from harness publicists across North America

Thursday’s (Dec. 30) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Dover Downs and Cal Expo.

Iwannarace Hanover takes Thursday Dover feature

Dover, DE — Iwannarace Hanover made good use of leaving from post one as Ben Stafford, Jr. piloted a 1:54.4 victory in the $14,500 featured pace on Thursday at Dover Downs.

While Curb Your Z Tam (Mike Cole) and Here Comes Brandon (Tim Curtin) raced side-by-side from the backstretch until late in the stretch, Stafford used the passing lane to rush past the battlers nearing the wire to record his fourth win of the campaign for his dad, Ben Stafford, and John Heckler, bringing his 2010 bankroll to $52,918.

Curb Your Z Tam had just enough to hold on for second, nipping Total Shark (Corey Callahan), who was streaking from well back to finish third.

— Marv Bachrad

Cal Expo
He was stepping up in class, plus his fitness was a question mark, but that didn’t stop Big Baller from a solid win. A half dozen trotters, four in on a condition, and two in for a claiming tag, were featured at Cal Expo on Thursday night for a purse of $4,300, in which Big Baller won his third in the last four. Bred and owned by the Desomer Stables, the Vickie Desomer trained sophomore won ($11.80) by 1-1/4 lengths for driver Steve Desomer in 2:00.3. Jam And Jelly finished in second and Putoneonnetformom finished just a nose farther back in third.