from harness publicists across North America

Thursday’s (Oct. 30) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Harrah’s Philadelphia, Vernon Downs and Saratoga Casino and Raceway.

Canadian Wildcat is an upset winner at Harrah’s Philadelphia

Chester, PA — It was John and Dan Wach’s Canadian Wildcat pulling off the upset in the feature at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Thursday, a trot for non-winners of $17,500 in their last five starts.

The 5-year-old son of Angus Hall was coming off of three straight off the board finishes against similar. The odds board was wide open however, as four of the eight combatants were under 3-1, with the favorite going off 5-2.

At the start, it was Possessed Fashion (Ron Pierce) and Yagot Class (Tim Tetrick) leaving well for the lead, as Canadian Wildcat (Mike Simons) settled off the early tempo. The opening quarter went in :28.

The battle raged on up top, as classy veteran Bastille (David Miller) forced another lead change under the finish line the first time, and was first to the half in :56.2. Possessed Fashion made another move towards the lead up the backstretch, and battled first over while Bloodstockshalltab (Yannick Gingras) took up second over position, as the field bunched at three-quarters in 1:25.3.

Turning for home, the speed gave way, allowing Canadian Wildcat to split rivals in the final steps, winning by a neck, stopping the clock in 1:55.4. Bloodstockshalltab settled for second, while Possessed Fashion was third.

The Dawn Dellaporte trainee returned $98.20, keying an exacta worth $668.20.

Once again, driver Tim Tetrick led the day with three wins. He was coming off a six win performance on Wednesday.

Live racing returns on Friday, with a special post time of 2:30 p.m.

— Mike Bozich

Vernon Downs
Shuffled to last at the top of the stretch, Itstimeformetofly ($27.40) found room to hook to the grandstand side in the final eighth of a mile, rallying to a 1:53 victory in the featured $7,300 conditioned pace for fillies and mares on Thursday evening at Vernon Downs. The 6-year-old Cheyenne Rei mare secured the pocket between dueling leaders Always Flash-n (Frank Davis) and Spotlight On (John MacDonald) through a scorching :26.1 initial quarter, left to track the pair from third on the backstretch. As Bring Them Home (Justin Huckabone) commenced a first-over bid on the entry to the far turn, Itstimeformetofly found herself hard pressed for racing room, shuffled badly through the third quarter. Relegated to last off the corner, Fern Paquet Jr. hooked four-wide with Itstimeformetofly, charging up alongside mid-stretch leader Thats My Dream (Jimmy Whittemore), who took the lead after kicking cover. Itstimeformetofly continued on to take charge in the final yards, prevailing by three-quarters of a length over Thats My Dream. Always Flash-n, also a victim of traffic trouble, re-rallied to save third after steadying hard mid-stretch. Scott West trains Itstimeformetofly for owner Marie Roberts. Paquet and Truman Gale each scored three wins on the evening’s 10-race card. Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Friday (Oct. 31), with the first of 11 races scheduled for 6:45 p.m. (EDT).

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
Young trotter Best Friend Always (Coventry) moved her record to two-for-two at Saratoga Casino and Raceway on Thursday night as the Todd Buter-trained 3-year-old set a lifetime mark. Leading driver Billy Dobson piloted Best Friend Always to an eight-plus length victory last week and on Thursday moved the filly out to the early lead. It was yet another career best for Best Friend Always as she lasted on the lead in 1:59.2 for yet another lifetime mark. The Buter-Dobson combo also scored a win with young trotter Touchhermuscles (Southwind Elian) who broke her maiden in 2:00 in the evening’s opener. Dobson piled up another five wins on the 12-race card to lengthen his lead in the driver standings.