from Harness Publicists across North America

Tuesday’s (July 28) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, Vernon Downs and Monticello Raceway.

Gift Kronos just misses track record at Pocono

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Gift Kronos just missed equaling the track mark for an older trotting stallion Tuesday night in winning the $28,750 Open Handicap Trot at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. The winner stopped the timer in 1:53.2, just a fifth of a second off the track record set by Armbro Barrister (Ray Schnittker) in June of 2006.

Gift Kronos (Marcus Johansson) left from the six post in the six-horse field with the opening quarter clicked off in :26.3 with Nicole’s Promise (Tom Jackson) on the front end followed by Howard Parker and Four Starz Credit and Mike Simons and Grain Of Truth.

Big Boy Lloyd (Jim Morrill, Jr.) was the new leader at the half in :55.4 with Nicole’s Promise second and Four Starz Credit third. Sitting fourth was Gift Kronos. Johansson went first up down the backside and quickly caught and passed the top horses to take control of the race with the three-quarters clocked in 1:22.3. Heading for home, Gift Kronos held off Nicole’s Promise, who came up from the passing lane to finish second, with Grain Of Truth third.

Gift Kronos has won his only two starts of the year at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs and both have come in the Open Handicap Trot. This was the winner’s fourth win in 10 starts in 2009.

— John Zimich

Perched is the best in Vernon feature

Vernon, NY — Perched produced a 1:53.1 victory in the featured pace, while Bille Bella Chick tied for most current local equine wins on Tuesday, the final Family Night program of this 56th season at Vernon Downs.

Fotowon photo

Perched was a 1:53.1 winner in the Tuesday feature at Vernon.

Driver Josh Marks drove Perched ($4.20) as if she was the best, and the bay mare proved him correct with a front-striding two length victory over Crazy Cathy in Tuesday’s $6,000 ninth event, the night’s top test for female side-wheelers.

Tuesday’s tally was the second in a row, third at the meet and fifth this season for the 7-year-old daughter of Astreos-Chirp To Me, who was claimed for $9,000 by Ken Jacobs here on July 14. Tracy Brainard trains the career winner of $201,807.

Two races earlier, driver Chris Lems urged the favored Bille Bella Chick ($3.40) to a hard-charging one length victory over Kimberly Ideal in the $4,000 seventh session. It was the second score in succession and the sixth of the season at the Downs for the 5-year-old daughter of Rambaran-Windy Witch, tying her with fellow pacers A & G’s Winner and My Girl Lora for most Standardbred victories through 46 programs. Trainer Lonny Hale conditions the lifetime winner of $54,187 for Dr. Michael Kessler and the Speed To Burn Racing Stable.

Lems also won with his pacer Manvincible (1:54.1) and the trotter Nowerland Nathan (1:56.3) to claim his fourth three-win outing at the meet, while Marks and Brainard were each credited with doubles during Tuesday’s nine-race program.

— Jim Moran

Southbound Trucker is back in the Monticello winner’s circle

Monticello, NY — Over the last two weeks Southbound Trucker has been an also ran in the Monticello Raceway pacing features even though he had won seven of them previously this season. But on Tuesday Southbound Trucker added another victory to his total as the veteran gelding scored a 1:57.2 triumph for driver Greg Merton.

Sent off as the fourth choice in the betting, Merton once again raced the 6-year-old Sharky Spur offspring from off the pace. Windsun Fire N Ice (Kyle DiBendetto) set quick fractions and led the field all the way to the final turn and when he tired Twin B Lonestar (Jordan Stratton) and Southbound Trucker came calling. And when the field straightened for home the short lead that Windsun Fire N Ice had quickly dissipated as a host of pacers ranged alongside and then paced on by him.

Though the lead changed a few times in the deep stretch when the rushing horses approached the finish wire Southbound Trucker had the most pace and rallied and then held off another fast-closer, Twin B Lonestar, to score a head victory. A short head farther back in third place was Blueridge D’Bang driven by Zeke Parker.

“We got cover from the half and when I sent him three deep in the final turn I thought we could win it but as it turned out it wasn’t easy,” driver Greg Merton noted after Southbound Trucker won for the eighth time this year. “I knew I could get around the ones in front of me but Jordan’s horse (Twin B Lonestar) was coming like a freight train at the end. But the ole guy (Southbound Trucker) dug in and held him off. He’s really gritty at the end of a mile.”

With his victory Southbound Trucker is 8 for 21 this season and raised his earnings to over $46,000 for owner George Stamatien. The pacer is trained by the owner’s brother, Art Stamatien.

— John Manzi