from harness publicists around North America

Thursday’s (Jan. 19) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows, Dover Downs and Monticello Raceway.

Jessesjo wins fourth straight at Meadows

Washington, PA — Jessesjo won his fourth consecutive race in Thursday’s $22,500 Preferred Handicap Trot at The Meadows, but he had to rally late and survive an inquiry to secure the victory.

Trapped inside at the top of the stretch, Jessesjo charged through the Lightning Lane for Dave Palone and edged the first-over Springboard by a nose in 1:55.1. Although Jessesjo was off stride late, the judges ruled the break occurred after the wire and did not disturb the order. Classical Man finished third.

Ron Burke trains Jessesjo, a 5-year-old Jailhouse Jesse-Boston Blaze gelding, for Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.

Palone piloted five winners — three for Burke — while Brett Miller enjoyed a driving four-bagger on the 15-race card.

— Evan Pattak

Dover Downs
Struttin Conway, a lightly raced 4-year-old, continues to make winning strides, chalking up his third straight victory in the $13,500 4&5-year-old trot feature on Thursday, Jan. 19 at Dover Downs. With Tony Morgan at the controls, Struttin Conway eased away third and stayed there until moving out and finding a hole behind leader Hollywood Rusty (Brad Hanners). Reaching the passing lane, Morgan drove the Conway Hall-Bright Life horse along the inside and quickly shot into the lead, completing a 1:56.3 mile with a :29.3 final panel. Chasing Paper and trainer Josh Green own Struttin Conway. Hollywood Rusty was a competitive second. Photorama (Matt Kakaley) finished third. Corey Callahan extended his meet-leading win total to 137 with a three-win day Thursday.

Monticello Raceway
Mike Forte posted a hat trick on the Thursday card. One of those victories was with Imposter A in the third leg of the Macedonio Pacing Series. The Australian-bred 9-year-old gelding was sent off at odds of 1-9 and scored an easy four length triumph in a 2:00.2 clocking. Imposter A started from the pole position and was circled on the first turn but Forte quickly retook the lead and Imposter A paced unchallenged the rest of the mile and was an easy winner over JK Hooty and driver Jimmy Marohn. The victory was the third consecutive for the C & F Associates-owned pacer who is trained by Elisha Lafreniere. The Forte-Lafreniere connection was also victorious with Smarty Merit in a $10,000 claiming pace when Forte guided the Barbara Oppenheimer-owned 11-year-old Chief Marty gelding to a 1:59.4 victory over the Jimmy Marohn, Jr.-driven, Jezal Theory A. Forte’s third triumph on the Thursday card was the second consecutive behind Lew Miller’s trotter Wayfarer in a time of 2:04.4 when they turned back Thergosmyvacation and driver Bobby Pettito by a neck.