from harness publicists across North America

Tuesday night’s (Aug. 16) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, Running Aces, Saratoga and Hippodrome 3R.

Elliesjet N lowers mark in Pocono feature

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Elliesjet N took a new lifetime mark of 1:51.4 despite sloppy going Tuesday night at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, winning by a half-length over Envious Hanover in the $15,500 mares pacing feature.

The imported daughter of Jereme’s Jet was sent to the lead early in the :27.1 first quarter, played give-and-go with favored Ideal Nuggets in front of the stands, then withstood the Pocono Pike charge over Envious Hanover, who was narrowing in but not really threatening, with Ideal Nuggets getting the show dough.

Elliesjet N, a winner of $109,318, lowered her previous mark, taken at Harrah’s Philadelphia earlier this year, by a tick for trainer Joshua Parker, also co-owner with Nanticoke Racing Inc., Barry Spedden and Kevin Evans.

Tuesday’s racing reminded one of school achievement in that if you had an “A,” you went to the top of the class, as Andrew McCarthy had five winners and Anthony Napolitano three. Even Åke Svanstedt had a winner to get in on the trend.

McCarthy’s night also included a second by a neck finish at 33-1 and a third by three-quarters of a length finish at 46-1; he wins with some longshots, and gets many others close.

— PHHA Pocono

Running Aces
The Minnesota-sired 2-year-old pacers highlighted the Tuesday evening program at Running Aces, with $10,000 on the line in each division. In the colt and gelding split, the big favorite Deweydiddonegood (Dean Magee) would not prevail this evening, finishing third despite a nice effort on the front end. Steve’s Hot Rod (Rick Magee) sat the pocket and came home second in the 2:01 mile, beaten only a half-length and Wonder Bull (Nick Roland) would charge fastest to the wire, advancing up the inside in the stretch, but would later be disqualified (to eighth) for violating the expanded homestretch rules, having advanced well inside of the final pylon before the beginning of the expanded stretch. Steve’s Hot Rod was placed as the winner, with Deweydiddonegood moved up to second and Zachariah’s Honor (Luke Plano) was placed third. Steve’s Hot Rod now sports three lifetime wins in seven starts for owner Kati Sokolowski and trainer David Flynn. In the fillies division there would be no upsets, as the overwhelming choice Whatitdobabyboo (Rick Magee) would deliver another impressive victory, in her now-signature style of sitting back quietly in the early stages, then launching a deliberate rally on the outside and pouncing in the homestretch to draw away from her rivals. She posted a 3-1/4 length tally, her fourth in a row and fifth win in her last six starts for owners Van Oterloo Stables and trainer David Flynn. This mile was registered in 2:02 in the sloppy conditions and she paid $2.40 to her many backers. Driver Rick Magee had a huge night, posting five wins on the program as the first driver to do so this season. Rounding out his five-bagger were scores with pacers Place’n First ($26.80) in 1:58 in race four, the aforementioned tally aboard Steve’s Hot Rod ($13.40) in race six, the trotter Switcheroo ($53.00) in race eight in 2:00.3, the filly Whatitdobabyboo (above) in race nine and the gelding pacer Red Star Tyson ($6.40) in race 10 (1:58.4).

Saratoga
When Omaha Set Hut (Credit Winner) came to Saratoga Casino Hotel to compete last week, the 3-year-old battled top New York Sire Stakes colts. The Tyler Freese-trained trotter was overmatched in the $88,350 stake as he ran into a track record performance by Dayson, who trotted in 1:54.2. On Tuesday night, Omaha Set Hut returned to the Spa to compete in the $9,950 feature for New York sired trotters and had Bruce Aldrich Jr. in the sulky. Bet down to be the race’s 3-5 favorite, Omaha Set Hut cruised out to the early lead and never had an anxious moment as he coasted to an open length victory in the race for winners of two but not more than four races lifetime. The win came in 1:56.4 which served as a new career best for the sophomore trotter. Aldrich went on to sweep the early Pick-3 en route to a driver’s hat trick. Driver Jimmy Devaux also piloted three winners on the Tuesday card.

Hippodrome 3R
Real Lucky Day didn’t need any real luck in making his harness racing pari-mutuel debut a winning one Tuesday evening at the Hippodrome 3R. Competing for the first time in a betting race, a division of the third round of the Future Stars Series for 2-year-old trotters, Real Lucky Day and driver Stephane Brosseau teamed up to take the lead in the first race by the opening quarter and then held the rest of the field at bay in posting a two length triumph in 2:03. It was the fastest mile by any 2-year-old trotter this season at 3R. Trained by Yves Filion for owner/breeder R L Belanger, Real Lucky Day is a colt sired by Donato Hanover from the Self Possessed mare Norway No Day and paid just $2.40 to win as the wagering favorite. Previous series winner Kinnder Dangerous (Justin Filion) was second with Yoan Bayama (Yves Filion) third. In the third race filly division, it was Joyce Lavec and driver Pascal Berube who stole the show as they left from post five, took command of the race and said goodbye to the rest of the field as they went on to score in a romp by 6-1/4 lengths in 2:06.3. Muscle Do (Gaetan Lamy) was second with Taurus P V (Stephane Brosseau) third. It was the second win in the Future Stars Series for Joyce Lavec. The daughter of Mr Lavec from the Victory’s Force mare Sam Valley is trained by Dany Fontaine for owner/breeder Jean Berthiaume and paid $3.90 to win.