by harness publicists across North America

Thursday’s (July 29) Racing Roundup features results stories from Scioto Downs, The Meadows, Saratoga Gaming and Raceway and Vernon Downs.

I D K beats freshman maiden pacers

Columbus, OH — I D K broke his maiden in convincing fashion on Thursday night at Scioto Downs, winning gate-to-wire for Jack Dailey in 1:57.1 in a 2-year-old pace.

Scioto Downs photo

I D K and driver Jack Dailey lead Cam’s Tuck and driver David Myers past the grandstand en route to a 1:57.1 maiden victory. Cam’s Tuck dogged the leader’s steps all the way to the wire.

Dailey sent the Stand Forever gelding to the fore at the start and never looked back. Second favorite Cruise Thru broke stride soon after the start and trailed the field throughout the mile.

David Myers put Cam’s Tuck (Cam’s Card Shark) in behind I D K as the leader coasted to an easy opening half-mile in :59. Then Dailey discouraged any heroics in the final half-mile as I D K stepped the back half in :58.1. Cam’s Tuck held for second while favored Sectionline Barack (Art Major) rallied from far back to get third from post 10.

I D K was making his second career start for trainer Charles Ross of Lebanon, who owns him in partnership with Douglas Ross of Cincinnati.

Drivers Chris Page and Dan Noble continued their duel for the driving title as Page picked up three wins and Noble triumphed in a pair of races. Page now has 68 wins and Noble has 63.

— Dean Hoffman

The Meadows
Dissed at 23-1, Sir Caviar found late trotting room and blazed by Rembrandt Spur in deep stretch to pull off the shocker in Thursday’s $22,500 Preferred Handicap Trot at The Meadows. Sir Caviar won five straight races — none of them in the Preferred — at The Meadows between May 24 and July 10, only to see his streak snapped by a poor performance at Mohawk that had players looking elsewhere. And with Sir Caviar apparently trapped in and Rembrandt Spur, a multiple track record holder, in gear, the outcome seemed sealed. But Brian Zendt angled Sir Caviar off the pylons for clearance, and the 4-year-old SJ’s Caviar-Sierra Flower gelding did the rest, downing Rembrandt Spur by a length in a career-best 1:54.2. Master Begonia finished third. Leslie Zendt trains Sir Caviar and owns with Bill Zendt. The co-featured $22,500 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Pace also brought an upset, as 15-1 Palazzo Princess went from worst to first with a pylon-skimming trip for Eric Ledford to notch her third consecutive victory. The 4-year-old daughter of Jate Lobell-Hawaiian Exotica scored in 1:52.4, three-quarters of a length better than the rallying Francie’s Dream, while Forever Ivy saved show. Paul Kennedy trains Palazzo Princess for Paint Creek Farms. Elsewhere on the card, Don’t Blink captured a non-winners of three trot in 1:57.2, fastest mile this year by a 2-year-old trotting filly on a five-eighths-mile track. Dave Palone drove for trainer Kris Rickert and owner Dale Wareham. Tony Hall drove three winners on the 14-race program.

Saratoga Gaming and Raceway
Park Avenue secured her second Open win of the season at Saratoga on Thursday night behind a big three wide move in the $16,500 feature. Driver Jordan Derue moved the 9-2 Park Avenue three wide just past the five-eighths as she put the swoop to the group before edging away late to register the 1:55 win in the Open for distaff pacers. The victory was the sixth of the season for the Amber Buter trained 5-year-old who moved her record to three for six since coming to Saratoga in June. Pebble Run (Jim Devaux) burst onto the scene late to finish second while Slomotion (Billy Dobson) earned the show spot.

Vernon Downs
Newcomer Slimsplace had to bob and weave her way through the homestretch before coming away with a 1:54.3 decision in Thursday night’s $9,000 featured eighth event at Vernon Downs. Hemmed in fourth along the inside entering the final quarter, Slimsplace found racing room in the final furlong and spurted to a three length decision over Pickmeamerigold in the week’s top contest for female pacers. As second choice in the wagering, she paid $6.40 to win. Josh Marks, the meet’s leading reinsman with 87 victories, did the driving for top trainer Tracy Brainard, who picked up her 38th triumph, as the sophomore daughter of Artsplace-She’s Beachy secured her fourth season’s score and sixth lifetime tally. Jeffrey Gillis and Ellen Ott own the career winner of $85,169. Chris Lems chalked up his eighth double in 42 programs after finishing first with the pacer Night’s All Night (1:54.3) and trotter Aunt Ruby (2:00). Vernon’s former provisional driving champ ranks third on this year’s driving chart with 44 victories.