by harness racing publicists across North America

The Friday (July 21) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Plainridge Park, Tioga Downs, Hawthorne Race Course, Vernon Downs and Saratoga Raceway.

Caviart Caterina pulls the upset in Plainridge feature

Plainville, MA—After dropping out of the Mares Open at Plainridge Park last week, Caviart Caterina took advantage of a bit softer spot and won the $14,000 distaff conditioned pacing feature at The Ridge on Friday (July 21) despite being sorely overlooked by the betting public.

Tom Melanson photo

Friday’s victory was the ninth win in 21 starts this year for Caviart Caterina.

Caviart Caterina (Michael Stevenson) left and wanted the lead but her effort was vigorously rebuffed by Golden Idol (Eddie Davis Jr.) who forced her to seat before the quarter in :26.1. Although she didn’t get her way there, it all worked out in the end as she followed Golden Idol while she executed a dynamic itinerary of leading the girls to the half in :55.3 and the three-quarters in 1:23.1.

As the field stacked up two-deep behind her, Golden Idol continued to motor around the last turn but Caviart Caterina had a clear path to pull half-way through it and Stevenson made his move right then. Caviart Caterina drew alongside Golden Idol and the two matched strides all the way down the lane with their respective drivers rocking and knocking. When the pair hit the wire, Caviart Caterina got up in the nick of time to win by a nose in 1:52.3, which was a new seasonal mark.

It was the ninth win in 21 starts this year for Caviart Caterina ($25.80) and it raised her earnings to $70,465 for owner Joe Pisarski. The 5-year-old daughter of Tell All is trained by Robert Marston.

In the co-featured $12,000 conditioned pacing event, it took Lindy Beach (Greg Merton) over a quarter of a mile to get the lead but when he did the party was over. Lindy Beach backed down the second panel to :29.1 before sprinting home in :27.1 while opening up a five-length margin of victory at the wire in 1:52.3.

It was the first start and win of the year for Lindy Beach ($2.40) who is owned by Lindy Farms of Connecticut and Frank Baldassare. The winner is trained by Frank Antonacci.

Steve Nason and Greg Merton each had two winners on the card.

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday (July 24) at 4 p.m. That card kicks of a huge week of racing at Plainridge capped off with the $250,000 Spirit of Massachusetts Trot on Friday (July 28) that will feature the best aged trotters in North America.

Tioga Downs

K J’s Caroline (Jim Taggart Jr.) was just too tough in Tioga Downs’ Filly and Mare feature on Friday night (July 21). The 7-year-old mare by Roddy’s Bags Again would come firing out of the gate and control the race from the start. K J’s Caroline ($5.30), who is owned by Scott Woogen and trained by Gary Messenger, would put up the fractions of :27.3, :55.3, 1:24.0, 151:4, to go gate-to-wire. Gweneeee J (Jim Meittinis) would go after her but fall short and finish second. Iaquinta (Tom Jackson) would take the show position. Mike Simons still has a huge lead in the driver standings. He would add one win to up his total to 50 wins on the season. Mike Merton is in second with 32 wins. Jim Taggart is third with 30 tallies. Tom Jackson is fourth with 28 wins. Jim Meittinis would win two on the night giving him 27 for the season. Trainers standings continue to be wide open. Mike Deters and Tony Dinges are tied for first with 17 wins. Patti Harmon finds herself in third, tied with Gary Messenger with 14 wins a piece. Dave McGinnis has 13 wins on the season which lands him in fifth. Tioga Downs returns to live racing on Saturday (July 22) at 6:50 p.m. Fireworks will follow racing. For more information please go to www.tiogadowns.com.

Hawthorne Race Course

Two divisions of leg two action in the Incredible Tillie Stakes took place on Friday evening (July 21) at Hawthorne. The Incredible Tillie is for Illinois-bred 2-year-old pacing fillies as the first division had a field of nine. Favored at post time was Yank’s Rendezvous with Casey Leonard driving. Leaving for the lead was Red Hot Packerette as she faced and early challenge from Fox Valley Miranda through the quarter in :28.2. On the backstretch, Red Hot Packerette went back after the front, covering the half in :59.2. On the turn, the favorite was on the move as Yank’s Rendezvous moved to challenged Red Hot Packerette through three quarters in 1:28.4. The two battled the length of the lane, with Red Hot Packerette putting Yank’s Rendezvous away but facing a fresh challenge from Lex Two. On the wire, Lex Two and driver Juan Franco got up in time to win by a head over Red Hot Packerette. The final time for the mile was 1:57.2. Frontier Cuzin closed to finish third. Lex Two is owned by Cynthia Kay Willis and trained by Nelson Willis. Race three on Friday was the filly and mare open pace as a strong field of eight lined up. OK Heavenly was the favorite at post time with Casey Leonard driving. Getting away quickly early was Vintage Babe as she was challenged by Kyles Secret through a quick quarter in :27.0. On the backstretch, Vintage Babe took over and opened up through the half in :54.4. On the turn, Vintage Babe kept clear through three quarters in 1:23.3. In the lane, Vintage Babe shortened as OK Heavenly and Can’t Touch This both rallied late with Can’t Touch This and Mike Oosting getting up in 1:51.0. OK Heavenly was second while Vintage Babe held third. Race six was the second open pace of the night, this time for the males over the sloppy going as Well Bred was a scratch, leaving a field of seven to line up. Heading for the early lead was Coal Hanover as he cleared easily through a quarter in :28.4. On the backstretch, Coal Hanover continued to lead through the half in :57.0. On the turn, Trashytonguetalker moved to challenge Coal Hanover as the pair hit three quarters in 1:24.1. In the lane, Coal Hanover was all out, but 20-1 shot A Bettors Risk and Kyle Wilfong slipped through along the inside to get up on the wire. Coal Hanover was second while Let’s Drink On It finished third. The final time for the mile was 1:51.4. A Bettors Risk is owned by Robert Hamather and trainer by Payton Ode. Race eight was the second division of leg two of the Incredible Tillie as a field of ten contested the race over the sloppy going. Getting away for the lead was Fox Valley Jazzy through the quarter in :29.2. On the backstretch, Rollin Coal moved up and took over, passing the half in :58.2. In the turn, Rollin Coal faced a challenge from The New Americana as the duo passed three quarters in 1:28.1. In the lane, The New Americana opened up for driver Mike Oosting and drew clear, winning in 1:56.1. Fox Valley Jazzy finished second while Rollin Coal held third. The New Americana is owned by Chris Mroz, Dave Falzone, and Jim Molitor and trained by Steve Searle.

Vernon Downs

Winding Hill (Jimmy Whittemore) wins the featured Open Trot on Friday night (July 21) at Vernon Downs. The 6-year-old gelding by Here Comes Herbie, would go for the front and go gate-to wire, putting up all the fractions :27.3, :57.2, 1:25.3, 1:53:1. Lucid Thoughts (John MacDonald) would follow the entire way but could never get to Winding Hill ($7.20). Winding Hill, who is owned by Diane Whittemore and trained by Dennis Whittemore, would win for the fifth time season and get career win number 25. Lucid Thougts would get second, while Sweet Ashlsy T (Homer Hochstetler) would settle for third. Leading driver John MacDonald would win three times on the night, giving him 60 wins for the season. MacDonald would start off by leading Choke Hold ($9.60) to victory in 1:57.0. His second win of the night came with Purple And Gold ($4.90) in 1:53.4. MacDonald would get win number three guiding I Saw Red ($2.60) to first in 1:55.0. Racing returns to Vernon on Saturday night (July 22) with a 13-race card starting at 6:45 p.m. For more information go to www.vernondowns.com.

Saratoga Raceway

Her Own Land (Blissfull Hall) emerged from a scramble in the stretch to prevail in the Friday feature (July 21) at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Melissa Beckwith-trained 6-year-old got the pocket ride in the $9,500 feature for fillies and mares. Riding the coattails of the favored Sometimes Graceful (Dan Cappello Jr.) throughout, Her Own Land cruised up the passing lane in a stretch drive that saw four horses finish within one length of each other at the wire. An Open winner earlier this season, Her Own Land had finished second or third in four consecutive tries heading into Friday night when she got the job done in 1:54 with Mark Beckwith in the sulky. Our Els Dream N (Bruce Aldrich Jr) came up second best while class-dropping Sometimes Graceful had to settle for third. Her Own Land paid $6.60 to win and led an exacta and triple that returned $19 and $74.50, respectively. Live racing continues on Saturday night with the biggest race card of the summer. The $260,000 Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Pace highlights the 14-race, star-studded program on a night where nearly $600,000 in purses will be given out. There is also a t-shirt giveaway in conjunction with the annual Gerrity Pace. First post time is set for 7:05 p.m.