by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Casino Hotel

The Sunday (June 17) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Saratoga Casino Hotel, Hippodrome 3R, Harrah’s Philadelphia, Vernon Downs, Tioga Downs, Dresden Raceway and Running Aces.

Crazycat cops Saratoga feature

Saratoga, NY — Crazycat (Crazed) made his return to the Open Trot a winning one on Sunday afternoon (June 17) at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Jose Godinez-trainee had two Open victories on his resume from earlier this season but recently dropped in company off a few dull tries.

Melissa Simser-Iovino photo

Craxycat captures Sunday’s featured event at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

The 5-year-old Crazycat rattled off back-to-back jacks in the conditional ranks at the Spa before heading into Sunday’s feature off a career-best 1:54.4 victory.

Bruce Aldrich Jr. co-owns and drives Crazycat and in Sunday’s $14,500 feature; he powered the talented trotter out to the lead approaching the opening quarter. The race’s favorite Uva Hanover (Billy Dobson) yielded and wound up sitting the pocket to Crazycat who cruised to his third Open win of the season. He stopped the timer in 1:55.1 while off at odds of 8-5.

Uva Hanover was a strong, albeit well-beaten, second while Twisted Pretzel (Mark Beckwith) earned the show spot in the six-horse trotting feature.

The victory was the seventh on the year for Crazycat who is in the midst of his breakout campaign for Aldrich and Godinez. The exacta paid $10.80 while the triple returned $46.60 in the Spa’s most recent installment of the Open Trot.

Live racing resumes on Thursday afternoon at Saratoga with a matinee beginning at 12:15 p.m.

— by Mike Sardella

Jann And Dean too tough at Hippodrome 3R

Three of the fastest pacers this year at the Hippodrome 3R, Washington Hanover, Rainbow Palace and Hooter Shooter, met head to head in the feature pace, but none of them could keep up with Jann And Dean Sunday afternoon. The seventh race feature started off with Rainbow Palace (Francis Picard) dueling early and getting the lead away from Washington Hanover (Pascal Berube) as they raced past the opening quarter mile in :28. Jann And Dean with driver Stephane Brosseau was sitting in third place on the second turn and then decided to come first-over and started grinding their way up to the leaders. By the half-mile marker in :58.1, Jann And Dean not only collared Rainbow Palace, but took the lead away on the third turn.
From that point on, Brosseau held the field at bay with Jann And Dean through the three-quarters in 1:26.3. Then down the stretch Rainbow Palace tried once more but it too little too late as Jann And Dean went on to win by a half-length in 1:55.4. Rainbow Palace, the lone mare in the field, was second with Washington Hanover third. A 5-year-old gelded son of Art Major, Jann And Dean is trained by Yves Tessier for owner Francois Morin of Beauceville. It was Jann And Dean’s fourth win this year and he paid $3.90 to win as the second choice in the race. Brosseau and Stephane Gendron each had driving doubles Sunday. Brosseau is not only the defending driving champion, but also has a commanding lead so far this season with 20 wins to 12 for Stephane Gendron in second place. The fastest mile on the card came in the fourth race pace as Fortune Fella ($12.50) went wire-to-wire from post seven for driver Pascal Berube and won in 1:55.3. Due to an insufficient number of horses entered, there will be no live racing this Tuesday (June 19). The make-up day will be Sunday, (Nov. 25. Coming up next Sunday will be inaugural Ben Hur Cup featuring the Champion, Sylvain Filion, taking on the Challenger, Louis-Philippe Roy. These two world-class drivers will face-off in eight races where each driver will take turns selecting the horse they will drive. For more information, visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.

Harrah’s Philadelphia

NLG Racing Stable’s Nocturnal Blue Chip (George Napolitano Jr.) went gate-to-wire in Sunday’s featured event at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday, a pace for non-winners of $22,500 in their last five starts going for a purse of $18,000. Starting from post one, the 5-year-old gelded son of Bettor’s Delight made an uncontested lead, setting fractions of :27.1, :55.3 and 1:23.1, The Gareth Dowse trainee had to withstand a first over push from Christen Me N (Tim Tetrick), but was able to turn back the challenge en-route to a one length win in a time of 1:50.4. Christen Me N was second, while Makasi (Pat Lachance) rallied for third. It was the 12th career win for Nocturnal Blue Chip, his fifth of the season. He’s won three of his last four. The gelding triggered a Jackpot Hi-5 payoff of $250.86, which now has a carryover of $501.75 headed into Wednesday’s program.

Vernon Downs

Dreams Beachboy (Gates Brunet) cruised to a win in the featured pace ($6,000) on a special Fathers Day matinee at Vernon Downs. Major Bucks (Claude Huckabone Jr.) led them to a first quarter of :27.4. After that is was all Dreams Beachboy ($2.90). Taking the lead just before the half in :58.1, he then cruised to three-quarters in 1:25.2 and won by six lengths in 1:52.2. Major Bucks held for second with Prince Pinang (Artie Dickie) getting the third spot. Dreams Beachboy is a 6-year-old gelding by Somebeachsomewhere. Owned by Crawford Farms Racing and trained by Brunet, he won his first race of 2018. It was career win number 19. Truman Gale had three wins on the card. He won with Coopers Beach ($3.50), JDs Brent N Sheree ($3.00), and Card Knock Life ($40.20). Jimmy Whittemore continues his strong season he leads all drivers in wins with 26 and trainers in wins with 15. John MacDonald is second in both categories. Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Friday (June 22) at 6:10 p.m. For more information go to www.vernondowns.com.

Tioga Downs

Sir Ziggy’s Z Tam (Mike Simons) took the Tioga Downs Open Pace ($12,000) on Sunday. Along with the 13 harness races, the Fathers Day crowd was entertained by the always fun Camel and Ostrich races. Andreios Kardia (Aaron Byron) put up a first quarter of :27.4 and preceded to battle Doo Wop Hanover (Jim Meitnnis) all the way through three-quarters. Doo Wop Hanover led them to the half in :55.0 and three-quarters in 1:23.0. Sir Ziggy’s Z Tam ($4.70) sat patiently in the pocket watching the duel before going three-wide just before three-quarters. Owned by Tessa Roland and trained by JD Perrin, he flew by in the stretch to win in a new lifetime mark of 1:51.1. Major Leaguer (John MacDonald) finished second with Caviart Reagon getting third. Sir Ziggy’s Z Tam is a 10-year-old gelding by Art Major. He won for the sixth straight time this season in seven starts. It was his career victory number 33. Roland and Perrin teamed up for two more wins on the afternoon. They also won with Foreign Officer ($26.60) and Thebestofjoel ($2.60). Trainer Mike Deters and driver Jim Meittinis also teamed up for three wins on the day. Their wins were with Brinks Job ($4.50), Ideal Feeling ($2.70) and Prairie Panther ($3.50). Tioga Downs returns to live racing on Friday (June 22) starting at 6:15 p.m. For more information go to www.tiogadowns.com.

Dresden Raceway

Grand Bay has paced her way into the final of the Mark Austin Pacing Series next Sunday at Dresden Raceway. The 3-year-old Badlands Hanover filly went wire-to-wire to win the first division of the Mark Austin Series in a new lifetime mark of 1:59.3 beating Mickey’s Cruiser by 3-1/4 lengths. Grand Bay is owned by Jim Napper, trained by Cathy Gaudreau and driven by Tyler Borth. Longshot President’s Wish used a two-hole trip to pop out and beat favorite Dynasty Seelster in the second division in 1:59.1 for driver Nick Steward. The 3-year-old Badlands Hanover filly is owned by Joe Elliott, Jackie McManus, Richard Dalby and trainer Larry Fitzsimmons. Mark Williams guided A Bit Of Billie to victory in the third division of the Austin Series for owner/trainer Lenore Prince and co-owner Eric Prince. The 6-year-old Stonebridge Regal mare used a two-hole trip, was trailing by five lengths at the half then made the move to step off the back half in :59.3 to win by over 11 lengths. The C$12,700 final of the Mark Austin Pacing Series will go postward next Sunday afternoon during an action packed day at Dresden Raceway. The track will not only be hosting the Mark Austin Pacing Series final but will also be hosting the Ken Houston Memorial Pace in honor for former NHL’er Ken Houston who passed away in March. Houston and Austin are no strangers to sharing a day at the track as Austin was the conditioner for many of Houston’s horses. Several NHL Jersey’s and items will be for auction at the track and on-line including an autographed Lanny McDonald Jersey and autographed Claude Giroux Jersey, and autographed Travis Konecny Jersey as well as autographed John Campbell colors. About 900 people braved the heat and bet a total handle of $22,813. If you have any questions regarding Dresden Raceway please contact Gary Patterson at 519.401.0570 or email to gjpattIerson12@gmail.com.

Running Aces

The Father’s Day Sunday program at Running Aces got off to a soggy start and saw 1-1/2 hour delay that forced the cancellation of race one. Heavy rains pelted the track surface on multiple occasions during the hour before scheduled post time, and forced the track maintenance crew to go into beast mode in order to facilitate the evening’s racing program. A large holiday crowd waited patiently for the track to be restored to safe conditions, and once the racing began, the action did not disappoint. The first event of the night went to Scramble Camp ($2.40), who posted an impressive sweeping victory from the back of the pack to blast by his rivals in the lane and win by four lengths in 1:58.2 with driver Mooney Svendsen. The eye-opening win came in the $8,800 3-year old Open Trot and Scramble Camp now remains undefeated in four starts in 2018. He is a gelding by Weight Lifter and is owned by Daniel and Jeralene Roland. As a testament to the hard work of the track crew, the 7-year-old gelding pacer Prodigal ($8.20) posted an impressive 1:52.4 lifetime best victory in the third contest of the night with driver James Yoder for owner/trainer Mark Anderson. That victory came in a $6,800 conditioned event. The $20,000 Running Aces featured pace was the drawing card on the night and it indeed drew a field of talented pacers. Hawk’s Red Chief (Dean Magee) was the post time favorite at 8-5, fresh off a near miss by a neck in his last start. Second wagering choice Stevensville (5-2) fired fastest from the gate with Rick Magee to take an early lead from the other fast leaver Firedrake who was also 5-2. Nick Roland yielded with Firedrake to sit the pocket, while Stevensville posted the early fractions of :26.3 and :56.1. In the second half, Bestinthebusiness got rolling as driver James Yoder sent him first-over and on the attack. He grinded alongside the front runner Stevensville down the backstretch and was able to stick a neck in front at three-quarters in 1:23.3. From there, the 10-year-old gelding by Another Mile stayed ultra-game, fighting off strong late rallies from a pair of longshots to post a one length tally in 1:52.2 over To The Limit (Tim Brown) and Make It Big (Steve Wiseman), with Hawk’s Red Chief and Firedrake completing the top five. Bestinthebusiness ($14.00) is owned by Brett Boyd Racing, Inc. and trained by Gene Miller. The talented pacer has very impressive career numbers with 43 lifetime wins and 103 top three finishes, while bankrolling $410,330. Winning driver James Yoder completed a hat trick on the program with the feature race tally. Driver Lemoyne “Mooney” Svendsen also completed a hat trick on the program.