from harness publicists across North America

Friday’s (Jan. 14) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Yonkers Raceway, The Meadows, Cal-Expo and Buffalo Raceway.

Breakheart Pass takes F&M Open Handicap Pace at Yonkers

Yonkers, NY — Breakheart Pass (Yannick Gingras) justified her outside assignment Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s first Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace of the season.

Tom Berg photo

Breakheart Pass won the inaugural Filly and Mare Open Pace of the season at Yonkers.

Floating out from behind the eight-ball, Breakheart Pass landed fifth while Symphony in Motion (Jeff Gregory) put forth early intervals :28.1 and :58.2.

Special Sweetheart (Dan Dube) was pocketed, with Twin B Tiara (Eric Goodell) first-up. Breakheart Pass tracked that move toward the 1:27.2 three-quarters, then went wide into the lane. She eased to the lead, winning by a length-and-three-quarter in 1:55.4. Up Front Cruiser (George Brennan)–the 19-10 favorite–closed from sixth off the final turn to snap second, with Symphony in Motion, Special Sweetheart and Hawk’s Cry Electra (Jason Bartlett) completing the cashers.

For Breakheart Pass, a now-7-year-old daughter of Western Hero trained by Ron Burke for co-owners Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi, she returned $8 (second choice) for a successful seasonal debut.

The calendar’s initial Open Handicap Trot was won by lone lass Mystical Starlight (Goodell) in 1:58.3.

For Mystical Starlight, a 6-year-old daughter of Credit Winner owned by Glen Hobin and trained by Jeff Webster, she returned $15.40 (fourth choice) for winning her 2011 debut.

— Marv Bachrad

The Meadows
Assassinator lurked in the pocket until the stretch, then struck in the Lightning Lane to capture Friday’s $22,500 Filly & Mare Not Listed Preferred/Preferred Handicap Pace. Dave Palone guided The Assassinator to the pocket behind the speedy Idol, who took the field through three-quarters in a strong 1:24.3. But when Idol tired late, The Assassinator brushed inside to score a comfortable 2-1/4 length victory over Sadies Place. Tremor Hanover rallied for show. Ron Burke trains The Assassinator, a 4-year-old daughter of Richess Hanover-Rachel Hanover who has won 18 of 46 career starts, for Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Palone drove six winners — four for Burke — on the 15-race card.

Cal-Expo
A field of eight trotters, five in on conditions, three in for a claiming tag, were featured at Cal Expo on Friday night (January 14), on which Jam And Jelly won for the 27th time in her career. Owned by Marlene and Rick Thomas in partnership with trainer George Reider, Jam And Jelly drew clear on the wire to win ($13.00) by one-length, in 1:57.4. Big Baller tried hard while finishing in second, and Berkshire (Steve Wiseman) finished 5-1/4-lengths farther back, in third.

Buffalo Raceway
What a way to start off the racing season here at Buffalo Raceway, with a $102.00 winner in the very first race. That’s exactly what happened as Splendid Les, driven by Kevin Cummings, shot right to the lead from post seven, and never looked back, winning by 7-1/2 lengths in 2:02.4 for owner Marc Vogel, of Hamburg, NY. The opening night card featured two $10,000 Opens. In the Filly and Mares Open, Newberry Winner (Bruce Aldrich, Jr.) received a perfect pocket trip, and then used the passing lane to beat the favorite in the race, Mud Pie Hanover (Kevin Cummings) in 1:59.3, which was the fastest clocking of the night, for owner Howard Ouriel, of Rochester, NY. The Grey Filly (Ron Beback, Jr.) came in third. Newberry Winner ($11.00) a 7-year-old Village Jove mare, is trained by Neal Russo. In the Open Trot, Shoe In, ($10.00) a 9-year-old gelding by Keystone Nordic, leaving from post five in the field of eight, made every pole a winning one beating seven rivals in 2:01.1, for his first win of the 2011 campaign.