from harness publicists across North America

Wednesday’s (July 10) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Running Aces and Saratoga Casino and Raceway.

De Long has grand slam at Running Aces

Columbus, MN — John De Long captured four of the ten races on the Wednesday night program at Running Aces and set two divisional track records in the process.

Dee Leftwich photo

Delco Willobee (#3) was won of John De Long’s four victories on the Wednesday night program at Running Aces, edging Marced Card (#4) and Rich Native (#1) in 1:55.1.

The 24-year-old reinsman, who won the inaugural Running Aces dash crown six years ago as a teenager, started his banner night off by dominating an $8,000 Minnesota-sired 2-year-old pace with his father Jesse’s Delco Voracious.

Still undefeated after three rookie season starts, the impressive filly used a closing :27.3 panel to win in 1:56.3, holding off Dakota Law (Nick Roland) and Cyber Cowboy (Tim Maier) by four lengths.

De Long’s next triumph with the conditioned trotter Keystone Swagger established a new track standard for older horses of 1:57.2. The 6-year-old horse, owned by Dandy Farms, used a grinding attack on the outside to eventually wear down pacesetter Silence Son (Craig Banks) and hold off hard-charging Salutation Hanover (Roland) in a close finish.

Delco Willobee, benefitting by a drop in class into a $5,000 conditioned pace, gave De Long his third score of the night, besting Marced Card (Roland) and Rich Native (Brandon Jenson) in 1:55.1. It was the first win of the year for the 6-year-old gelding, also owned by Jesse De Long, and trained in Minnesota by Justin Anfinson.

The red-hot reinsman picked up a catch drive in the $9,000 Open Trot and responded with a 1:56.1 upset victory that lowered another local track record, this one for older trotting mares. It was the tenth win over two seasons at Running Aces for Shelby County, owned by Ben Kenney and trainer Rocky Stidham, but the first in Open company this campaign.

Driver Rick Magee picked up a double, capturing both halves of the early daily double with Ksmewithurizclosed and Just The Way It Is.

— Running Aces media relations

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
Bad As Bart (Sportsmaster) continued his hot streak on Wednesday night at Saratoga as the 4-year-old pacer posted a lifetime mark for the second consecutive week. Bad As Bart was coming off a 1:55.3 victory last week and was the race’s 3-5 favorite on Wednesday with driver Stephane Bouchard. The Mitch Mackenzie trained pacer brushed to the lead approaching the half-mile pole and sprinted away to a :27.4 third quarter before recording an impressive 1:54 career best win. The victory was his second straight and fourth in his last six tries in the $6,500 conditioned-claimer with a claiming tag of $15,000 attached.