by harness racing publicists across North America

The Friday (Sept. 29) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Vernon Downs, Batavia Downs and Saratoga Casino Hotel.

Drea’s Good Powow wins Vernon feature

Vernon, NY — Drea’s Good Powow (John MacDonald) would take the filly and mare featured pace ($9,000) at Vernon Downs on Friday night (Sept. 29).

Fotowon photo

Drea’s Good Powow wins the featured event at Vernon Downs.

Tiger Boudoir (Truman Gale) would lead the way to a first quarter in :27, Bye Bye Michelle (Chris Lems) would then control the way all the way to the stretch.

Drea’s Good Powow (Sqauw’s Fella) would charge late in the stretch and just get by at the wire in 1:53.4. Owned by the J P Stables and trained by MacDonald, the 7-year-old mare, would pay $5.60 for the victory. It was her seventh win this season and her 26th career victory.

Bye Bye Michelle would hang on for second and Love Live Laugh would get third.

MacDonald would win three more on the night. He picked up his other wins with Napper Tandy ($4.20), Celebrity Stimulus ($6.00), Steuben Magic Ride ($5.10).

Skyflex (Chirs Lems) would take the trotting feature ($7,500).

Six Bax (Jim Taggart Jr.) would lead to the first quarter in :27. Mc Tiny’s Hope (Ben McNeil) would then take the lead and hit the half in :56.2. It was then Landonfitz (Jimmy Whittemore) who would take over and hit three-quarters in 1:25.3.

Skyflex (Federal Flex) would go on a break after the start and would find himself last.all the way through three-quarters. Owned by Oppenheimer, Glasser Racing and Cooper Stables while trained by Homer Hochstetler, the 4-year-old gelding would make a five-wide move and go from last to first to win in 1:55.2.

The Big Muscle (Joe Nassimos) would take second with Thundercrest (John MacDonald) finishing third.

Skyflex ($3.30), would win for the seventh time this season and would grab career win number 13.

Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday (Sept. 30). The 10-race card begins at 6:45 p.m.

For more information go to www.vernondowns.com.

— by John Horne

Batavia Downs

The old wagering adage suggesting to bet the longest shot in the shortest field was right on point in the $10,000 Open Handicap Trot at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Sept. 29) as Osprey Vision scored big after being overlooked at 10-1 in the five-horse field. With the late scratch of Lutetium, Noble Legend (Jim Morrill Jr.) decided to be the leader to follow this week and took that position shortly after the start. With a sloppy track and no early opposition, Morrill took the field down to the half in :58.1 and looked comfortable in doing so. As the group was into the second circuit, Egosnattitudes (Larry Stalbaum) was motoring up on the outside with Osprey Vision (Drew Monti) second over. But halfway up the backstretch Egosnattitudes copped one and made a break, leaving Osprey Vision advancing alone towards the leader around the final turn. By the time the race hit the head of the lane Osprey Vision looked Noble Legend in the eye before trotting right by. Osprey Vision then maintained the lead while holding off the late charging Barn Winner (Ray Fisher Jr.) and BZ Glide (Mike Caprio) to win in 1:59.2. Osprey Vision ($23.80) now has eight wins and $55,814 earned this year for owner Marissa Russo and trainer David Russo. In the $8,000 Open II trot Empire Earl N (Larry Stalbaum) broke a six-week drought, coming from way off the pace at the half following dull outside cover before tipping three-deep off the last turn to close down the lane and win by a neck in 1:59.4. Empire Earl N ($12.00) registered his sixth win of the year and bumped his bank to $55,590 for his owner who drives him, Larry Stalbaum. The New Zealand bred son of Earl is trained by Kim Asher. Ray Fisher Jr. had a driving triple on Friday. Drivers scoring two wins included Drew Monti and Larry Stalbaum. Trainers getting two wins included Kim Asher, David Russo and Angelo Nappo. Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Sept. 30) at 6 p.m.

Saratoga Casino Hotel

Brown Brinny (Jereme’s Jet) finished second in her debut in the local Fillies and Mares Open at Saratoga Casino Hotel back on Sept. 9. That marked the fifth consecutive start in which the Brittany Robertson trainee had finished first or second. Following a fourth place finish last week, Brown Brinny drew post three in Friday night’s $18,000 Open for distaffers. Dan Cappello Jr. blasted the five year old mare out to the early lead in the feature, a lead she would never relinquish. The favorite brushed up first over approaching the three-quarter pole and while Brown Brinny briefly lost the lead, she didn’t allow her rival to clear. Fighting back around the final turn, Brown Brinny re-emerged with the lead turning for home and held on to prevail in 1:54 for her first ever score in the local Open. New York Sire Stakes star Clear Idea (Billy Dobson) closed to finish second in her first start in the Spa Open while longshot Beyonces Rockn (Shawn Gray) earned the show spot. For Brown Brinny, who paid $12.40 to win, it was victory number six on the season. The exacta and triple in the six-horse feature returned $58 and $210, respectively. Live racing continues on Saturday night at Saratoga with a 6:45 p.m. first post.