by harness publicists across North America
Thursday’s edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Scarborough Downs, The Meadows, Vernon Downs and Saratoga Raceway.
Frosh are featured at Scarborough
Scarborough, ME – 2-year-old stakes trotters took center stage at Scarborough Downs on Thursday with four splits of the freshman turkey-footers headlining the 12-race program.
![](http://ustrottingnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/33464-CurrentChip.jpg)
Derek Davis photo
Current Chip remained undefeated in four career starts with a 2:05.1 victory.
Glory Hallelujah shaved six full seconds off her previous lifetime best to grab top honors in the first of two filly divisions, stopping the clock timed in 2:08.2 with driver Leigh Fitch cautiously steering the daughter of Boy Band toward victory lane.
Current Chip next blazed over the oval in 2:05.1 to remain undefeated through the early portion of his young career. The daughter of Current Cast now boasts a sterling four-race win streak with Driver Mark Athearn calling the shots for Hall of Fame trainer Donny Richards.
Edgar once again utilized a front-running strategy to secure his 3rd career victory for driver/trainer Gary Hall in the first of two colt divisions. Each of his three wins have come while playing catch-me-if-you-can.
Roadshow Vic closed out the Stakes show on Thursday, picking an opportune time to break his maiden as the Maine-bred son of Roadshow Hall crossed over to the winner’s ranks in the $9,689 second division of trotting colts, stopping the timer in 2:08.3 with driver Michael Cushing sitting chilly in the sulky.
Stakes action returns to Scarborough Downs on Saturday (August 29) as twin-splits of 2-year-old pacing colt divisions will be contested as part of the ten-race program.
— Mike Sweeney
Rodaeo Raider upsets in The Meadows’ $27,500 Fillies and Mares pace
Meadow Lands, PA — Rodaeo Raider launched a power move down the backside that carried her to an 11-1 upset victory in the $27,500 Fillies and Mares Preferred Handicap pace Thursday at The Meadows.
With Sugar Nips trying to control the fractions on the front, Tony Hall cut Rodaeo Raider loose from fifth. The 5-year-old daughter of Keystone Raider–Grandpas Ashley responded by swooping the field and opening up a daylight lead. She scored by 2-1/2 lengths over Sugar Nips, with Spring Break a closing third.
The time of 1:51.4 was a career-best for Rodaeo Raider, and a tick off the track record for older mare pacers held jointly by Jans Luck and Always Cam. Kent Sherman trains Rodaeo Raider, who has won three consecutive starts, for Daryl Sherman and Melissa Patterson.
Dave Palone drove five winners on the 15-race card, while Hall fashioned a triple.
— Evan Pattak
Chantal Hall repeats at Vernon
Vernon, NY — Chantal Hall continued her winning ways with a 1:53.4 score in Thursday night’s $9,000 featured eighth race at Vernon Downs.
![Chantal Hall (Fotowon)](http://ustrottingnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/33464-090829vdChantalHall.jpg)
Fotowon
Chantal Hall (3) won for the second straight time on Thursday
Jimmy Whittemore picked up his meet-leading 79th victory after urging Chantal Hall ($11.80) on from third at the top of the stretch to a head decision over Bet The Ranch in the week’s Open test for female pacers. Whittemore’s father, Dennis, the mare’s owner, also secured his 28th training triumph at the meet.
The hard-earned tally was the second in a row in this class, fifth at the meet, ninth on the campaign and 11th lifetime for the 4-year-old daughter of Pro Bono Best–Camus, who increased her total winnings to $107,790.
Howard Okusko, Jr., this season’s runner-up in the local dashes-won department, earned his 70th victory in 59 programs following a 1:55.3 tally behind the Paul Minckler-trained and Michael Calimeri-owned pacing mare Lesley’s JLo Belle in Thursday’s first event.
Up-and-coming reinsman Brian Connor was credited with his third double at the Downs this season after piloting the pacer Kentucky Traveler and the trotter Glory’s Comer to first place finishes during the nine-race card.
Downs Doings: The Downs will present a nine-race program at 6:55 p.m. on Friday (Aug. 28) that will include the week’s $9,000 Open Handicap trot. Additional information can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.
–Jim Moran
Lima Belle remains red hot at the Spa
Lima Belle continued to show her love for the Saratoga oval on Thursday night as the Robyn Mangiardi trainee stayed red hot. When the mare came to the Spa for the first time in early July, she brought with her a record of no wins and just two seconds while on the board four times in 19 starts.
![Lima Belle (Dave Oxford)](http://ustrottingnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/33464-090829saLimaBelle.jpg)
Dave Oxford
Lima Belle has been a hot commodity as of late at Saratoga Raceway
After a solid third in her local debut, the mare has gotten razor-sharp. On Thursday, driver Chris Long put the 4-year-old on the front end and cruised to an open-length victory in the night’s fifth race. The victory was her second straight win, this one in 1:57, and moved her record in the last five starts to three wins and two seconds. Included in that streak was her lifetime-best clocking, as the Nobleland Sam mare went wire to wire in 1:56.3 on July 24.
Live racing will continue on Friday night at Saratoga, with New York Sire Stakes action resuming on Saturday evening. Post time for both nights will be at 7:20 p.m., eastern.
— Mike Sardella