from harness publicists across North America

Saturday’s (Feb. 11) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park and Yonkers Raceway, Cal-Expo and Buffalo Raceway.

Dead heat drama in Pompano feature

Pompano Beach, FL — One of the fastest dead heat finishes in the history of the Winter Capital of Harness Racing dating to 1964 went into the record books on Saturday evening, February 11.

In the $12,000 Open Handicap Pace, the photo finish camera could not separate Deep Finesse, driven by George Napolitano Jr., and Rick’s Sign partnered with Fern Paquet Jr. Deep Finesse was turned loose on the lead to the half in 27 seconds and 56.2 with Rick’s Sign stepping up first-over in a 27.3 third quarter duel to the last turn in 1:24. After a pitched stretch long duel the pair could not be separated at the wire in 1:52.1.

Peter Pellegrino trains Deep Finesse, a 6-year-old Western Paradise-Deep River Woman pacer, for Baron Stable of Horsham, PA while Rick’s Sign, a 7-year-old Life Sign-Lasting Flower K gelding, is conditioned by Paul Holzman for Andrew Sassen of Hillsboro Beach, FL. It was the first win of the year for Rick’s Sign as he attempts to follow up a career best campaign in 2011 which saw him win 14 of 40 starts for almost $110,000 in purse earnings.

— Frank Salive

Yonkers Raceway
Tobago Cays, given a slick drive by Jim Pantaleano, defended his title Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $33,000 Open Handicap Pace. Finding clearing in mid-stretch, Tobago Cays snapped Corky Baran on the wire, winning by a neck in 1:53.2. Here We Go Again, 9-10 choice Rock to Glory (Eric Goodell) and Gallant Yankee fought over the minor scraps. Tobago Cays, a 5-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover (out of Bunny Lake) owned by Brian Nixon and trained by Ross Croghan, he returned $36 (sixth choice) for his second win in four seasonal starts. The exacta paid $221.50, with the triple returning $1,360.

Cal-Expo
Winners-Over pacers, in quest for a $4,500 purse, were featured at Cal Expo on Saturday night (February 12), on which Haggin Oaks absolutely wouldn’t be denied. Digging down deep under an all-out drive, Haggin Oaks won ($10.00) by three-quarters of one-length. Owned by Shari Burns, Ferris Funk & Gerald Cimini, the only lady in the race stopped the timer at 1:54, a seasonal best and her 22nd career triumph. Ivegotwhatuneed (Lemoyne Svendsen) finished in second, and Albion was a good third, just a neck farther back.

Buffalo Raceway
My Gift To You, a 6-year-old Camluck offspring out of the No Nukes mare Eternal Gift, won the $10,000 Open Pace in a season’s best 1:57.1, on a good track, for the Lightning Lane Stables of Staten Island NY, here at Buffalo Raceway Saturday night (February 11). It was the first win this season for My Gift to You, who won eight times last year for $57,675. My Gift To You ($12.00), leaving from post two, and driven by Shawn McDonough, settled in third, as My Last Laugh (Keith Kash, Jr.) cut all the fractions, :28, :59.2, and 1:29 to the three-quarter marker. At the top of the stretch, My Gift To You took the lead, and then had to fend off second place finisher Magnum (Jack Flanigen) at the finish line. The margin of victory was three-quarters of a length. Nifty Prescott (Ray Fisher, Jr.), who was moving up in class, finished third. Trained by Cory Deyermand, the $5,000 share of the winning purse put My Gift To You’s season bankroll at $8,484, and $437,341 lifetime.