from harness publicists across North America

Wednesday’s (July 17) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Running Aces and Saratoga Casino and Raceway.

Keystone Swagger cops top trot at Running Aces

Columbus, MN — The $9,500 Open Trot produced a new winner for the fourth consecutive week on Wednesday night at Running Aces when Keystone Swagger (John DeLong) benefitted from a perfect pocket trip to win in 1:55.4, equaling the track record for older horses.

Dee Leftwich photo

The finish of the fifth race Wednesday night was as close as the driver and training standings at the midway point of the summer meet in Minnesota. In this $4,000 conditioned pace, Most Remarkable edged Stylish Rocket, Rich Native and Peanuts in a four-horse blanket finish.

The standard the son of Angus Hall tied was less than two hours old as Salutation Hanover (Nick Roland) had also stopped the teletimer in 1:55.4 in a $4,500 conditioned trot earlier in the program.

Keystone Swagger is owned by Dandy Farms and trained in Minnesota by Jim Ellison. It was just his eighth career triumph, but did increase his lifetime earnings to $212,000.

Silence Son (Craig Banks) was a game second in the Open Trot after cutting all the fractions and favored Shelby County (Moonie Svendsen) just nipped B C Lulu (Jason Ryan) for third.

With the 2013 summer meet just slightly more than half over, the driver and trainer standings at Running Aces are extremely tight and no one has emerged as a clear-cut favorite in either race.

On the drivers’ side, Jason Ryan and Rick Magee are deadlocked at the top with 30 victories each in 28 nights of racing. Luke Plano has 29, Nick Roland has 28, Steve Wiseman has 25 and John DeLong has 24.

Jason Ryan had a big week to move to the top of the conditioner standings with 16 trips to the winner’s circle from his stable. Close on his heels are David Flinn and Tim Brown with 15 each, then Don Sherman, Tim Maier and Nick Roland, all with 14.

Racing resumes Saturday and Sunday nights this weekend with a 50 cent Pick-Six carryover of $743.65. Post time Saturday is 7 p.m. (CDT).

— Running Aces Media Relations

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
Trainer-driver Jordan Derue enjoyed back-to-back victories on the Wednesday card at Saratoga Casino and Raceway on another steamy night at the Spa. Longshot conditioned pacer Lebron (Camluck) pulled off the upset in the evening’s ninth race as he moved first over and turned up the heat on front running Lucky Times (Stephane Bouchard) before drawing clear of him late. Lebron stopped the timer in 1:54, a seasonal best for the 10-year-old veteran who scored at odds of 11-1. Derue quickly made his way back to the winner’s circle the following race as he piloted his new acquisition Bettor B Genuine (Bettor’s Delight) to a 1:55.4 victory. Derue climbed into the top ten in the trainer standings with his two wins on Wednesday night.