from harness publicists across North America
The Friday (June 22) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Buffalo Raceway, Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs.
Fox Valley Veto springs surprise at Buffalo Raceway
Hamburg, NY — Fox Valley Veto ($13.20) didn’t want any part of a hotly-contested front end battle in Buffalo Raceway’s featured $11,500 Open Trot on Friday night (June 22) and his patience was eventually rewarded with a head victory over B Z Glide in a seasonal best 1:56.3.
Steve Roth photo
Fox Valley Veto was a head winner in the Open Trot at Buffalo.
It was a mad charge to the lead as Call My Broker, Kahoku and Chelseas Chance were three-wide across the track in hitting the quarter pole in :28.2. Finally grabbing the top, Chelseas Chance tripped the timer in :56.4 to the half. The outer flow then started to develop as Call My Broker and Kahoku began to retreat.
Fox Valley Veto (Billy Davis Jr.) was the first over and brought B Z Glide in tow to the three-quarter marker in 1:27.2 as Chelseas Chance was ready to throw in the towel.
In the stretch, it was a match race with Fox Valley Veto digging in gamely and managing to hold off the late bid by B Z Glide (Mike Caprio). Empire Earl N (Drew Monti) took the third place check, rallying from last.
Co-owned by the Vogel & Wags Nags Stable and Jack Rice, Fox Valley Veto (Pizzazzed-Yankee Victory Om) is a 7-year-old gelding that is trained by Maria Rice. It was the fourth win in 18 tries this season for Fox Valley Veto, now a winner of $43,492 in 2018 and $438,211 lifetime.
Monti registered a driving triple while Davis added a double on the night.
Racing will continue on Saturday evening with a 12-race program slated to begin at 6 p.m. For more information including the latest news, upcoming promotions, simulcast schedule, race replays, results and entries, go to www.buffaloraceway.com.
— Brian J. Mazurek
Tioga Downs
Kruella (Mike Simons) charged late in the stretch to win the $11,000 Tioga Downs Fillies and Mares Open Handicap on Friday. K J’s Caroline (Mike Merton) went right to the front and controlled all the early fractions (:26.1, :56, 1:24). Kruella ($8.40) was fourth after three-quarters. Owned by Two Gals Stable LLC and trained by Jineen Simone, she used a sweeping three-wide move to blow by to win in a lifetime best 1:52.2. A Wish For Wings (Fern Paquet Jr.) charged home late to finish second. K J’s Caroline hung on for third. Kruela is a 6-year-old mare by American Ideal. She is two-for-two this season and she secured career win number 34. Aaron Byron leads all drivers in wins so far this season with 26. Jim Taggart Jr. is second with 24 victories with Jim Meittis in third with 23 tallies. Mike Merton is fourth with 21 times to the winner’s circle. Last year’s driving champion, Mike Simons, rounds out the top five with 16 wins. Tioga Downs was blessed with a flyover during tonight’s National Anthem by 3 T6 Texans. They will be at the Greater Binghamton Airshow sponsored by Tioga Downs at the Greater Binghamton Airport from 12-4 p.m. on Saturday (June 23). Tioga Downs returns to live racing on Saturday with a 12-race card starting at 6:15 p.m. For more information go to www.tiogadowns.com.
Vernon Downs
Prairie Fortune (Mike Deters) won the featured $9,000 Open Trot at Vernon Downs on Friday. Icanflylikeanangel (Roman Lopez) took them to a first quarter of :26.3. Foundonabeach (John MacDonald) then took the field to the half in :55.3. Barn Bella (Claude Huckabone Jr.) came first-over from fourth to take over before hitting three-quarters in 1:24.4. She looked like she had it wrapped up with a two length lead in the stretch. Prairie Fortune ($10.60) was seventh after the half and sixth after three-quarters. Owned by Laurie Poulin and trainer Mike Deters, he flew by like he was shot out of a cannon to edge Barn Bella by a head to win in 1:53.2. Muscles Jared (Howard Okusko Jr.) finished third. Prairie Fortune is a 6-year-old gelding by Arapa Victory. It was his eighth win of the season and fourth in a row. He now has 45 career victories. John MacDonald won four on the night. He got his wins with Alex The Great ($3.60), Hammer Time ($9.70), Quick Trot ($7.90), and Expo ($12.20). Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Saturday (June 23) with a 13-race card starting at 6:10 p.m. For more information go to www.vernondowns.com.