from Harness Publicists across North America

Wednesday’s (March 11) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Dover Downs, The Meadows, and Pompano Park.

JM Vangogh paints winning picture in Dover trot

Dover, DE — JM Vangogh, a $1.7 million career winner, rallied to win the $32,000 Open Trot at Dover Downs on Wednesday.

Fotowon photo

JM Vangogh held off Joey The Jet JT in the Open Trot at Dover Downs.

After a torrid head-to-head duel over the last quarter-mile with Joey The Jet JT, JM Vangogh came back in mid-stretch to notch a 1:55.2 victory in the top trot of the week. Corey Callahan drove the 9-year-old son of Earl-Queen’s Tut to his first win of the year for owners Paul Chambers and Laurieta Mello. Tom Jackson guided Joey The Jet JT to a second place finish with Twelve Seventeen and Jack Parker finishing third in the eight-horse field. JM Vangogh has now banked $1,756,327 in his career. The win was the fourth on the card for Callahan.

Eddie Davis, Jr. drove J&E Stable’s Go Nano Go into the lead on the first turn and they led the rest of a 1:56 mile to win the $17,500 sub-featured trot. Jon Win (Vic Kirby) shadowed the leader the rest of the way to finish second. Letmetellusumthin (Callahan) took a shot at the leader after the three-quarters, then held on to finish third. The win was the first of the year for the Janet Davis-conditioned Balanced Image-Cool Reins gelding, now a career winner of $313,170.

— Marv Bachrad

In Focus Hanover goes back to back at The Meadows

Meadow Lands, PA — In Focus Hanover survived a demanding first quarter and a stiff backside challenge on Thursday at The Meadows to capture her second straight $25,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Trot.

Ed Hensley sent In Focus Hanover to the lead from post seven, but it took a contested quarter in :27.4 to get her there. Dynamite Diva, returning from a three-month layoff, went after the leader with an uncovered bid. They battled that way through the lane, with In Focus Hanover prevailing by a nose in 1:56. Whotookwhat finished third.

Charles Myers trains In Focus Hanover, a 7-year-old daughter of S J’s Photo-Illusion Of Virtue who has won four of her last five starts, for Joseph and Mila Dolinar.

Tony Hall drove five winners on the 13-race card.

— Evan Pattak

Lewie’s Lulu plays merry tune at Isle Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Lewie’s Lulu ($11.00) was able to play a merry tune on Wednesday at the Isle Pompano Park as the 7-year-old mare ended a ten-race losing streak, capturing the $8,500 featured trot.

Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith

Lewie’s Lulu held off Ferraras Girl to win the $8,500 featured trot at the Isle Pompano Park in 1:57.3.

The seventh race feature started off with Tropical Bay (Dan Clements) going right to the front from post six and leading the field to the opening quarter in :28.2 with Lewie’s Lulu and driver Andy Santeramo sitting the perfect pocket trip. After an easy :30 second breather to the half-mile pole in :58.2, race favorite Pure Jesse (Kevin Wallis) came first-over to challenge with Blushfire (Richard Simard) following the outside flow. They pressed the leaders to the three-quarter marker in 1:28.1.

Then as the field started down the stretch, Santeramo waited and then as Pure Jesse began to fade, pulled from the pocket and came right after Tropical Bay and passed him by, then held off a late charge by Ferraras Girl (Raymond Vizzi) to win by a neck in 1:57.3. Tropical Bay was third.

Owned by the Joel Benson Stables and trained by Julie Bishop, Lewie’s Lulu is sired by Armbro Rotary and was one of only two mares in the field.

The staff and management at the Isle Pompano Park sends its condolences to harness driver Kevin Wallis and his family on the recent loss of Wallis’ mother. Mary Adeleine (Jones) Wallis passed away Tuesday at age 88. Funeral services are in Granton, Ontario, on Friday.

— Steve Wolf