from harness publicists across North America

Friday’s (Aug. 21) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Yonkers Raceway, and Saratoga Casino and Raceway.

Yonkers, NY — Favored Set Me Up (George Brennan, $5.10) delivered on her public pact Friday (August 21) night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s featured $48,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace. It was one of Brennan’s six wins on the 12-race program.

With the assemblage pared down to six (two ladies came up ill), Set Me Up’s original seven-hole became a cozier five-hole. She then worked around Her Own Land (Eric Carlson), laying down early intervals of :27.1 and :56.4.

Jonsie Jones (Tyler Buter), the other beneficiary of those inside defections, left and was wrangled back fourth. She them moved to engage the leader toward the 1:24.4 three-quarters, but the soft (:57.3) middle-half would give the leader too much of an advantage.

Set Me Up owned a length lead into the lane, then widened to 2-1/2 lengths in 1:52.4. Jonsie Jones held second, with Her Own Land, Know it All (Eric Abbatiello) and Handsoffmycupcake (Jeff Gregory) came away with the remainder. Victoria May N (Steve Smith) was outrun.

For Set Me Up, a 6-year-old daughter of Shark Gesture co-owned (as Burke Racing) by (trainer) Ron Burke and Weaver Bruscemi, it was her sixth win in 20 seasonal starts. The exacta (two wagering choices) paid $12, with the triple returning $62.

The Raceway’s live season continues Saturday night (first post 7:10 p.m.), with a pair of $20,000 eliminations for the $189,240 Hudson Filly Trot (3-year-olds).

— Frank Drucker

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
Godiva Seelster (Camluck) continued her sensational season on Friday (August 21) night at Saratoga Casino and Raceway. The 5-year-old pacing mare recorded her second consecutive victory in the $18,000 Fillies and Mares Open behind a front-running effort covering the mile in 1:52.3. Wally Hennessey powered Godiva Seelster out early and as several leavers settled in, Hennessey drove on making the lead in 27 seconds flat. Just like last week, the Hall of Fame reinsman got the mare a solid second quarter breather before stepping on the gas in the third quarter to the tune of 27.3. Godiva Seelster had to hold off the late challenge from rival So Nice (Austin Siegelman) who she bested in last week’s Open. So Nice once again was the bridesmaid in the feature for distaff pacers, settling for second. Longshot Bell On Wheels (Stephane Bouchard) saved ground behind the top two throughout and finished third. For the Dan Hennessey-trained Godiva Seelster, it was win number ten on the season in nineteen starts. She paid $13.40 to win in the mild upset leading an exacta that returned $43.80 and a triple that came back $454. Live racing continues on Saturday night at Saratoga with first post time set for 7:05 p.m.