speed wound up taking its toll. An eight-time local Open winner in 2019, Hudson Phil powered out to the front end in a first quarter of an eye-popping :26.1 before reaching the half in :54.1. Crockets Cullen N was the first challenger for the favored leader and had little difficultly overpowering him approaching three-quarters.

Stalbaum went pedal to the metal around the final turn and though fellow closers Military Master A (Mark Beckwith) and Jersey Jim closed in a bit, it was Crockets Cullen N who reigned supreme in the $15,000 feature. The final time of 1:51.1 was just shy of the lifetime mark of 1:51 for Crockets Cullen N who gave Stalbaum one of his two winners on the night.

The New Zealand invader paid $9.50 to win and led an exacta with Military Master A second that returned $119.50 while the triple, which was completed by Jersey Jim, came back $534. Stalbaum and Tarantino teamed up for three winners on the card as their Lord Willoughby A and Itsonlyrocknroll A secured front-running victories on Saturday night.

Live racing resumes at Saratoga on Wednesday afternoon with a matinee beginning at noon that features a Pick-5 carryover of $4,043. The Pick-5 begins in the first race.

— Mike Sardella

Vernon Downs

American JJ (Michael D. Miller) won the $6,000 featured trot at Vernon Downs on Saturday (Aug. 31). Sweet Royalty (Claude Huckabone III) went to the lead hitting the first quarter in :27.2. American JJ ($14.20) followed behind in the pocket and watched as Sweet Royalty hit the half in :57.1 and three-quarters in 1:26.1.

American JJ, who is owned by Lewis and Terry Miller while trained by Michael D. Miller, popped out of the pocket as they made the turn for home. Sweet Royalty held tough in the stretch but American JJ kept coming. American JJ cleared in deep stretch and held off the late charge by second place finisher The Fixer (Howard Parker) to win in a lifetime best 1:55.2. Sweet Royalty had to settle for third.

American JJ is a 6-year-old gelding by Jailhouse Jesse. It was his fifth win of the season. He now owns 16 career victories.

Driver Jimmy Whittemore and leading trainer Marissa Chadbourne combined for three winners on the night.  They went to the winner’s circle with Blameitonthenight ($4.40), Gracie G ($10.60), and Winding Hill ($5.80).

Jay Jonza won the 2019 Toyota Corolla in the Horseplay Car Giveaway contest. Patrons purchased rubber horses starting on opening day with all the money going to different local charities each month. dIf their horse was picked out of the horses that laned in the car, they received an entry to win the car plus a wagering voucher. On Saturday evening they picked every entry until their was only one left. Jonza was all smiles when his name was selected as he is a regular at Vernon Downs and everyone said it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.

Vernon Downs returns to live racing with a special 10-race matinee on Monday (Sept. 2) starting at 1:05 p.m.

For more information go to www.vernondowns.com.

— John Horne

Running Aces

The Saturday evening program at Running Aces featured the $16,000 Minnesota-Sired 3-year-old pacers event, with a full field of nine facing the starter. Burning Blaze was the talk of the toteboard at just over even money in the win pool, while Windmeupnwatchmego (Dean Magee) was well supported at 2-1 from post nine. Burning Blaze, the 2018 Minnesota Harness Racing Horse of the Year, drew post position one and came into this week’s contest with two wins in his last three outings.

Sweet Vivian (Mooney Svendsen) left from post six to grab the early lead before Burning Blaze (Steve Wiseman) made a sweep to the lead right near the :27.2 quarter-mile. From there, Burning Blaze was never in doubt, stealing a :30.1 breather in the second panel, before pacing a final half-mile in :56.3 to stop the timer in 1:54.1 for a three-quarter length tally over Sweet Vivian, with longshot A Little Rusty (Darrell Wright) picking up third. Burning Blaze now has four wins in 12 sophomore outings, with seasonal earnings of $39,970. The winning owners are Alan and Cheryl Sandbulte and Edward Gutin and the winning trainer is Justin Anfinson.

Driver Steve Wiseman led the Saturday night program with three winners, while Darrell Wright picked up a driving double.

Live racing returns to Running Aces on Sunday (Sept. 1) and features a carryover in the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager of $3,246.10.

— Darin Gagne