from harness publicists across North America

Thursday’s (June 9) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Vernon Downs and Cal Expo.

Hidden Touch wins main event at Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY — Hidden Touch earned her initial Vernon Downs victory, and the lion’s share of a $10,000 purse, in Thursday night’s main event at the central New York harness track.

Fotowon photo

Hidden Touch (#7) was a narrow winner in the distaff Open at Vernon.

John Cummings, Jr. did the steering for trainer Megan Wilson in the week’s Open feature for female pacers as Hidden Touch ($19.80) drafted along behind the pacesetting She’s Everything until the stretch drive, and then got up in a photo to nip the mile-cutter by a head in 1:54.

It was the fifth score this season and the 35th all-time for the productive 8-year-old bay, who is owned by Claude Bourgeois. The tight tally increased the Cambest mare’s career winnings to more than $411,000.

The streaking side-wheeler Rosa Villa stretched her victory skein to four, longest at the 22-program meeting, and became the season’s first five-time local winner after a 1:54.2 performance for driver Frank Davis, trainer Dee Johnson and the Donald Stockwell/Steven Guido partnership in Thursday’s second session. It marked the 20th lifetime tally for the 8-year-old daughter of The Panderosa, who was claimed after the race for $4,800 by Brian Green of Leicester, Mass.

Rick Plano, who recently arrived with his stable from California, earned his first two victories at the Downs in 2011, scoring with the trotter It’s A Diamond (1:59.3) and pacer Albagold (1:57.2).

— Jim Moran

Cal Expo
Conditioned-claiming pacers, racing for a purse of $3,200, were featured at Cal Expo on Thursday night, in which Yiannoulas Boy upset for the hot handed Luke Plano. Owned by Pamala Dunneback-Quirie and trained by Richard Dunneback, the gelding won by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.2, equaling a lifetime best. Myra’s Hiho (Lemoyne Svendsen) finished in second and Marlin Hanover finished one length farther back in third.