from harness publicists across North America

Saturday’s (April 23) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Saratoga Casino and Raceway, The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, Buffalo Raceway and Vernon Downs.

Caution Signs the best in Saratoga feature

Saratoga, NY — Caution Signs (Dream Away) parlayed the pocket ride to victory in Saturday’s (April 23) feature at Saratoga Casino and Raceway.

Melissa Simser-Iovino photo

Caution Signs (5) took Saturday night’s feature race at Saratoga Casino and Raceway.

The Jose Godinez trained pacer powered out to the early lead in the $11,000 1-1/16 mile Winners Over pace at the Spa before yielding for the pocket ride behind rival Pappy’s Pal (Jim Devaux). Pappy’s Pal held the lead until about ten yards before the finish line when Cautions Signs surged up the passing lane to score in 2:00.2 in the elongated distance feature. Pappy’s Pal came up second best while Whogoesfirst (Stephane Bouchard) earned the show spot.

Caution Signs had late board backing and wound up as the 2-5 betting favorite. His win was the second on the card for trainer Jose Godinez and driver Bruce Aldrich Jr. who also teamed up for a victory with veteran pacer RU Ready To Rock (Rocknroll Hanover).

Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon at Saratoga with a matinee beginning at 12:15 p.m.

— Mike Sardella

The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono
If you were a driver at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Saturday (April 23) night and you didn’t have the last name of Napolitano, it was an uphill battle to say the least. Brothers George Napolitano Jr. and Anthony Napolitano dominated the action to such an extent that it took until the 11th race of the night until another driver was able to pick up a win. Up to that point, the Napolitanos’ had won five each. Anthony won races one, three, five, six and 10, while George did the honors in races two, four, seven, eight, and nine. Among Anthony’s highlight winners: Lean On You, who scored a condition pacing victory at 9-1 in the opening race in 1:51, which shared honors for fastest pace of the night; Due West Hanover, who surprised a claiming handicap field at 33-1 with a flying late move in 1:53.4; and Cooperstown, who went gate to wire to win the featured $25,000 condition pace in 1:51:2. Meanwhile George’s winners included Oho Diamond, a mare who captured the night’s top trotting purse of $15,500 with a win in 1:53.1; Eighteen, who shared fastest pacer honors for the evening with his condition victory in 1:51; and McCedes, the $1.2 million-earner who ripped off his second straight claiming win in 1:52. Among trainers, Christie Collins hooked with Anthony Napolitano for two victories, while Daniel Renaud scored a win with each of the brothers. The run finally ended in Race 11, when Pocono’s longest-tenured regular driver Mike Simons guided Rock Absorber to a win in a $10,000 claimer in 1:52.4. The Napolitanos’ horses finished fourth and sixth in that race, so the streak ended quietly. But George Napolitano went right back at it in race 12, winning aboard trotting mare My Love Bi, proving that you couldn’t keep the brothers down for long on this night.

Buffalo Raceway
Fireyourguns ($2.60) had a full arsenal ready to go in the $10,000 Open Pace at Buffalo Raceway but the 7-year-old gelding never had to re-load in cruising off to an easy 4-1/2 length victory over China Dream in a seasonal best 1:53.4 on Saturday night (April 23). Being assigned the eight post, the only work driver Mike Caprio had to do with Fireyourguns was get to the top. Once clearing for the lead just past the opening quarter of 27.2, it was clear sailing the rest of the way home. Fireyourguns covered the half in 55.4 and felt no resistance on the second circuit in easily drawing away from the other seven competitors. The lone issue was for the minor spoils and that went to China Dream (Drew Monti) who grabbed second and Beach Hero (Shawn McDonough) who took third. Co-owned by Jennifer and Robert Lowe along with trainer Terence McClory, it was the second win of the season in three starts for Fireyourguns (American Ideal-Villa Hanover). It moved his seasonal earnings to $10,000 and $314,341 lifetime. Todd Cummings finished the night with three wins in the sulky while Jim McNeight, Monti and David McNeight III all doubled. Trainers Rose Russo and JD Perrin each conditioned two winners.

Vernon Downs
JK Panache ($9.60) took full advantage of a pocket trip on the far turn of Saturday (April 23) evening’s $8,500 Open Handicap Pace at Vernon Downs, finding a seam up the pegs in the final eighth and kicking clear to a 1:50.4 victory in the night’s featured race. Chris Lems vaulted clear with the 7-year-old Art Major gelding at race’s outset, setting demanding early splits of :26.2 and :54.2 before ceding command to 1-5 favorite Ashley’s Husband (Fern Paquet, Jr.) on approach to the far turn. As Ashley’s Husband worked to stave off pressure from an uncovered Titus Seelster (Jimmy Whittemore) off the far turn, JK Panache was able to draft along behind their :27 third-quarter duel before finding a seam up the inside in mid-stretch and bursting through. JK Panache ultimately put 3-1/2 lengths on his competition, earning his 37th career win and his fourth on the year. Ashley’s Husband held second, while Titus Seelster barely saved third from a late-rallying Ilikethemtrashy. Trainer Dave Dewhurst shares ownership of JK Panache with Philip Hale. In the first round of the Anthony Farina late-closing series for pacers, JDs Brent N Sheree ($2.40, Truman Gale, 1:53.3) and Galows Nightmare ($7.60, Chris Lems, 1:53) proved dominant in their respective $4,000 first-round divisions. Truman Gale and John MacDonald each drove three winners on the 13-race card. Of note, Gale also recorded a training hat trick and an owning double.