from harness publicists across North America

Thursday’s (Jan. 23) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Dover Downs, The Meadows and Buffalo Raceway.

Cold weather can’t stop Special Forces from posting 1:49.3 win at Dover

Dover, DE — Cold and wind could not deter Special Forces from posting a 1:49.3 victory in the $30,000 Open/Preferred Handicap pace at Dover Downs on Thursday, Jan.23. Two races later Sunshine Superman cut out a 1:51 triumph in the $27,500 Delaware Special, the highlight races on a strong 15-race program on which Corey Callahan bagged six winning drives.

Fotowon photo

Special Forces posted a 1:49.3 victory in the $30,000 Open/Preferred Handicap pace at Dover Downs on Thursday.

Callahan drove Special Forces into the lead and then fought off strong challenges from Adventure Bound with Ron Pierce and a stretch battle with Rock On Moe and George Dennis along the passing lane to finish a head back at the wire. The win was one of six successful drives for the sports leading reinsman Callahan. The sports leading trainer Ron Burke conditions Special Forces, a Real Desire-Special Magic 6-year-old for William Robinson, Mike Mallett and Country Club Aces. It was his 14th lifetime win in 33 starts and upped his bankroll to $159,871.

Sunshine Superman took full advantage of starting from post 1. Owner, trainer, driver Toby Lynch took no prisoners on the way to his second win in three 2014 races, with a second, by a nose, last week. The Rocknroll Hanover-Carolina Sunshine gelding notched his 21st career win and moved to $303,913 in earnings with the win. Full Of Sand (Callahan) enjoyed a perfect 2-hole trip and came at the winner in the lane but could not get past. Papa Ray (Ross Wolfenden) came on to finish third. Two horses were scratched, Feel Like A Fool and Believe This Bob.

— Marv Bachrad

The Meadows
Out and uncovered from the three-eighths, Daylon Miracle ground out a gutsy victory in Thursday’s $20,000 Filly & Mare Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Trot at The Meadows. Although Daylon Miracle was racing off an injury scratch, Aaron Merriman didn’t hesitate to send her on her long, first-over journey. She collared the leader, Perfect Chance, near the three-quarters and scored in 1:58.1 on a “slow” surface. Crowdswild Hanover rallied for second, 1-1/4 lengths back, with Blueridge Abigail third. Bill Bercury trains and owns Daylon Miracle, a 5-year-old daughter of Pegasus Spur-Daylon Marvel who now boasts $250,393 in career earnings. Merriman and Dave Palone each drove three winners on the 16-race card.

Buffalo Raceway
Fiorentina played ‘catch me if you can’ with the field in the featured $8,400 Fillies and Mares Trot at Buffalo Raceway on Thursday evening (Jan. 23). She proved to be unstoppable and trotted off like a 3-5 favorite should. Leaving from the outside post in the field of six, Fiorentina (Aaron Byron) got to the front and never looked back in posting a convincing 2-1/4 length victory over Stormont O My (Drew Monti) in 2:00.1 over the good track. Zorgwijk Heavenly (Ray Fisher Jr.) rallied for the show spot on the cold evening. Fiorentina set the fractions of 30.1, 1:00.4 and 1:31 and then ripped off a 29.1 final quarter-mile to put the remainder of the field in surrender mode. It was the second straight victory for Fiorentina ($3.40) in 2014. She had won the $10,500 Open Trot at Buffalo Raceway on January 17 so the six-day layoff made little difference. Owned by Frank Lamacchia and Guy Polillo, Fiorentina (Angus Hall-Red Hot And Blue) is a 5-year-old mare trained by John Mungillo. It was her 16th career victory and sent her career earnings to $138,275.