from harness publicists across North America

Wednesday’s (June 26) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Running Aces and Saratoga Casino and Raceway.

Celebrity Hercules is dominant again at Running Aces

Columbus, MN — Although he didn’t lower his own all-time, all-age track trotting record of 1:54.4, Celebrity Hercules did prove once again that he is unstoppable at Running Aces.

Assigned the outside nine hole in a full field of the best trotters racing in Minnesota, the 7-year-old Kadabra gelding steadily moved up while parked out during the entire first half-mile — reached in :58.2 — then cruised home an easy 2-1/2 length winner in 1:55.3.

The winner’s share of the $10,000 purse increased Celebrity Hercules’ seasonal bankroll to $72,755 and career earnings to $376,776. The pride of the Dandy Farms Stable, trained in Minnesota by Jim Ellison, has now won four consecutive Open trots with the first two coming at Balmoral Park in Illinois and the latest two at Running Aces.

“While we pride ourselves in providing the best possible racing for our fans, this may be the first horse in our six-year history for which we just can’t provide adequate competition. I once had the superstar trotter Manfred Hanover race against Open pacers at Northfield Park, and he finished third,” mused Director of Racing Gregg Keidel. “Unless Hercules wants to try something like that I suspect he’ll have to ship to another venue to find a race. He’s just that good!”

The $7,000 championship final of the Future Stars late closing series for pacing fillies was also contested with Ideal Odds (Jason Ryan) winning handily in 1:56.3. Owned by Michael Timpano, the Western Ideal lass beat runner-up Peanutbutternhoney (Ryan Lems) with Ileana Steele (Rick Magee) and SB Betty’s Ideal (Gerry Longo) dead-heating for the show dough.

A pair of $6,750 Minnesota-sired events for freshman pacers also went postward. The first split, for fillies, was won in track record time by Delco Voracious (John DeLong) in 1:56. The daughter of Voracious Hanover is owned by Jesse DeLong and trained by Justin Anfinson. Brilliant Splendor (Nick Roland) was second and Dakota Law (Will Roland) third.

The DeLong-Anfinson combination was also successful in the colts and geldings division as Waltzacrossthewire won by three-quarters of a length over Cyber Cowboy (Tim Maier) and Im So Handsome (Adam Hauser). The 1:59.2 clocking included a fine final panel of :29.1.

— Running Aces Media Relations

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
Jazzmarazz, with Stephane Bouchard in the sulky, captured Wednesday’s featured $15,000 claiming/condition for pacers. Owned by Bill Grass and trained by John Mongeon, the 4-year-old Allamerican Captor gelding posted a winning time of 1:55.