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Thursday’s (July 1) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Saratoga Gaming and Raceway and Scioto Downs.

Leading driver Cappello triples at Saratoga

Saratoga Springs, NY — It was another strong night on a beautiful Thursday evening at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway in what has been a big season for Saratoga’s leading driver Dan Cappello, Jr.

Dave Oxford photo

Special Eddie was one of three winners on Thursday for Dan Cappello, Jr.

Cappello, who opened up a big driving lead at the start of the campaign, has seen his lead in the standings shrink as defending champ Frank Coppola, Jr. has closed the gap significantly in the past few weeks. Cappello held a one win lead in the tight driver standings heading into Thursday but saw the lead grow immediately at the start of the night.

Cappello thrived with the young horses on Thursday as he piloted trotters Special Eddie and One True Friend to their maiden scores within the first three races on the program. Special Eddie did it the hard way as he had to come from last after making an early break in the race but thrived in the stretch to draw away for the trotter’s maiden score in 2:02. One True Friend posted a 2:00.3 win in a minor upset.

Cappello completed his hat trick with Crosswinds Rose, who graduated out of the non-winners of two races lifetime with a front running win in the night’s sixth race.

Cappello’s lead stands at three as Coppola secured one victory on the Thursday card.

Live racing continues on Friday night at Saratoga with a first post time of 7:05 p.m.

— Mike Sardella

Scioto Downs
Leading driver Chris Page added three more wins to his seasonal total at Scioto Downs on Thursday night. Page kicked off the evening by piloting the Western Hanover freshman filly Latin Lyric to an easy-does-it 1:57.4 victory for owners Jennifer Brown and Gary Cook and trainer Brian Brown. It was the first career start for the filly. She defeated Lima Chic and Pat’s Flash by 4-3/4 lengths after setting all the fractions. In addition to the young pacing filly, Page also won with an old trotting gelding when he drove Go-Spread The Word as the 12-year-old led all the way to win in 2:01.2. The son of Carry The Message has now won both of his 2010 starts for owner-trainer Vincent Golden. Page’s final score came in the last race when Eagle Winter, a sophomore pacing filly, broke her maiden for trainer Jack Fisher and owner Sharon Kay Fisher. She won by 1-3/4 lengths over Do Ya Wanna Rumba and favored Lady Of The Future in 1:59.1.