from harness publicists across North America

Friday’s (Nov. 27) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Batavia Downs and Saratoga Casino and Raceway.

Corleone Hall sweeps the field in Batavia Downs trot

Batavia, NY — On a night that featured high wind, rain and a very sloppy track, Corleone Hall overcame the conditions, as well as five other horses, as he won the $9,000 top trotting feature at Batavia Downs on Friday night.

Paul White photo

Corleone Hall won the Batavia featured trot in 2:02.3.

Corleone Hall got off to a very slow start and watched Diamonds For Life (Jack Flanigen) scoot out to an early lead from fifth, a gapped eight lengths off. Diamonds For Life trotted along unchallenged and maintained a two length advantage to the half in 1:00.1.

At that point, post time favorite Studio City (Dave McNeight III) pulled first-over and was followed by Northern Bullet (JD Perrin). As the field bunched going to three-quarters, Mike Caprio swung Corleone Hall three-deep and moved into striking position.

Studio City took the lead at the head of the lane but there were five horses within three lengths of each other, all ready to stampede to the wire. But it was Corleone Hall, widest of all, who found solid footing in the center of the track and stormed down the lane to capture a narrow victory in 2:02.3.

It was the sixth win of the year for Corleone Hall ($8.00) and it pushed his annual earnings to $43,002 for owner/trainer Perry Wilson.

Batavia Downs’ leading driver, Kevin Cummings, registered another multi-win evening Friday when he got across first in four races on the card. In the last four nights of racing at Batavia, Cummings has won 19 races. Jack Flanigen and Dave McNeight III both won two races and trainers Alex Giuliani and JD Perrin sent two stable members each to the winner’s circle.

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Nov. 27) with post time for the first race set at 6:15 p.m.

— Tim Bojarski, Batavia Downs Media Relations

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
Spreester scored her second consecutive win in the local Fillies and Mares Open on Friday night at Saratoga Casino and Raceway. The Paul Zabielski-trained mare has transitioned very well to the Open this season after enjoying two sensational years competing mostly in the New York Sire Stakes. Spreester (American Ideal) sat the pocket in Friday’s $18,000 feature but evacuated the two hole after chasing longshot leader Looney Dune (Ben McNeil) through a first half that went in :55.4. Spreester worked hard to take over the lead and then held off late surges by Campanile (Austin Siegelman) and Bye Bye Michelle (Mark Beckwith) who finished second and third, respectively. Spreester, who won her previous start at the Spa on Nov. 6 in the Open for distaffers, registered her seventh victory of the season on an unseasonably warm Friday night in Saratoga. Jimmy Devaux piloted Spreester, who returned $8.30 to win, to what was the 21st victory in 55 career tries for the 4-year-old mare. Live racing continues on Saturday night at Saratoga with a first post time set for 6:45 p.m.