by harness racing publicists across North America

The Saturday (July 21) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Bangor Raceway, Buffalo Raceway, Vernon Downs, The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono and Running Aces.

LucksRealDeal trumps competition in Maine Sire Stakes

Scarborough, ME — Two-year-old stakes racing made its seasonal debut at Scarborough Downs on Saturday (July 21) as a group of seven Maine-bred pacing colts, freshmen all, gathered to contest a $10,635 premiere of this Maine Sire Stakes division.

Michael Newman photo

LucksRealDeal wins by 6-1/2 lengths in Maine Sire Stakes action on Saturday.

In imposing fashion, LucksRealDeal gave notice to the competition that he might well be the “real deal” of this class this season as he threw in an uber impressive pari-mutuel debut, following a pair of rather rocky, yet intriguingly promising prep miles.

The 2-year-old son of Luckcamotion-Deal With Life had made breaks before the start in both his 2-year-old race appearances, only to rally smartly after resetting himself, while claiming back-to-back runner-up placings. Needing a flat line to qualify for his upcoming stakes engagements though, trainer Marc Tardif trucked his protégée up to Bangor Raceway where the gelding proceeded to demoralize his competition, cutting the mile while pacing a back-half of 1:00.2, en route to a 39-1/4 length margin of victory.

That sturdy Queen City form certainly carried over into Saturday’s stakes event as driver Matty Athearn gunned his charge explosively off the car, through an opening panel of :28, gaining an easy early lead which they would never relinquish.

Owned in partnership by Marc Tardif and Lesley Leighton, the homebred claimed a maiden speed record of 2:00.1 while cruising to 6-1/2 length margin at the wire.

Victoria’s Maverick (Heath Campbell) racing as part of a mutuel entry, threw in a strong rally bid to secure runner-up honors, while Heza Deuce (Mark Athearn) raced in second position throughout the mile before settling for third best at the wire.

Maine Sire Stakes racing resumes at Scarborough Downs on Sunday (July 22) as the 3-year-old pacing colts will take center stage, helping to anchor a strong 10-race program which will feature the second annual Battle of the Ages driving challenge.

Scarborough Downs will proudly feature live harness racing on Thursday and Saturday at 4:30 p.m. (EDT) with the popular Sunday matinees getting underway at 1:30 p.m.

For more information, visit www.ScarboroughDowns.com or visit our Facebook page.

— by Michael Sweeney

Buffalo Raceway

Barry Hanover ($10.60) looked like a prize fighter bobbing and weaving in the stretch, seeking for some racing room in Buffalo Raceway’s co-featured $9,700 Open II Pace on Saturday night (July 21). But driver Billy Davis Jr. was patient but persistent and finally found a gap in guiding Barry Hanover to a neck victory over Bugatti in 1:55.3. In the other $9,700 Open II event, In Runaway Bay N found the ‘lightning lane’ early and was straight as an arrow to the finish line to notch a $34.20 upset win in 1:55.1. Bugatti (Ron Beback Jr.) showed the way in the opening feature as he set the tempo with fractions of :29.3, :57.4 and 1:26.3. Barry Hanover, who was sitting fifth at the top of the stretch, looked in every direction before Davis Jr. was able to dip him into the passing lane and rally in the shadow of the wire for the victory. Bugatti had to settle for second with Southwind Torque (John Cummings Jr.) taking third. Owned by John Sixt and trained by Judith Blaun, it was the second win in 15 starts this season for the 4-year-old gelded Barry Hanover (Rock N Roll Heaven-Beachbunny). The win increased his seasonal earnings to $17,628 and $105,609 lifetime. In Runaway Bay N (Shawn McDonough) got the perfect stalking trip behind the pace setting Dark Horse and squeezed out a head victory. With panels of :28.2, :57.1 and 1:26.2, a :28.3 final quarter plus clear sailing through the stretch enabled In Runaway Bay N to collar Dark Horse. Tyler (Shawn Gray) took the show position. Owned by Mark Jakubik and trained by Angelo Nappo, it was the third win in 21 starts in 2018 for 7-year-old gelded Runaway Bay N (Mach Three-Pullover Brown). His bankroll jumped to $29,515 this year and to $171,135 in his career. Gray finished the evening with three winners in the bike with Monti and Davis Jr. adding two apiece. Dave McNeight Sr. had two training victories.

Vernon Downs

Oh My Joepa (John MacDonald) hung on to capture the Vernon Downs featured pace ($6,000) on Saturday (July 21). Oh My Joepa ($8.20) laid down all the fractions going gate-to-wire (:26.3, :56.4, 1:24.4, 1:52.2). However, it was not easy. Skip Jive (Jimmy Whittemore) was third after three-quarters and gave everything he had battling all the way down the stretch losing by a nose at the wire. JDs Brent N Sheree (Truman Gale) finished third. Oh My Joepa is a 10-year-old gelding by Rocknroll Hanover. Owned and trained by MacDonald, he won for the third time this season and for the 48th time in his career. MacDonald had a triple double on the night, by driving and training three winners. The other wins came with Weapon To Win ($8.40) and Kabu ($3.10). Adam Capizano had two wins on the night with big long shot Dark Prince ($101.50), as well as Banacek ($38.00). Vernon Downs returns to live action on Thursday (July 26) with a post time of 6:10 p.m. There will be no live racing on Friday (July 27) due to Wynonna and The Big Noise concert. For more information go to www.vernondowns.com.

The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono

A veteran pacer with career earnings of $1.3 million and a record of ability over off going at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono teamed with a driver making his first career start on a sloppy track to pull off a 12-1 upset, as Sunfire Blue Chip and driver Josert Fonseca skimmed the inside to take a 1:50.4 victory in a $30,000 Great Northeast Open Series for fast-class pacers on Saturday night. Sunfire Blue Chip, who was beaten only a half-length over sloppy footing when third behind Captaintreacherous and Vegas Vacation in the 2013 Hempt final here, started from post six and took his spot sixth in the early going out of the gate, but things changed radically even before the :27 quarter, as Christen Me N was already out to take the lead from pole-sitter and favorite Bettor’s Edge, only to see that one remove to the top by the :54.3 half. Highalator came uncovered from third with Rockeyed Optimist and the mare Bettorhaveanother right behind, and when Rockeyed Optimist gapped cover Christen Me N slid out behind Highalator, with Sunfire Blue Chip and Fonseca, sixth in front of the stands, advancing quickly to find themselves in the pocket to the 1:22.4 three-quarters. Highalator wore down pacesetting Bettor’s Edge early in the stretch, but Fonseca had his son of American Ideal flying up the famed Pocono Pike, and they beat out the game Highalator by a neck, with Bettorhaveanother, ducking back in to get out of her bad flow, closing well to miss the big end of the purse by only three-quarters of a length as the 43-1 longest shot on the board. Sunfire Blue Chip, whose mark of 1:48.3 was taken in his Hempt elimination just over five years ago, boosted his earnings for trainer Jimmy Takter to $1,357,440 for Christina Takter, John and Jim Fielding, Brixton Medical Inc., and R A W Equine Inc. For driver Fonseca, his budding career now shows a 14-6-2-1 tally.

Running Aces

The Saturday night (July 21) harness racing program at Running Aces featured two big races for Minnesota sired or owned horses. The $25,000 trot was dominated by Doug’s Hobby Horse, a 6-year-old mare by Claudius Augustus who is owned by Rick Bertrand and Doug Flores. Driver Lemoyne Svendsen wasted little time with Doug’s Hobby Horse, firing quickly from post six in the nine-horse affair, to engage in an early battle with French Eclipse (James Kennedy) for the lead. Doug’s Hobby Horse, however, had the most speed and cleared for the front, with outsider Majestic Lady Jo (Steve Wiseman) getting away sharply to drop into the pocket spot. Doug’s Hobby Horse ($8.20) was never in doubt, as she maintained a solid lead throughout and coasted home a two-length winner in 1:56.4 with a :29.1 final stanza. The winner now shows six wins in 23 starts and earnings of $35,718 for the season. Al Mar Bon Bon (Brian Detgen) closed well for second and Al Mar Reba Babe (Gerald Longo) was a solid third. The $25,000 Minnesota preferred pace went to the heavily favored Stuckey Dote, a 5-year-old gelding by Voracious Hanover who made a pilgrimage back to Running Aces for this event after spending the last two seasons racing primarily in Ohio. Stuckey Dote was champion 3-year-old pacer here in 2016 and is no stranger to the local winner’s circle. From post three in the nine-horse contest, driver Nick Roland floated his charge away in third position and got rolling just past the fast :26.4 quarter-pole clocking. Stuckey Dote swept right to the front and controlled things from there, well in command of the field as they completed the half in :55.3 and the three-quarters in 1:24.2. In the lane, a late challenge came from Swagasaurusrex (Gerald Longo) but Stuckey Dote ($3.00) was able to fend off that rival by a neck in 1:52.2 for his sixth win of the season for owner Merlin Van Oterloo and trainer Brett Ballinger. Early race leader Make It Big (Steve Wiseman) was a game third and Whatchyastarinat (James Kennedy) closed sharply for fourth money. Sunday (July 22) at Running Aces features the $50,000 Dan Patch Free-For-All final, sponsored by Watch and Wager. Post time for the 10-race program is 6 pm (CDT) and also offers a $10,000 guaranteed Late Pick-4 wager, which kicks off in the featured event in race seven.