from Harness Publicists across North America

Tuesday’s (October 20) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Harrington Raceway, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, The Meadows, Colonial Downs and Monticello Raceway.

Keystone Rhythm scores mild upset as Wolfenden wins five

Harrington, DE — Russell and Elaine MacKinnon’s Keystone Rhythm ($12, Ross Wolfenden) earned her fourth win of the year Tuesday with a 1:55 triumph in the $20,000 Mares Junior Open Pace at Harrington Raceway.

Fotowon photo

Keystone Rhythm was a narrow winner in 1:55 in the Mares Junior Open.

The 5-year-old Camotion mare received a perfect pocket trip behind pacesetter Delightful Diva, who set fractions of :28, :57.4 and 1:26.1.

Wolfenden and Keystone Rhythm utilized the passing lane late to grab the win over VC Atom N and Delightful Diva.

It was one of five winners on the Tuesday program by Wolfenden.

— Matt Sparacino

Stage Show wins two straight at Pocono Downs

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Stage Show didn’t set any world or track records but did make it two straight Tuesday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in the featured trot of the week.

Leaving from the seven post in the nine-horse field of the $30,000 Open Handicap Trot, Kevin Sizer started to make his move by coming first over with Stage Show before the half-mile with Scorpion Moon (Eric Goodell) leading the way. The half was clicked off in :56.4 after Nicole’s Promise (Tom Jackson), Tom’s OK Lady (Greg Grismore) and Scorpion Moon slugged it out early with the quarter being timed in :27.2.

Stage Show started to pull away from the field and led at the third split in the race with a third quarter time of 1:25.1. State Show won easily with the clock reading 1:54.1. Super Chuck (Joe Pavia, Jr.) closed for second with third place going to Ginger Tree Jimmy (Larry Stalbaum).

In the 4-year-old Broadway Hall mare’s race here on October 13, Stage Show left the one post and set a new world and track record for a 4-year-old trotting mare on a five-eighths-mile track with a time of 1:53.1.

— John Zimich

Meirs Hanover wins fastest Meadows series split

Washington, PA — Meirs Hanover engaged the 8-5 favorite Show Topper down the backside, then wore him down in the stretch to score in 1:53.4, fastest division of the Watson Provost Memorial Series for freshman colt and gelding pacers Tuesday at The Meadows.

Lap Hanover and Tidewater Teddy, each a two-time winner in the Provost, also captured $12,000 splits in the series’ second leg, setting up a contentious $20,000-added final next week.

Dave Palone asked Meirs Hanover for speed for early position before calling on him again to pursue Show Topper, the Michigan Sires Stake divisional champion, with an uncovered bid. In only his fourth career start, the son of Artsplace-Mary Mattgalane responded willingly but erratically, giving ground around the far turn before powering past in the lane.

Meirs Hanover downed Show Topper by a length, with Bonners Creek third. Brian Brown trains Meirs Hanover, who shaved 2.4 seconds from his lifetime mark, for David Van Dusen, Michael Cimaglio and Strollin Stable.

In the $27,500 Preferred Handicap Pace, Lookout Hanover vaulted past the leaders with a strong first-over move and drew off to victory in 1:50.1, 2-1/4 lengths better than 4-5 favorite Atochia. Early leader Bettor Design crossed the wire fourth but was promoted to third following the break before the wire by third-place finisher War Boots. The time was a tick off Edison Hanover’s track record for 4-year-old pacing stallions.

Eric Ledford piloted the son of The Panderosa-Ladyking, who now has career earnings of $366,434, for trainer Kevin McDermott and owner Fran Azur.

Ledford and Dick Stillings each drove four winners on the 16-race card.

— Evan Pattak

Pansexual dominates Martin Memorial Series at Colonial

New Kent, VA — Pansexual continued to dominate the Horace Martin Memorial Pacing Series by gaining his third consecutive win in the $5,000 stake on Tuesday evening at Colonial Downs.

Colonial Downs photo

Pansexual was a 1:23 winner in the three-quarter-mile dash.

Racing Secretary Craig Andow creatively made each leg a different distance, and Pansexual has had no problem whether the race is short or long. After winning at the five-eighths-mile distance by a length and even more convincingly at a full mile, the 7-year-old The Panderosa gelding had no difficulty at three-quarters of a mile on Tuesday.

Driver Chuck Perry unsurprisingly took Pansexual to the front, and his pacer triggered quarter panels of :26.4 and :55.3, then crossed comfortably in 1:23, three lengths in front of Honey Is That You. Western Duke finished third. Trainer Benjamin Gasque conditions Pansexual for John Dixon.

In other action Tuesday, Becky Zubkoff scored a training double with Joint Crusade in the finale and Bacon Hill Bandit in the fifth. With 16 wins now at Colonial this fall, she pulled into a tie with Charlie Dunavant atop the training standings.

Ron McLenaghan, a long time competitor at the New Kent oval, had one of his biggest wins ever, from a payoff perspective at least. The 55-year-old Providence Forge, Va. resident drove A Canuck Eh to an upset victory in the fourth race and the 7-year-old Albert Albert gelding paid $110.60 to win.

— Darrell Wood

Southbound Trucker scores again at Monticello

Monticello, NY — Southbound Trucker certainly deserves the accolade he’ll be receiving on Sunday, October 25, as Horse of the Year at Monticello Raceway during the 2009 racing campaign.

Geri Schwarz photo

Southbound Trucker cruised to his 11th victory against the best pacers on the grounds.

The 6-year-old Sharky Spur gelding just keeps truckin’ and on Tuesday, Southbound Trucker once again defeated the best pacers on the grounds in a time of 1:56.2 for driver Greg Merton.

Merton quickly angled Southbound Trucker to the pylons after they started from the six hole and they were in sixth position, some seven lengths off the leader, at the quarter pole. Merton waited until the three-eighths pole to move Southbound Trucker to the outside and they moved toward the pacesetter, Blueridge D’Bang, but were still some four lengths off the leader at the half.

At the three-quarters Southbound Trucker was still on the outside but he took the lead and kicked in a :28.3 final panel en route to his 11th victory of the year. Village Blizzard was second for Jimmy Taggart, Jr. while Mike Forte took home the show dough with Bilmar Rustler.

Southbound Trucker is somewhat of an iron horse. He’s been racing year-round for the past four seasons and on Tuesday it was the pacer’s 31st outing of the year. Last season he had 39 trips to post; during 2007 he had 47 starts; and in 2006 Southbound Trucker raced 36 times.

But in spite of all that racing his trainer Art Stamatien keeps Southbound Trucker in top form.

Still, Southbound Trucker did not have the confidence of the betting public, who sent him away odds of 9-1. He returned a $21.60 win payoff and he even paid $13.80 for place.

The pacer is owned by the trainer’s son, George Stamatien.

Also of note on the Tuesday afternoon card was a $174 win payoff by Cannae Arrow after he and driver Jimmy Shields snuck up the pylons to get the decision in a five-horse photo. Cannae Arrow also paid $53.50 for place and $32.60 for show.

— John Manzi