by harness racing publicists across North America
Friday’s (June 23) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Buffalo Raceway, Tioga Downs, Saratoga Raceway and Vernon Downs.
Empire Earl N storms to Buffalo Raceway win
Hamburg, NY — After getting saddled with a post position of six or worse in the past month, Empire Earl N must of felt he was heaven with the five-hole. He took advantage of the ‘better’ starting position and scored a half-length victory over BZ Glide in Buffalo Raceway’s $10,000 Open Trot on Friday night (June 23).
Steve Roth photo
Empire Earl N takes advantage of his post position to win the feature at Buffalo Raceway.
Despite the outside posts since May 19, Empire Earl N was still very competitive during that time by earning a check in four of the five starts including a win, second and third.
BZ Glide got parked to the opening quarter-mile by Lutetium and Jim Dandy as the feature event unfolded. Setting fractions of :29, :59 and 1:29.4 over the sloppy track, BZ Glide looked liked he might steal the win in front-running style.
But Empire Earl N had other ideas. Sitting in fourth place and second-over with a final panel to trot, driver Larry Stalbaum got Empire Earl N ($4.70) into high gear four-wide in the stretch and collared BZ Glide (Mike Caprio) at the wire by a half-length. Gwally (David McNeight III), who broke just before the half-mile marker, regrouped in time to capture third.
Owned by Stalbaum and trained by Kimberly Asher, it was the third win in 14 tries this year for the 9-year-old gelded Empire Earl N (Earl-Santa Nita). The victory increased his seasonal earnings to $29,270 and $115,195 lifetime.
John Cummings Jr. tripled in the sulky with Stalbaum and Ray Fisher Jr. each getting a double. JD Perrin picked up three training victories and Asher two.
Racing will resume on Saturday night at 6 p.m. with an 11-race card set. There’s a $448 carryover in the Pick-5 which begins in the second race.
For more information including the latest news, race replays, results and upcoming promotions, go to www.buffaloraceway.com.
— by Brian Mazurek
Tioga Downs
Truth And Liberty (Mike Simons) charged late to win the Fillies & Mares Open II Handicap ($9,000) at Tioga Downs Friday (June 23). The 5-year-old Total Truth mare found herself fourth all the way to the top of the stretch. K J’s Caroline (Jim Taggart Jr.) set the pace for the field of seven putting up the early fractions :26.2, :55.1, 1:23.1. Once they turned for home Truth And Liberty ($6.80), who is owned by Tracy Moss and trained by Robert Lounsbury, blew by them all, winning going away by three lengths in 1:52.4. KJ’s Caroline gutted it out to hang on for second. Goldstar Rockette (Aaron Byron) finished third. Simons, who picked up wins 35 and 36 on the night, won the nightcap with Iaquinta ($8.60). The 5-year-old Artzina mare was last until just after the first half. By the top of the stretch Iaquinta who is owned Brian Calvert and trained by Fred Cohen was heads apart with front-running Sinspirational (Tom Jackson). Iaquinta would fly right by to win in 1:54.0 for her fourth victory of the season. Sinsperational was second with Watt A Funny Face (Doug Bowins) getting third. Mike Merton remained hot with two more wins himself. He would win with Celebrity Lampert ($6.10) in race number four. He would win race six with Pokerface ($7.40). His 21 wins on the season are second to Simons. Tioga Downs returns to action Saturday night (June 23) with a 10-race card starting at 6:50 p.m.
Saratoga Raceway
On a night filled with longshot winners at Saratoga Casino Hotel, Tataria (Four Starzzz Shark) upset in the $14,500 Fillies and Mares Open. One of three winners on the card for driver Mark Beckwith, Tataria sat the pocket behind Tipitina (Frank Coppola Jr.) who set fast fractions on the front end. Surging up the inside in the stretch, Tataria stopped the timer in a lifetime best 1:52, scoring at odds of 7-1. Tipitina wound up second best while the favored Godiva Seelster (Wally Hennessey) had to settle for third. It was the first Open victory for Tataria who debuted at Saratoga for trainer Melissa Beckwith earlier in the meet. It was win number six in twenty tries in 2017 for the 5-year-old mare who paid $16.80 to win. The exacta and triple with the favorites underneath returned $111.50 and $329.50, respectively. Six of the winners on the 10-race program paid $14 or more to win with one paying as much as $58.50. Live racing continues on Saturday night at Saratoga with a 6:45 p.m. first post.
Vernon Downs
Chris Lems would rack up four wins on Friday (June 23) including the Fillies & Mares feature ($7,500) with Little Santamonica (Little Steven). Owned by Courtney Crawford and trained by Jordan Hope, the 9-year-old mare would go gate-to-wire in 1:51.1. Little Santamonica ($2.80) never had a tense moment as she won her 53rd career victory. Drea’s Good Powow (John MacDonald) would follow the whole way to finish second. Love Live Laugh (Jimmy Whittemore) was a distant third. Lems would begin the night getting the first race victory with 2-year-old first time starter Clive Bigsby (Muscle Mass). Clive Bigsby ($3.80) would take over right before the top of the stretch and win easily by four lengths in 1:58.1. Missus Mia Wallace (Homer Hochstetler) would finish second with Ladydini (Howard Okusko Jr,.) getting third. Lems would also get a win driving Without A Clue ($18.20) going gate to wire in 1:54.4, just holding off the late charge by Jersey Boy (Ben McNeil). Walk The Floor (Angus Mac Donald) was third. Lems got his other win during race number eight with He’s Gone ($3.80) running past Atoastandcaviar (John MacDonald) in 1:55.1. Jackson’s Gold (Jimmy Wittemore) was third. Vernon Downs returns to live racing Saturday night (June 24) with a 13-race card starting at 6:45 p.m. For more information go to www.vernondowns.com.