from harness publicists across North America

Thursday’s (Jan. 13) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Dover Downs, Cal Expo and Monticello Raceway.

Exotic Toy wins Dover feature

Dover, DE — Longshot Exotic Toy got up at the finish line for one of Vic Kirby’s three winning drives at Dover Downs on Thursday (Jan. 13). George Dennis drove four winners and Ron Pierce equaled Kirby with a three-bagger.

Fotowon photo

Exotic Toy was a 1:54.2 winner for Vic Kirby in the Thursday feature.

Exotic Toy won the dash to the finish in 1:54.2 to win the $14,000 featured pace. Elmer Wilson and trainer Clifford Outten own the altered son of Powerful Toy-Carmalita Bow. Sweepstake Jake (Jim Morand) won the photo for second from Mattgician (Tony Morgan).

Earlier Kirby won by driving John Wilkerson and Ben Brooks’ Power N Glory in 1:55.2 and Dirt Devil, a 1:53.1 winner for Bill and Dave Moffett.

George Dennis not only drove but also trained his four winners. The wins were behind Joel and Dianne Halpern’s Lloyd’s Baby in 1:56; Bloodstock’smartha in a 2:00 trot; Truly Chris, a 1:53.4 winner; and Nights Camera in 1:56.2. Dennis and wife Tina are the owners.

Ron Pierce led off the card by guiding Doris Marine’s 43-1 shot JL Rockin Jake home in 1:59 on the trot. In another trot, Pierce teamed with Vicki Givens and Sherrie and Blake Baker’s Bakermill Blake in 1:58.2 and completed the triple with Louie Paglierani’s Lou’s Bad Yankee in 1:54.2. The last two Pierce wins were Wayne Givens trainees.

— Marv Bachrad

Cal Expo
Claiming handicap pacers, racing for a purse of $3,400, were featured at Cal Expo on Thursday night, in which Grandpa Stevie was the pocket-rocket. Smartly leaving as planned, driver Scott Cisco and his feeling good 9-year-old sat the pocket through first half fractions of :29.3 and :59.1. With Rick Plano letting out a notch on leader Most Happy Lavros to the middle of the final turn, but not able to shake the stalking Grandpa Stevie who stayed right with him, Plano resorted to popping the earplugs of his pacer to the three-quarter pole (1:27.4) at the same time Cisco moved his horse to the outside. Attacking to the head of the stretch and taking over the lead with just less than 3-16ths of a mile to go and in full gear, the gelding held a half-length lead at mid-stretch, then was urged with a sixteenth of a mile to add the finishing touches. Responding and taking off when given his cue, Grandpa Stevie drew clear to win ($17.60) by two lengths. Owned by Dave Siegel, Greg Robinson and Bob Thronson, the Matias Ruiz trained pacer stopped the timer at 1:55. Nicota (Rich Wojcio) closed late to finish in second and Satire (Luke Plano) raced fine to be third, just a neck farther back.

Monticello Raceway
For over three months Northern Chief remained undefeated then on Dec. 31 he was nailed at the wire in a tight three-horse photo and finished second, beaten a nose for all the marbles. Then on Thursday afternoon, after once again cutting the fractions, the veteran pacer couldn’t hold off Doug’s Boy who rallied down the lightning lane to score a 1-1/4 length victory in a time of 2:00.1 for owner-driver Alan Schwartz. Schwartz sent Doug’s Boy to the lead from post three and parked Mike Merton and Northern Chief to the quarter in :28.4 before he let them go. After that Schwartz sat still and decided to keep Doug’s Boy tight up behind Northern Chief the rest of the way. Schwartz had Doug’s Boy in perfect position to charge down the passing lane and when Northern Chief straightened in the lane Schwartz ducked inside and Doug’s Boy charged by the leader and went on to an easy triumph. Since Schwartz purchased the 10-year-old Cambest gelding he has won eight races. The victory by Doug’s Boy was in the claiming series named in honor of the late Dominic Macedonio, a local horseman who spent nearly his entire career racing at Monticello Raceway. Now with a win and a third in the series Doug’s Boy has a good chance to earn a berth in the series finale on Jan. 27. Doug’s Boy, trained by Raheem Strong, paid $5.10 for win.