from Harness Publicists across North America

Thursday’s (September 10) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows, Saratoga Gaming and Raceway and Monticello Raceway.

Hidden Viggorish, Tom’s OK Lady take top Meadows trots

Meadow Lands, PA — World champion Hidden Viggorish took on the boys again and humbled them again as she captured the $27,500 Preferred Handicap Trot on Thursday at The Meadows.

Leaving from post eight, Brian Zendt allowed Hidden Viggorish to settle in sixth before moving off the pylons the first time by the stands. The 6-year-old daughter of SJ’s Caviar-Tia Maria then effortlessly sustained an uncovered bid that wore down the leader, Master Begonia. Hidden Viggorish defeated Master Begonia by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:54.2, with Primo Spur third.

Bill Zendt trains and Harmony Spring Stable owns Hidden Viggorish, who extended her career bankroll to $520,254.

Post eight proved little impediment for Tom’s OK Lady, as well. She sailed to the lead for Dave Palone in the $27,500 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Trot and never was seriously challenged, scoring in 1:55.3. Charged Freight was 1-3/4 lengths back in second, with Nickie K third.

Ron Burke trains Tom’s OK Lady for Burke Racing Stable, Bethann Palone, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and M1 Stable. The 6-year-old daughter of Inquirer-This Gal’s OK won for the 38th time in 87 lifetime starts.

Palone drove four winners — three for Burke — on the 14-race card.

— Evan Pattak

Coppola wins five at Saratoga

Saratoga Springs, NY — Even though the weather is starting to feel like fall in Saratoga, it is still summer and that is good news for Saratoga Gaming and Raceway’s leading driver, Frank Coppola, Jr., who has had a monstrous summer at the Spa.

Dave Oxford photo

The Girl Can Bet was one of five winners for driver Frank Coppola, Jr.

Coming off a record breaking season for wins in 2008 with 321, Coppola has picked up right where he left off this season and recorded another handful of wins on the Thursday card.

After finishing second with Donna J in the opener, Coppola went on a run and in only seven drives on the night, the 49-year-old reinsman registered five wins, a second and a third. Another huge night in another huge year for Coppola.

Coppola even picked up an extra drive. While not slated to drive in the tenth race, he wound up getting the call on The Girl Can Bet and piloted the filly to a front running win, her third in a row for trainer Sam Schillaci.

— Mike Sardella

Trotting colts featured in New York Bred Late Closers

Monticello, NY — Three $12,700 divisions of the New York-bred late closers for sophomore trotting colts were presented at Monticello Raceway on Thursday afternoon and when the dust had settled Marion Marawar and Nowerland Nathan were winners on the betting card while Stueben Paul was victorious in a non-wagering contest.

Kyle DiBenedetto drove Marion Manawar to a 2:03.3 triumph while Chris Lems and Nowerland Nathan stopped the timer in 2:04.4. Steuben Paul, with Jimmy Marohn, Jr. at the controls, turned in the fastest late closer time with a 2:02.3 victory.

Geri Schwarz photo

The field rallied but Marion Manawar held on for a head victory.

In their split Kyle DiBenedetto sent Marion Manawar to the front from post position three and they raced unchallenged most of the way. However, at the top of the stretch company came and though I Believe I Believe and Prestigiousvictory took dead aim at the leader they ran out of racetrack as Marion Manawar held on for a head victory over I Believe I Believe. Prestigiousvictory was just a head farther back in third place.

Marion Manawar’s victory was the gelding’s first of the season. He is owned by Bill Mulligan.

Nowerland Nathan got away in second place as the field headed to the quarter pole and Lems kept the gelding there until the three-quarters. At that point he moved Nowerland Nathan alongside the pacesetter Barron Ritch (Francis Raia II) but when the colts straightened for home Nowerland Nathan forged to the lead and went on to a three length victory. Sue’s Dream Boy rallied from fifth at the top of the lane to be second for Kyle DiBenedetto and Lombomba Blue Chip took home the show dough for Bill Bailey. Barron Ritch faded and finished fourth.

It was the fifth seasonal victory for Nowerland Nathan, who is trained by Jody Weidman for Paul and Pauline Nower.

In the non-betting division, Jimmy Marohn, Jr. hustled Steuben Paul to the lead from the four hole. From there they played catch me if you can and nobody could — especially when Steuben Paul kicked in a :30 second final stanza en route to a 3-1/2 length triumph over Majestic Lad and Bill Bailey. Sarkozy finished third for Jordan Stratton.

Owned by Mary Fisher and David Fisher, Stueben Paul notched his sixth seasonal triumph.

— John Manzi