by harness racing publicists across North America

Saturday’s (Oct. 8) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Shenandoah Downs, Pocono, Vernon Downs and Saratoga.

Igotyourcrazy comes from last to win a thriller at Shenandoah Downs

Woodstock, VA — Igotyourcrazy came outside from fifth in the final turn then passed all four front-steppers late in the stretch en route to a thrilling conditioned race victory at Shenandoah Downs on Saturday (Oct. 8). Reinsman Roger Plante Jr. directed the come-from-behind effort and with two wins on the day, pulled into a second place tie with Frank Milby in the driver standings with one day to go in the inaugural meet.

Dee Leftwich photo

Igotyourcrazy mounts a furious rally to capture the featured event on Saturday at Shenandoah Downs.

Igotyourcrazy was last at the half-mile among the six horses competing, but stayed within four lengths of the leader, Camturo Beach. Plante positioned the Del Richards Jr. trainee perfectly moving forward and was part of a four-wide contingent coming out of the turn. The 7-year-old Cam’s Card Shark gelding crossed in 2:00.4, 1-1/4 lengths over betting choice Sparkin Your Fire. The winner, out of Allamerican Raquel by Life Sign, won his 15th career start for owner Eric Decker of Milford, Del.

The meet’s leading driver and trainer each added another win to their category-leading portfolios Saturday. Driver Tyler Shehan directed Whiskery to victory in the day’s finale and trainer Gerry Longo reached the winner’s circle with Caress of Steel earlier in the card. Shehan boosted his win total to 14, three ahead of Plante and Frank Milby, while Longo extended his lead among conditioners. Longo enters Sunday (Oct. 9) with nine triumphs while the next closest is Herman Hagerman with six.

Sunday’s final day of racing features a 13-race card, free admission and free $5 betting vouchers to all fans. Gates open at 11 a.m. and first post is at 1:00 p.m.

— by Darrell Wood

Pocono

Allbeef N Nobull and Bourbon Bay, which sounds like a very good dinner, were the winners of the $15,500 featured events on the pace and trot, respectively, on Saturday night (Oct. 8) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono. Allbeef N Nobull swung four-wide headstretch from third-over. Still some 3 1/2 lengths out approaching mid-stretch, he took advantage of a big late kick and a helping tailwind to run down YS Lotus in the final strides to post a neck tally in 1:51.2. The son of McArdle showed precociousness since his earliest racetrack days, where on July 9 of his freshman year he debuted with a 1:59.2 win at the Martinville Ill. Fair. He has continued that ability to run his bankroll to $288,872 one start shy of his fiftieth race, winning tonight for driver Mile Simons, trainer Ron Burke, and the partnership of Burke Racing Stable LLC, Donald Eamon, Howard Taylor, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. In contrast to the hard late charge Allbeef N Nobull put in to gain his victory, the Sand Vic gelding Bourbon Bay had an easier time in taking his feature, leaving in :27 to discourage any early challengers, continuing on quickly and hitting the wire in the clear while posting a time of 1:52.3. Anthony Napolitano had sulky duty behind the winner of $238,048 for trainer Åke Svanstedt, who assumed the trotter’s training four starts back and already has rung up two wins and a third with him for Our Horse Cents Stables, JT45, J&T Silva Stables LLC, and Rossie Smith. The Napolitano brothers were dominant at Pocono Saturday, with Anthony recording five victories and George Jr., one ahead of his brother atop the local driving standings, visiting Victory Lane four times. Jim Marohn Jr. continued a hot recent hand with three scores; the evening’s other two winners were driven by Mike Simons and Eric Carlson, and the way the aforementioned trio were going, it may not be surprising to learn that Carlson and Simons handled the two longest-priced horses of the night.

Vernon Downs

The Kellogg Racing Stables, LLC’s St Lads Moonwalk ($3.80) made his Miracle Mile debut a winning one, capturing Saturday evening’s (Oct. 8) featured $7,900 pacing event at Vernon Downs in decisive fashion. The 3-year-old Mach Three colt enjoyed success in the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Series through the summer, earning his two most recent preliminary-event wins from off the pace. Tonight, Chris Lems put him in play from the outset, working clear of Major War (Truman Gale) after a :26.2 first quarter, rating a :57 middle half-mile, and sprinting clear of the competition upon cornering for home. St Lads Moonwalk evaded his three foes by 4-1/4 lengths, prevailing in 1:51.2 in his first start for trainer Jackie Rousse. Modern Gesture (Fern Paquet, Jr.) captured second off a conservative stalking journey, and Flying Cowboy (Mike Merton) stayed even for third while Major War faded in the home straight off a failed bid from the pocket. For St Lads Moonwalk, the win was the 12th of his fledgling career. For Lems, the win was the cornerstone of a driving grand slam following his five-win night on Friday. Lems additionally paired up with Gary Gibson trainee Some Major Beach ($4.80, 1:54.2) as well as Jordan Hope trainees Flashy Trick ($3.90, 1:53.1) and Hurrikane Bud K ($10.60, 1:54.1). Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Thursday evening (Oct. 13) evening; post time is 6:45 p.m.

Saratoga

Nesh Cruiser (Yankee Cruiser) parlayed the pocket ride to victory in the Saturday (Oct. 8) feature at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Leading driver Frank Coppola Jr. piloted the 4-year old pacer in the evening’s $9,500 top level condition race on a Saturday evening in which the regularly featured Open Pace was not contested. Nesh Cruiser sat the pocket to the favored Sassy Hanover (Billy Dobson) who faltered late after enjoying an easy lead throughout. Nesh Cruiser pounced in the stretch and stopped the timer in 1:53.1, matching the lifetime mark that he set earlier this year. Espen De Vie (Jim Devaux) shook loose for second while Sassy Hanover had to settle for third. Coppola, who has surged into a big lead in the driver standings in the last month, piloted the winner for a red hot Kyle Spagnola stable. Nesh Cruiser upset at odds of 11-1 and led an exacta and triple that paid $267.50 and $$350.50, respectively. Live racing continues at Saratoga on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 9) with a matinee beginning at 12:15 p.m.