from harness publicists across North America

Saturday’s (April 2) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, Buffalo Raceway and Cal Expo.

Golden Receiver wins Open Pace at Pocono

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Golden Receiver led much of the way and sustained despite a blistering pace to win the $25,000 Open Pace on Saturday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

Leaving from post position eight in a field of nine as the 2-5 favorite, Golden Receiver was sent for the lead early by driver Ron Pierce. The 6-year-old gelding from the barn of trainer Mark Harder briefly yielded the lead at the quarter, then took it back from Delivered From Zin at the three-eighths-mile marker.

Despite setting tough fractions, Golden Receiver still led into the stretch and withstood a late challenge from Drop Red, winning by three-quarters of a length in 1:50.4, the fastest time paced at Pocono so far in the 2011 meet. Drop Red settled for second while Arduous picked up the show.

It was the second straight win for Golden Receiver, sired by Village Jove, with the previous win coming at the Meadowlands. He now has three wins in seven starts this year and 30 lifetime victories, with career earnings topping $440,000.

— James Beviglia

Buffalo Raceway
A jump up in class didn’t seem to bother Low And Right, a 5-year-old Pro Bono Best-Hosel Rocket stallion, as he won the $10,000 Open Pace in 1:57 for owners Ted Cupp and Robert Pawlak at Buffalo Raceway. It was the first win this season for Low And Right, who had finished second in his last five races. Low And Right ($15.00), leaving from post four in the field of eight and driven by Ray Fisher, Jr., settled in fifth as Oh Gee Whiz (John Cummings, Jr.) and Crystal Guy (Jamie Dunlap) cut the early fractions. Oh Gee Whiz hit the quarter in :29.1, while Crystal Guy had the lead at the half in :59.2. Positioned first over on the outside, Low And Right made a strong backside brush and took the lead at the three-quarters in 1:28.3. A sharp :28.2 last quarter-mile put the winner one length in front of second place finisher Spode To Be Black (Jim McNeight) at the finish line. Spender Hanover (Chris Page) came in the show spot. Trained by Jim Graham, the $5,000 share of the purse put Low And Right’s season’s bankroll at $13,671 and $64,954 lifetime. Driver Kevin Cummings was the hot driver on this cool night, steering home four winners. Cummings’ winners were Folding Money ($8.60), Cheyenne James ($4.10) Adelia’s Prince ($5.50) and Dontgetnsamsonsway ($18.60).

Cal Expo
A field of five were featured at Cal Expo on Saturday night for a purse of $4,500, in which Split Ticket provided Luke Plano with one of five winning driving gifts on his 31st birthday. Getting pushed by the grand-slam seeking 3-5 favorite Ivegotwhatuneed (Lemoyne Svendsen), Split Ticket didn’t clear to the pylons until just before the 3-16ths pole and hit the opening quarter in :27.3. Getting away with a :30.1 second quarter into a minor headwind, Split Ticket hit the half in :57.4. Reaching the three-quarter station, timed in 1:27, but with Ivegotwhatuneed very anxious in the pocket, Split Ticket showed why his lifetime mark is 1:50. Getting his earplugs popped at the head of the lane and taking off like an express train, Split Ticket powerfully drew away with an eighth of a mile to go. Owned by Richard Morita, David Yamada, and David O’Hara, Split Ticket continued to expand his lead through a :26.2 final quarter while barely urged in a romping five length victory ($6.40) in 1:53.2, thus establishing a seasonal mark while recording his 34th career triumph. Ivegotwhatuneed was no match on this night and had to settle for second, and Western So (Scott Cisco) finished 1-1/2 lengths farther back in third.