by harness racing publicists across North America

The Friday (Sept. 8) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs and Saratoga Casino Hotel.

Dragin The Wagon wins Tioga’s main event

Nichols, NY — Dragin The Wagon captured the featured trot ($10,000) at Tioga Downs on Friday (Sept. 8).

Fred Brown photo

Dragin The Wagon wins the featured event at Tioga Downs.

Wisenheimer (Mike Simons) called the shots early by setting fractions of :27.2, :55.4 and 1:24.3. Dragin The Wagon (Angus Hall) followed in the pocket until mid-stretch. Owned by James, Michael and David Cantelon, while trained by Jeff Byron, the 7 year-old gelding found himself trapped on the inside.

Aaron Byron was able to squeeze by an opening at the cones in mid-stretch. Dragon The Wagin ($4.90) surged to the front to win in 1;54.2

Caulfied (Mike Merton) would charge late and fall just short to settle for second. Picture This (Tom Jackson) finished third.

Dragin The Wagon won for the fifth time this season and secured his 36th lifetime victory,

Leading driver, Mike Simons won three on the night to get 70 on the season. He won with Ifya Start Me Up ($5.40), Ameliosi ($4.80) and Rockin Show ($14.60).

Jim Taggart Jr. won three as well on the night. He won with K J’s Caroline ($3.50), Gwally ($6.20), and Justsingalong ($26.20).

Tioga Downs returns to live action on Saturday (Sept. 9) with a 14-race card with New York Sire Stakes action, featuring freshman pacing colts and geldings. It is also Apple Fest at the track with free apple pie slices and apple cider. Post time is 6:50 p.m.

For more information go to www.tiogadowns.com.

— by John Horne

Vernon Downs

Winding Hill (Jimmy Whittemore) won the featured trot ($9,000) at Vernon Downs on Friday night (Sept. 8). Pop I (John MacDonald) would take the lead at the head of the stretch. Winding Hill (Here Comes Herbie) would slug it out with him going all the way down the stretch. Owned and trained by Dennis Whittemore, the 6-year-old gelding would win by a head in the end. Pop I (Andover Hall) would settle for second as The Big Muscle (Joe Nassimos) got third. Winding Hill ($5.20) won for the sixth time this season and the 26th time in his career in 1:54.4. The red-hot John MacDonald who had won six races last night would win five more tonight. He won with Thundercrest ($3.40), Miss Ruby ($2.60), The Russian Spy ($8.30), Skyflex ($14.00) and Pinky The Intern ($9.70). Vernon Downs returns to live action on Saturday (Sept. 9). For more information go to www.vernondowns.com.

Saratoga Casino Hotel

Little Santamonica (Little Steven) scored a wire-to-wire win in the Friday feature at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The veteran 9-year-old loves the lead and driver Jimmy Devaux made sure to get her there in the $18,000 Fillies and Mares Open. Co-favored at odds of 8-5, Little Santamonica never endured an anxious moment and despite first half fractions of :27 and :55.3, drew away to win by almost five lengths in 1:52.2. The victory was the 12th on the season for the Jordan Hope-trained distaffer who has thrived at Saratoga when coming to town to compete over the past few years. It was the fourth win in the local Open this year for the classy mare joining So Nice (Ponder) as the only two lady pacers to prevail in as many as four Opens in 2017. Brown Brinny (Bruce Aldrich Jr.) finished second in her debut in the local feature while longshot West Liberty (Chris Long) came on for third. Little Santamonica paid $5.20 to win and led an exacta and triple that came back $16.80 and $82, respectively. Live racing continues on Saturday night at Saratoga with a first post time set for 6:45 p.m.