from harness publicists across North America

Saturday’s (July 6) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Vernon Downs, The Meadows, Tioga Downs, Running Aces and Buffalo Raceway.

JK Panache produces 3rd sub-1:50 mile at Vernon

Vernon, NY — The swift-striding JK Panache produced his third sub-1:50 mile of the 33-program meeting at Vernon Downs with Saturday night’s 1:49.3 Open pace triumph.

Francis Blazer photo

JK Panache continued his winning ways on Saturday night at Vernon Downs, taking the open pace in 1:49.3.

JK Panache, who lowered the track’s record for 4-year-old pacing geldings to 1:59.1 on June 22, and also posted a local victory in 1:49.3 on June 9, raced like he was the best, and proved it with a front-ending 1:49.3 triumph in Saturday’s $10,000 ninth race.

Saturday’s two-length tally over the wagering favorite, Northern Companion, resulted in the fifth current win and 13th lifetime tally for the bay son of Art Major-Paris Hanover. Jimmy Whittemore did the teaming for trainer Dave Dewhurst, who owns the career-winner of $135,486 along with Philip K. Hale.

Former Vernon driving champ Whittemore went on to capture Saturday’s final race with Majestic Splash and record his fifth double of the track’s 60th season.

Current top reinsman Rick Plano picked up three first-place finishes during the 12-race card, while drivers Roman Lopez and Brian Connor each earned two trips to Vernon’s winner’s circle.

— Jim Moran

The Meadows
All Heart Gal yielded the lead to Magic Starlight early but brushed by her rival in the Lightning Lane to capture Saturday’s $22,500 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Pace at The Meadows in a career-best 1:51.2. Magic Starlight discouraged most of the field with a 27.1 third quarter, and even All Heart Gal was gapping in the pocket. But the 6-year-old daughter of Allamerican Ingot-Nine Of Hearts found another gear for Brian Zendt and defeated Magic Starlight by 3/4 lengths. Ole Miss was third. Angela Porfilio trains All Heart Gal, who now boasts $493,536 in lifetime earnings, for Heritage Stables. Aaron Merriman drove four winners and Zendt three on the 12-race card. Monday’s program at The Meadows features six divisions of a $120,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series stake for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers. First post is 12:55 PM.

Tioga Downs
Tui returned to the winner’s circle on Saturday night in the $16,000 open trot at Tioga Downs. Leaving from post position five in a field of nine, Greg Merton settled Tui in early as Macs Bad Boy (Brandon Simpson) took the field by the quarter in 27.3. As the field passed the fans and the stands for the first time, Merton moved Tui to the front and controlled the fractions of the race through a 56.1 half and 1:24.3 three-quarters. Around the final turn, Tui opened up on the field with ease and cruised to victory in 1:53.2. It was the second win in three starts this year at Tioga Downs for the 5-year old daughter of Windsong’s Legacy – Four Starz Glide. Don Wiest trains and co-owns Tui with Edward Kimmel of Pennsylvania. I’m Fabulous (Jim Taggart Jr.) got loose late to finish second, while Bound For Fame (Corey Braden) got third. Greg Merton posted a driving double on the night’s nine race card.

Running Aces
Rick Magee drove Rearin And Ready to his 600th career driving win on Saturday night. Currently second in the dash standings at Running Aces, Magee is a former seasonal driving champion and has been a top three driver in each of the track’s six seasons. Rearin And Ready is owned by the Van Otterloo Stables and trained by David Flinn, a combination Magee has notched scores of victories for over the past six years.

Buffalo Raceway
Western Alumni, a 5-year-old Western Hanover gelding, won the $11,000 Open Pace in a season’s best 1:54.2 for owner Tammy Lonkey, of Angola, NY, here at Buffalo Raceway Saturday night (July 6). It was the fifth win this year for Western Alumni, who has been knocking at the door in Open company. Western Alumni ($13.80), driven by reinsman Ray Fisher, Jr., took the lead from post two, and set all the fractions in the race, :28.2, :57.1, and 1:25.3 to the three-quarter pole. A :28.4 last quarter-mile put the winner 1-1/4 lengths ahead of second place finisher What the Sheik (Shawn McDonough) at the finish line. Naked News (Jim McNeight) came in third. Trained by Jerry Nugent, Jr., the $5,500 share of the winning purse put Western Alumni’s season’s earnings at $38,472 and $123,979 lifetime. Sportsman ($9.40), owned and driven by reinsman John Cummings, Jr., recorded the fastest pacing mile of the meet, blistering around the Hamburg oval in 1:53.2 for trainer Megan Wilson. Cummings put the 8-year-old Camluck gelding on the lead, and he took no prisoners en route to his fourth win of the year in sixteen attempts.