from harness publicists across North America
The Monday (Aug. 1) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono and Dresden Raceway.
Buck I St Pat daughter wins at Pocono
Wilkes-Barre, PA — Can’t I, a 2-year-old daughter of Cantab Hall out of the world champion trotting mare Buck I St Pat, is now two-for-two lifetime after winning a $14,000 conditioned trot Monday night at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
Curtis Salonick photo
Can’t I and John Campbell were 1:57.3 winners on Monday.
Buck I St Pat was voted Older Trotting Mare of the Year in 2008-2009-2010, and won the Breeders Crown for her section in the latter two campaigns for her owners Howard Taylor, Edwin Gold, Abraham Basen, and R. R. Fuller. She twice had years of 10 victories and twice had years with nine while amassing 51 career triumphs, fastest in 1:51 at The Meadowlands in 2010 at age 7, while earning $2,320,637. She was also indirectly responsible for probably the ugliest pair of men’s short pants ever seen in harness racing, which owner Taylor wore whenever she raced and insisted were his “lucky Buck I St Pat pants.”
It looks like Buck I St Pat might be reproducing her racetrack prowess in the breeding shed, for Can’t I followed up on her career debut victory in a Stallion Series event with a game two-move win in the Monday night slop at Pocono.
The freshman and Hall of Fame driver John Campbell got away fourth from post eight, then had to come again first-over, but Can’t I said “Why can’t I?” in the stretch and gamely carried on to overtake her 8-5 co-favored rival French Press and score by three-quarters of a length in 1:57.3.
Bob Stewart is the conditioner of Can’t I, who is owned by the same foursome mentioned above as involved with Buck I St Pat — Taylor, Gold, Basen, and Fuller.
One may have bad fashion sense, but all four are longtime smart businessmen who know enough to hold on to a horse that may turn out golden for them as well.
— PHHA/Pocono
Dresden Raceway
The 2016 season came to a close Monday with a huge crowd and a C$36,056 on-track handle. Mark Williams scored three winners on the day to bring his lifetime win total to 4,999. Williams opened the day by driving a horse that he co-owns and trains to the winner’s circle. Sweet Queen Cole went wire-to-wire in 1:59.4. The 4-year-old Art Colony mare is co-owned by Marjay Desjarlais and Lenore Price. The Cottam horseman won his second race with 11-1 shot Carly Hollywood in 2:00.1. The 8-year-old Camotion mare is owned by Doug Dunbar and trained by Jason Libby. Williams scored win 4,999 in the ninth race at the controls of Plain Easy. The 6-year-old Western Maverick gelding is owned by Mark LeSeaux and trained by Dwayne McFadden. Tyler Borth scored two winners on the day to close out the year with 29 wins to lead the dash standings. The closing day attendance rolled over the 1,200 mark as fans enjoyed free hot buttered corn on the cob and lots of contests and giveaways. The total handle on the year over 11 cards of racing was C$242,733 for an average on-track handle of C$22,066.