from harness publicists across North America
Thursday’s (September 15) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Vernon Downs and The Meadows.
Harlem Rockturne runs win streak to five at Vernon
Vernon, NY — Harlem Rockturne continued her superiority in the female Open pacing class with a 1:53.3 victory in Thursday night’s $10,000 featured ninth race at Vernon Downs.
Fotowon photo
Harlem Rockturne won her fifth straight on Thursday at Vernon.
Competing as the favorite from post position seven, Harlem Rockturne ($4.80) sat patiently behind the pacesetter, newcomer Slomotion, and pocket-sitter, Eagle Hilarious, until the final quarter, and then was let loose by driver Jimmy Whittemore and prevailed by more than two lengths.
Thursday’s tally was the fifth in succession and fourth at the Downs, tying fellow side-wheeler Rosa Villa and the trotter Mr Web Page for the longest local equine winning streaks after 64 programs. It marked the eighth win this season and the ninth all-time for the steady-going 4-year-old daughter of Rocknroll Hanover-Capericorn, who is owned and trained by Whittemore’s father, Dennis. The career-winner of more than $74,000 came within one-fifth of a second of her speed mark, earned here on August 25.
Whittemore, the two-time defending driving champ and current leader with 87 first-place finishes, also won with the pacers Swift Escape (1:58.2) and Laugh Away (1:54.4) to chalk up his meet-leading seventh triple of the local campaign.
— Jim Moran
The Meadows
Ellisarro Hanover, making his debut in elite company, showed persuasively that he belongs by capturing the $22,500 Preferred Handicap Trot. Although Ellisarro Hanover had won four straight, all those victories were in high-level claimers. On Thursday, he fearlessly moved first over from fourth for Eric Ledford and held off the Lightning Lane charge of 7-5 favorite Sir Caviar to down that rival by a nose in a career-best 1:54.1. Sing Jesse Sing closed inside for third. Jason Robinson trains Ellisarro Hanover, a 4-year-old SJ’s Photo-Esmeralda Hanover gelding, for Robert Main. Dan Charlino drove four winners on the 15-race card.