Racing Roundup: Katie’s Red Rose cops Monticello trotting feature
December 2, 2009,from Harness Publicists across North America
Wednesday’s (Dec. 2) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Monticello Raceway, The Meadows, Dover Downs and Pompano Park.
Katie’s Red Rose cops Monticello trotting feature
Monticello, NY — For the second time in as many days a horse from the Mark Ford barn has captured Monticello Raceway’s weekly feature. On Tuesday, December 1, Keystone Rideau won the Open Pace and on Wednesday afternoon, December 2, another horse trained by Ford copped the Open Handicap Trot.
Geri Schwarz photo
Katie’s Red Rose was a 2:01.2 winner in the Monticello feature.
Katie’s Red Rose, a stately 5-year-old chestnut mare, overcame her outside position to score a 2:01.2 victory against the best trotters on the grounds for driver Mike MacNeill.
Assigned the eight hole by the racing office MacNeil sent the daughter of Chip Chip Hooray to the front and they coasted to the lead just before the quarter-mile time flashed :29.3. They traveled unchallenged by the half in 1:00.2 and still had an easy time of it as they rounded the clubhouse turn for the second time.
As the field headed for the three-quarters Bruce Aldrich, Jr. was the first to move with Crestwood Patriot and they rallied alongside the leader at which point MacNeill pulled the earplugs on Katie’s Red Rose. The mare then trotted away from her challengers but in the lane her stride shortened and company came but luckily for MacNeill and Katie’s Red Rose the others ran out of racetrack. Buck ID and Zeke Parker were rallying in the deep stretch but the wire came too soon for them and they finished a half-length behind the winner. Danijill, the 3-year-old filly who had a good season in the New York Sire Stakes this year, was also charging at the end along the pylons and finished third.
MacNeil, a newcomer here from the Canadian Maritimes, was a late driver change and he drove the mare perfectly.
“I looked at the (racing) program and saw that she races good in front so I took her to the lead after the start,” MacNeil said as he recalled some events in the race. “But as we headed to the three-quarters she was sitting in my lap and I wanted her to go on so I had to pull the (ear) plugs earlier than I wanted to. And in the stretch I was definitely looking for (the finish) wire.”
Wednesday’s race marked the first time that Katie’s Red Rose competed at the Mighty M. She came in from Saratoga Raceway and her victory was her third consecutive. Owned by Gates Mills Stable and Richard Paltani, it was the ninth seasonal triumph for Katie’s Red Rose who now has just shy of $100,000 in season’s earnings.
— John Manzi
Master Begonia gets Lightning Lane win at the Meadows
Washington, PA — Master Begonia worked out a textbook pocket trip Wednesday at The Meadows to capture the $27,500 Preferred Handicap Trot, his 11th victory in 20 starts this year.
Dave Palone hustled Master Begonia to the lead, where the 6-year-old gelded son of Master Lavec-Shimma Begonia settled behind early leader Heza Challenger, who was hard used to make the front from post eight.
As the back markers swarmed in, Palone pointed Master Begonia to the Lightning Lane, where he held off the determined charge of DC Northern to defeat that rival by a half-length in 1:56.2. Voila American raced well first over in the slop to earn the show dough.
Ron Burke trains Master Begonia, who now boasts a lifetime bankroll of $250,972 for Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
— Evan Pattak
Looking Hanover looking best in Open Handicap Trot
Dover, DE — Yannick Gingras made a quick round trip visit to Dover Downs pay off as Looking Hanover scored an impressive 1:54.3 triumph over a track rated “sloppy” in the $26,000 Open Handicap Trot on a rainy Wednesday.
Fotowon photo
Looking Hanover and Yannick Gingras were 1:54.3 winners in the Open Handicap Trot.
In the feature, it appeared that Lolique would be hard to beat after John Wagner jetted out of fifth to overtake front-trotting Allmar Surprise (Vic Kirby) at the three-quarters, but Gingras moved Looking Hanover out of fourth and exploded heading to the final turn to catch Lolique as the field turned for home. It was no contest in the stretch with Looking Hanover making up for two straight seconds to win by three lengths. Lolique was second best while Tony Morgan and Man About Town closed with a rush to finish third.
Looking Hanover is an altered son of Muscles Yankee-Lady Bar owned by Gingras and Dawn Gannon. He has now won six times this season and been in the money in 20 of his 30 starts while banking $135,870.
Corey Callahan took no prisoners in guiding Chosen Voyageur to a convincing 1:55.2 victory in the $18,500 Winners Over Trot. It was Callahan’s fourth winner on the card. He opened up a four length lead on the backstretch and won by himself for the ninth time this season. The Balanced Image-Ms Vic gelding gave co-owner and trainer Dylan Davis a double. Tamara Williams is also a co-owner. Fivedollarsforsox (George Dennis) closed to take second in front of Spunky Vic (Ron Pierce).
— Marv Bachrad
Five straight for Yankee Manny
Pompano Beach, FL — Owner Tony Tambolleo recently got a great gift for his 68th birthday. A trotter he acquired last Spring, Yankee Manny, was suddenly cured of gaiting woes and found his stride. He’s now reeled off a five race win streak at The Isle Pompano Park.
Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith
Yankee Manny won his fifth straight race on Wednesday at The Isle Pompano Park.
The 3-year-old Yankee Glide-Yankee Minuet gelding was at his closing best again on the Wednesday card to keep his win streak alive and record a life’s mark of 1:58.2. Richard Lauzon trains Yankee Manny and this score by Yankee Manny was part of a four win performance by Bruce Ranger on the mid-week card in South Florida on a sultry 79 degree night.
Yankee Manny tracked the cover of CSI What’s My Name with Wally Hennessey for the final half to come from far back in the pack to get up in time again. Backbackbackitup with Tom Sells finished third in the $4,500 conditioned trot test.
Trainer Stephane Bardier, operating the Florida stable of top Canadian trainer Richard Moreau, recorded his first double of the meet. Winning starters sent out by Bardier on Wednesday evening included Paragon, a past winner of Woodbine’s Cam Fella Series in 1:53.4 and former Rideau Carleton competitor Dakota Noc in 1:54. Both won $4,000 conditioned tests with Ranger in the bike.
Also recording his first training double of the meet was Rodney Grady. His winners were 3-year-old claiming pacer My Heart’s Cry and $4,000 claiming pacer Town Bullet.
— Frank Salive