by harness publicists across North America

Wednesday’s (July 2) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Balmoral Park, The Meadows, Harrington Raceway and Harrah’s Philadelphia.

Macie Rae bests rivals in Sorce Ann Stake

Crete, IL — Continuing her front-end dominance of the ICF 3-year-old filly trotting set, Donald Huddleston’s Macie Rae once again made it look easy on Wednesday night as she disposed of five rivals in a 2-length pillar to post score in the $10,000 Sorce Ann Stake. The final time was 1:56.1.

David Baum photo

Ryan Anderson guided Macie Rae to another wire to wire victory in Wednesday’s $10,000 Sorce Ann Stake at Balmoral Park.

Hustled away from post position four by driver Ryan Anderson, the speedy daughter of Powerful Emotion—Fox Valley Poetry easily made the front and was unchallenged as she cruised through splits of :28.3, :58.3 and 1:28.

Setting sail for the money, the Michael Rogers trained miss powered home in :28.1, easily rebuffing the challenge of a pocket sitting Bailey’s Wish (Dave Magee) who was forced to settle for the bridesmaid role once again. Say No Mo (John De Long) was a non-threatening third, 8-3/4 lengths behind the winner.

After a strong freshman campaign, much of which was spent toiling on the half-mile ovals on the Illinois Fair Circuit, Macie Rae has really stepped up her game on the one-mile oval here at Balmoral Park in her second season winning six of seven starts this year. The bay filly now boasts a career record of 13-3-4 in 26 starts with earnings of $53,907.

Bet as though defeat was out of the question Macie Rae returned $2.60, $2.10 & $2.10 to her legion of backers.

— Tom Kelley

The Meadows
Eric Goodell, who owns Magic Will Work, took matters into his own hands Wednesday at The Meadows when he drove his 5-year-old mare to victory in the $18,000 Filly & Mare Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Trot. Magic Will Work stalked the leader, Mistress Valentine, from the pocket, and then drew off in the Lightning Lane to triumph in 1:54.4, a lifetime mark. Mistress Valentine saved place, 2-1/2 lengths back, with Homepage third. Paul Kennedy trains the daughter of Kadabra-Raquel Victory, who soared over $100,000 in career earnings. Elsewhere on the program, freshman pacer Given Up Terror scored in 1:55.4, fastest this year by a 2-year-old gelding on a five-eighths-mile track. Chris Shaw piloted the son of Western Terror-Ain’t Given Up for trainer Lisa Beinhauer and owner Chad Parker. Dave Palone drove three winners on the 15-race card.

Harrington Raceway
Callam Racing’s Spunky Jack ($4.20, Roger Plante Jr.) recorded his 16th career win Wednesday with a 1:55.4 victory in the featured $17,000 Open Trot at Harrington Raceway. The 5-year-old Super Punk gelding was sent promptly to the lead from post position six and never relented in his three length win over Powerful Charger and Six Gun Hall. Trained by Steve Leblanc, it was his fourth win of the year as his earnings ballooned to nearly $90,000 in 2014. The 10th race gave first state racing fans their first dose of pacing sire Riggins, who campaigned on the Delaware circuit for a portion of his career, with his offspring 2-year-old pacer Smoking Joey. Driven by George Dennis, the gelding prevailed in wire-to-wire fashion in 1:56.2 for an auspicious start to his career. Ross Wolfenden had three winners on the program. Victor Kirby, who is closing in on 3,000 career wins had a double, as did Bret Brittingham.

Harrah’s Philadelphia
The tote board exploded in the featured tenth at Harrah’s Philadelphia, a trot for nw/$17,500 in their last 5 or nw/9 races of $90,000. Off the wings it was mega longshot Westside Lindy who charged for the lead from the outside with favorite Modest Prince quickly taking over just beyond the quarter. They stayed that way until the public’s second choice, Whata Donato, made a determined first-over bid. However, the Burke trainee made a break at three-quarters, allowing the pocket-sitting Westside Lindy the length of the stretch to grind to victory, at odds of 50-1. Another longshot Sea Raven closed up for second, while Looking Hanover was third. Race favorite Modest Prince tired to finish fifth. The exacta paid $1,922.40, while the trifecta paid $20,478.40. Westside Lindy is owned by Jonathan Klee Racing and The Red Parrot Stables, trained by Walter Carroll, and was driven by soon-to-be Hall of Fame Driver David Miller.