from harness racing publicists across North America
The Saturday (Sept. 30) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Batavia Downs, Hollywood Dayton Raceway, The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, Vernon Downs and Saratoga Casino Hotel.
Don’tcallmefrancis was frank winning at Batavia Downs
Batavia, NY — Don’tcallmefrancis competed against Racing Hill in the $500,000 Messenger at Yonkers Raceway last year and beat Boston Red Rocks in the $150,000 Abbatiello Classic at the Meadowlands as well. On Saturday evening (Sept. 30) he took on the best resident pacers in the $10,000 Open Handicap Pace at Batavia Downs and showed that back class in victory.
Leaving from post one, Don’tcallmefrancis (Jim Morrill Jr.) let In Runaway Bay (Ray Fisher Jr.) have the lead for about an eighth of a mile before coming back out to regain the front by the quarter in :27.4.
In single file, Morrill backed down the second panel to :57.1 and from there the race was effectively over. There still was no movement from behind until the five-eighths pole when the pocket-sitting In Runaway Bay pulled and gave it his best shot.
In Runaway Bay got within a head of Don’tcallmefrancis around the far turn but Morrill was still hanging on at that point. He went to work at the head of the lane and Don’tcallmefrancis responded in kind.
In Runaway Bay would not go away but Don’tcallmefrancis wouldn’t let him go by either. The two argued all the way to the wire but Don’tcallmefrancis was clearly the best and hung on to win by a neck in 1:53.1.
It was the sixth 2017 win for Don’tcallmefrancis ($3.00) who has now surpassed the quarter-million dollar mark in lifetime earnings. The 4-year-old gelded son of Rocknroll Hanover is owned by Blindswitch Racing Stable and is trained by Al Annunziata.
The result of the $9,000 Open II pace was never in doubt once the gate released the field as Lucky McTrucky (Drew Monti) was a strong front-runner that led the whole race, opened up two- engths at the head of the stretch and cruised home under mild urging to win in 1:53, which was a new seasonal mark.
Lucky McTrucky ($8.10) is owned by Tessa Roland and trained by JD Perrin.
Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Oct. 4) with post time at 5 p.m.
— by Tim Bojarski
Hollywood Dayton Raceway
Mykindachip exploded off the starting car a lot like his maternal grandpa (Precious Bunny) used to do and proceeded to speed through fractions of :26.2, :54.3, 1:22.3 and 1:50.3 to capture the $18,500 Open Handicap Pace at Hollywood Dayton Raceway on Saturday (Sept. 30). The 8-year-old gelded son of Art’s Chip is enjoying another stellar season with seven wins and 20 on-the-board finishes in 29 tries. The Ron Burke trainee’s 2017 bankroll has reached $132,940 and his career earnings now stand at $769,232. Driver Jason Brewer guided Mykindachip, who was sent off as the 5-2 second choice by the betting public, in his first Hollywood Dayton start of the year. Slightly-favored Secret Threat (Josh Sutton) provided mild first-over pressure from the half-mile marker to the head of the stretch, but ultimately had to settle for third as Doctor Carter (Mike Micallef) just got up for second—a length behind the winner–after benefitting from a ground-saving journey. In each of the first 12 programs of the current 76-day meet, Hollywood Dayton Raceway has exceeded the total handle of the comparative 2016 day. The Friday night (Sept. 29) handle, buoyed by the Grand Circuit Dayton Trotting and Dayton Pacing Derbies, established a new all-time record at the 4-year-old southwest Ohio track. Dayton races five times a week, featuring matinees on Mondays and Tuesdays at 2:15 p.m., and 6:15 p.m. evening programs on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono
Pappy’s Pal ($14.80), continuing a rich recent vein of winning form that had eluded him most of the season, tipped wide into the stretch and was along to take the $20,000 featured pace at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono Saturday night in 1:50.2. Favored Parnu Hanover went right to the top in :27.1, then matched that number in a wind-aided second quarter to hit the half in :54.2. Super Imposed N started mounting a determined first-over bid into the backstretch and had reached the leader by the three-quarter pole, clocked in 1:21.4, and grabbed a short advantage in early stretch. Pappy’s Pal had been reserved inside by driver Jim Marohn Jr. until the far turn, then swung to two-wide when the second-over couldn’t stay with cover. Wider as they turned for home, the victorious Cam’s Card Shark gelding methodically wore down the game Super Imposed N, then kept his lead over the deep Pocono Pike shooter Casimir Jitterbug, winning by three-quarters of a length, with Super Imposed N another neck back in third. Pappy’s Pal has been a good earner throughout his career – he boosted his bankroll here to $314,103 – but had had trouble getting to the wire first, having only a 1 for 25 win record in 2017 before now winning three of his last four, including two in a row. He had set his mark of 1:50.1 at Harrah’s Philadelphia last time out. Matias Ruiz trains the sharp pacer and he co-owns him with James Mascola.
Vernon Downs
Oh My Joepa (John MacDonald was victorious in the Vernon Downs Open Pace ($11,400), on Saturday (Sept. 30). MacDonald goes to the winner circle five more times. Mister Daytona (Fern Paquet Jr.) would jump out to the lead and carve out all early fractions of :27. 3, :56.2 and 1:23.4. Oh My Joepa (Rocknroll Hanover) would follow in the pocket trip all the way to the stretch. Owned and trained by MacDonald as well, the 9-year-old waited patiently, came out of the pocket and blew right by to win in a lifetime best of 1:50.3. Mister Daytona hung on to finish second as Golden Gun (Brett Crawford) finished third. Oh My Joepa ($10.00) won for the 14th time this year and the 45th time in his career. MacDonald’s other wins came with Hurricane Howard ($3.70), Cam’s Lucky Sam ($3.10), A Fool For Mark ($3.20), Apollo Seelster ($7.50). After race three tonight Vernon Downs honored long time starting gate driver Mike Finley, who lost his battle with cancer earlier this year. Finley was honored by drivers, trainers, owners, fellow employees, fans, family and friends. Finley was loved by everyone who knew him. Vernon Downs will never be the same without him. The Mike Finley Memorial race was won by Tundra with driver Truman Gale. Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Thursday (Oct. 5) with a nine-race card starting at 6:45 p.m. For more information go to www.vernondowns.com.
Saratoga Casino Hotel
Artful Way (Artistic Fella) put in as impressive of a performance on Saturday night as you will see in an Open at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Jackie Greene trainee got away fifth in a six horse field in the $18,000 Open Pace while his co-favorite Dancin Yankee (Mark Beckwith) set up shop on the front end. Dancin Yankee, who holds the all-time track record with a 1:48.4 victory in the Gerrity Pace in 2015, finished third in his return to town last week. Driver Mark Beckwith put that classy veteran on the lead in the early going on Saturday night and despite going a fast first quarter in :26.4, got to back it down a bit en route to going a first half in :56 seconds. Artful Way made his move from the back of the pack with about three-eighths of a mile to pace and when he did so, he meant business. Unleashing an eye-popping move heading to the three-quarter pole, Artful Way paced right past Dancin Yankee and drew away to win the Open in 1:51.4. Highlighted by a final half in 54.2, Artful Way became the first five-time Open Pace winner at the Spa this season. Dancin Yankee won the photo for place while last week’s Open winner Deetzy came on to finish third. Artful Way, the track’s defending Pacer of the Year, has already matched his win total from 2016 with 10 and is just shy of his earnings from last year of $115,000+. Artful Way was piloted to the Open score by Frank Coppola Jr. Greene and Coppola teamed up for a pair of victories on Saturday night as heavily favored Some Attitude (Somebeachsomewhere) moved his local record to two-for-two. Live racing continues at Saratoga on Sunday afternoon with a matinee that kicks off at 12:15 p.m.