from harness publicists across North America

The Friday (June 8) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Buffalo Raceway, Saratoga Casino Hotel, Vernon Downs, Tioga Downs and Bluegrass Downs.

Chelseas Chance beats the boys in Open Trot at Buffalo

Hamburg, NY — After tying the Buffalo Raceway all-time trotting track record and smashing the older mare mark as well last week with a 1:56.1 mile, Chelseas Chance was rewarded with a date with the boys in the $11,500 Open Trot on Friday night (June 8).

Steve Roth photo

Chelseas Chance beat the boys in Buffalo Raceway’s Open Trot.

No problem.

Decked out in hot pink, Chelseas Chance (Billy Davis Jr.) showed the fellas that she was a dangerous damsel as she turned them back in 1:57.1 over the fast track. Besides stunning the gentlemen on the Hamburg half-mile oval, she surprised the betting public with a $20.00 win price.

Empire Earl N (Jim Morrill Jr.) got to the lead early by posting fractions of :28.4, :59.2 and 1:27.4. Sitting fourth past the half, Chelseas Chance was first-over down the backstretch and was stride-for-stride with the pacesetter with a panel to go.

In the stretch, Chelseas Chance eventually wore down Empire Earl N and posted the neck win while Southern Palms (Kevin Cummings) finished in third. A :57.4 back half helped key the victory for the 7-year-old mare Chelseas Chance.

Owned and trained by Sabrina Clevenger, Chelseas Chance (Kadabra-Armbro Chelsea) has now won five times in 11 appearances this season. With the victory, her earnings jumped to $23,991 this year and $244,822 lifetime.

Davis completed the night with four wins while Ray Fisher Jr. and Drew Monti each doubled. Angelo Nappo and Rose Russo each had a pair of training victories.

Racing will continue on Saturday night with an 11-race program set with a special post time of 7 p.m. (approximate) to accommodate racing fans to watch and wager on the Belmont Stakes from Belmont Park.

For more information including the latest news, upcoming promotions, simulcast schedule, race replays, results and entries, go to www.buffaloraceway.com.

— Brian J. Mazurek

Saratoga
Tempus Seelster (Big Jim) owned three wins in the Fillies and Mares Open at Saratoga Casino Hotel when she drew the rail in Friday night’s feature. Billy Dobson is the regular driver for the 5-year-old Jim Nickerson-trained mare who was again tasked with defeating the weekly Open favorite Spreester. Spreester (Frank Coppola Jr.) got away last in the six-horse feature while Tempus Seelster cut the mile. After first half fractions of :27.2 and :56.1, Tempus Seelster dug in when approached by a first-over Glenferrie Bronte N (Bruce Aldrich Jr.). All the while Spreester was second-over, following her live cover into a striking spot. Tempus Seelster was confronted by both mares turning for home but would not be denied, stopping the timer in 1:52.4 for a new seasonal mark. Spreester wound up as the runner-up in the $14,500 Open while a beaten favorite for the fifth consecutive week. Glenferrie Bronte N earned the show spot. Tempus Seelster paid $5.30 as the betting public’s 8-5 second choice. The exacta and triple came back $14.60 and $58.50, respectively. Dobson piloted four winners on the card, two of which came for Nickerson. Live racing continues on Saturday night with a 6:45 p.m. first post.

Vernon Downs
Frisky Joe (Truman Gale) took the featured $9,000 trot at Vernon Downs on Friday. Sweet Ashley T (Homer Hochstetler) went to the front and carved all the early fractions (:27.4, :58, 1:27). Muscles Jared (Jimmy Whittemore) went first-over just before the first quarter. The two battled all the way down the backstretch and to the three-quarter pole. Muscles Jared finally took control at the top of the stretch. Frisky Joe ($27.60) was sixth after three-quarters and flew like he was shot out of a cannon and dueled second place finisher Foundonabeach (John MacDonald) in deep stretch to win in 1:56.1. Icanflylikeanangel (Roman Lopez) finished third. Frisky Joe is an 11-year-old gelding by Frisky Fighter. Owned by Morgan Carney and trained by Michael Miller, he won for the third time this season and the 36th time in his career. Jimmy Whittemore won four on the night. His wins were with Bloodstockshalltab ($4.20), Pier Ho Exotic ($6.00), Blameitonthenight ($4.30), and Pudge’s Pastime ($12.80). Whittemore is the leading driver so far this season with 29 wins. Second is three-time defending champion John MacDonald with 21 wins. Truman Gale finds himself in third place with 16 trips to the winner’s circle. Vernon Downs returns to live racing with a 12-race card on Saturday (June 9), starting at 6:10 p.m. For more information go to www.vernondowns.com.

Tioga Downs
K J’s Caroline (Mike Merton) won the $9,000 featured fillies and mare pace at Tioga Downs on Friday night. Milky Way Rae (Aaron Byron) controlled the first half of the race with a first quarter in :26.4 and the half in :55.4. K J’s Caroline ($5.10), who is owned by Scott Woogen and trained by Gary Messenger, charged to the front to hit the three-quarters in 1:23.2. She took off in the stretch to win easily and equaled her career best time of 1:51.2. Gigi From Fiji (Jim Meittinis) came up to finish second. Northen Dali (Corey Braden) was third. K J’s Caroline is an 8-year-old mare by Roddy’s Bags Again. She won her fourth race this season and captured career win number 42. Tioga Downs’ top driver of 2017, Mike Simons, won four on the night. He won with Chilicheatum ($5.90), Winning Shadow ($4.00), Eldorado Of Gold S ($4.00), and Truth Isalwaysbest ($16.80). Gary Messenger had three training wins on the night. Along with K J’s Caroline, he had wins with Connie Keeper ($15.60) and Six Bax ($15.80). Tioga Downs returns to live racing on Saturday (June 9) with a 13-race card starting at 6:15 p.m. For more information go to www.tiogadowns.com.

Bluegrass Downs
Thirty Nine Red, a 5-year-old mare, exploded the toteboard at Bluegrass Downs on Friday night, paying $120.40 to win for catch-driver Jamaal Denson. Denson picked up the drive from owner-trainer Joe Haught and was along in time to pick up the score. Jann Down made the lead on the backside but was simply second best. It was Thirty Nine Red’s first win of the season in nine tries. Racing resumes Saturday evening at 6 p.m. (CDT).