from harness publicists across North America

Tuesday’s (April 8) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs and Vernon Downs.

Cammikey earns lifetime mark in Meadows series opener

Washington, PA — Cammikey exploded to the front at the quarter and widened his advantage from there, rolling to an easy victory in Tuesday’s opening leg of the Visible Gold Pace at The Meadows. Mattamerican took the other $17,500 division in the series for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers, which is named for Visible Gold, a fast-class performer from the Ron Burke stable.

Using Lasix for the first time, Cammikey, the 2-5 favorite, zipped to the lead for Brian Zendt after getting away third and jogged in 1:53.4, a lifetime mark. Jackson Brady was second, 2-3/4 lengths back, with Time Running Out third. Bill Zendt trains Cammikey, a son of Somebeachsomewhere and 2004 Breeders Crown champion Always Cam, for owner/breeder Cam Land LLC.

Mattamerican was a 10-race maiden entering the Visible Gold, but he, too, showed improvement in his initial start on Lasix. He moved first-over for Greg Grismore to collar the leader, Heart Felt, and held off the late thrust off Dealin Dan to triumph by a nose in 1:54.2. Heart Felt saved show. Norm Parker conditions the son of Allamerican-Native-Mattadorable for owner/breeder Bob Key.

Dave Palone drove four winners on the 15-race card.

— Evan Pattak

Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs
Miller’s Bird, A And G’s Design, and Prima Dragon all knocked off heavy favorites to win divisions of the Bobby Weiss series on Tuesday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. There were three divisions of the Weiss held for 3 and 4-year-old fillies and mares on the pace, each carrying a purse of $15,000. Miller’s Bird (McArdle-Bunting), with David Miller in the bike for trainer Alexander Rice Jr., pounced from the pocket to beat odds-on favorite R Journey Together in 1:55.3. A And G’s Design (Allamerican Native-Colorado Creek), driven by Simon Allard and trained by Rene Allard, also utilized a pocket trip to dump 1-5 shot Stucklikeglue in 1:54.4. In the final Weiss split, Prima Dragon (Dragon Again-Zacharysprimadonna), with Brett Miller doing the driving for trainer Mike Dowdall, grinded first-over to upend favored Envious Hanover in 1:52.1.

Vernon Downs
Twenty-five Standardbred horses took part in five non-betting races on Tuesday night (April 8) as Vernon Downs conducted its third qualifying session in preparation for its 61st season. An enthusiastic crown turned out for the track’s annual Media Night festivities and watched 17 trotters and eight pacers try to convince the judges of their abilities to compete in pari-mutuel races at the central New York harness track. Ashton Seelster, owned by trainer/driver Gary Clark and his wife, Fay, turned in a brisk 1:58.4 performance over a “sloppy” 7/8ths-mile oval to earn fastest-mile-of-the-night honors. The bay 7-year-old horse is a son of Camluck and out of the Astreos-mare Angelina Seelster. Vernon will begin its 2014 schedule with a 10-race program this Friday night (Apr. 11) that will include five trotting and a like number of pacing events. A $10,000 Miracle Mile-1 trot will serve as Friday’s feature in race two. First post will be at 6:45 p.m.