Shane Strassberg photo

McCedes rallied late to win the Yonkers feature in 1:52.2.

With Yannick Gingras driving for trainer Ron Burke, McCedes was a disinterested observer early. He had plenty to peer at as 17-10 favorite Blatantly Good (Eric Goodell) scorched Wholly Louy (Daniel Dube) through wicked, identical first two quarters of :27.3.

Shortly after that :55.1 intermission, Wholly Louy hung a right. That left Blatantly Good to deal with a parked-out longshot in Psilvuheartbreaker (Jim Meittinis), with Dave Ain’t Here (Stephane Bouchard) pocketed. The back of the bus then closed ranks by the 1:24 three-quarters, with last week’s upset winner, Runover Feeling (Tony Morgan), and McCedes creeping closer.

The lead was a length for Blatantly Good turning for home, but McCedes was wide and wingin’. He did get to a stubborn leader late, winning by a neck in 1:52.2. Jeremy’s Successor (Ryan Anderson), Runover Feeling and Dave Ain’t Here completed the cashers.

McCedes, snapped on the money from first-over as the 19-10 choice a week ago, was dismissed at 16-1 this evening. The 4-year-old McArdle gelding, co-owned by Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, JJK Stables and James Koran, returned $35.80 (sixth choice) for his fourth victory in 23 seasonal starts. He led exotics of a $109 exacta, $514 triple and $1,465 superfecta.

— Frank Drucker

Object Of Art scorches Pompano in 1:52.1

Pompano Beach, FL — It hasn’t taken long for the South Florida heat to facilite fast miles and the second Saturday evening program of the new meet at The Isle Pompano Park produced the first pair of sub-1:53 winners this month.

With calm conditions and a temperature of 84 degrees, a field of eight faced Charlie Miller’s starting gate for the $13,000 Open Pace. Race Secretary Greg DeFrank ordered Object Of Art to the outside starting position after a first over win the previous week.

This time out, trainer-driver Ray Vizzi floated Object Of Art on the outside past the opening quarter of :27 on the flank of Change Your Luck with Richard Simard. Vizzi was finally able to seize the lead after three-eighths completion and he proceeded to pass the half in :55.

Down the backstretch the final time, Object Of Art left the field behind with a :27.4 sprint to the three-quarter pole in 1:22.4. Early in the stretch the 6-year-old Camluck-Artful Angel gelding had opened up a big lead and cruised under the wire with two lengths to spare in 1:52.1 over Golden Mattjesty and Cape Karuna.

It was the 26th career win for Object Of Art, who has come back strong following a two month rest and Summer campaign at Yonkers.

The other noted fast mile on Saturday night at The Isle Pompano Park was turned in by Mighty Midas in 1:52.4. The Blissful Hall-Betterthanmidas 7-year-old gelding went down the road with Andy Santeramo in the bike to hold off the favored pocket-sitter C B Tower. Mighty Midas is conditioned by Donna Richardson for Marie Erenstoft.

Wally Hennessey topped all drivers on the program with a four win performance. Hennessey was in the bike for an impressive front end performance in spite of the outside nine post by claiming trotter Rovasreadytorumble. The 10-year-old Veeba Rova-Misty Tickles gelding notched his 40th career win. He’d been trained by Bill Griffin for Trot Time Farm and he was claimed from this event by trainer Don Cromer.

— Frank Salive

You’re Welcome scores in series final at Colonial

New Kent, VA — You’re Welcome scored a tight victory over Hot Fusion in the $7,950 final leg of the Young Women of Virginia Pacing Series on Saturday night at Colonial Downs.

The series finale featured eight fillies and mares, and was contested at the unique distance of 1-1/4 miles. Ironically, none of Saturday’s top three finishers collected a division win in either of the two preliminary legs.

You’re Welcome, coming off a fifth place finish, stayed in the top half of the field through the initial four fractions before owner/driver Ron McLenaghan got his pacer into second behind Lovely Magic. His 7-year-old mare got to the front just in time and held off fast closing Hot Fusion at the finish by a neck in 2:25.4. Hot Fusion, driven by the hot Chris Page, took second and Southern Blue finished third.

The series victor, who returned $33.20 to win, is trained by Ron’s daughter Stacey. The McLenaghan family resides in Providence Forge, just several miles from the track itself. The win was You’re Welcome’s second of the year and 26th lifetime score.

Reinsman Chris Page continued his torrid assault of Colonial’s one turn mile oval, reaching the winner’s circle five times and adding three runner-up finishes in the evening’s ten races. The 25-year-old has won 21 races over the last five race days and is the leading driver this fall by far, even after missing the first week of the fall meet.

— Darrell Wood

Saratoga Springs, NY — Ideal Michael got up in the nick of time to secure the win in Saturday night’s Open pace at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway.

Ideal Michael (4) yielded and then found room in the passing lane late.

Brian Allen catch-drove for trainer Ray Schnittker, and put the speedy pacer in gear early-on. After making the front heading towards the quarter pole, Ideal Michael wound up yielding to the race’s favorite, Rockinrollin Now (Mark Beckwith), who ended up jousting with Skipper Jove for the majority of the second half of the mile.

Finding open road in the passing lane, Ideal Michael captured the Open win in the $17,000 Saratoga feature.

Dave Oxford photos

Brian Allen is honored for win number 3,000.

Last season, Ideal Michael set his career mark at the Spa behind a 1:52.2, wire-to-wire score and has enjoyed local success again here in 2009.

Installed as the morning line favorite on Saturday, Ideal Michael returned a hearty $13.00 to win.

In the winner’s circle following the open triumph, driver Brian Allen was recognized for his 3,000th driving win, which was recorded last week at the Spa.

Live racing will resume on Sunday afternoon at 12:45 p.m., eastern, for a full 13 race matinee program.

–Mike Sardella

Girlie Tough likes being home at Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — Returning to Cal-Expo — combined with an equipment change — turned things around in a big way for Girlie Tough.

Winners-over trotters, racing for a $6,500 purse, were featured on Saturday night in the Jim Grundy Memorial Trot, in which Girlie Tough flashed her early season form.

Prior to starting from the pole in the field of seven, trainer Rick Plano hoped he had figured out why Girlie Tough had raced sub-par in the Midwest.

“She didn’t race well back in Indiana, but you end up changing shoes when you go to a different track and it didn’t agree with her there,” Plano said. “I, however, put her shoes back to the way they were before I sent her, plus she trained well like she was back to normal, so I thought she had a real good chance.”

Accelerating to the first turn to put I Look Special (Dave Siegel) in the pocket, Girlie Tough would trot a fast, :28.2 opening quarter. Was Plano concerned?

“I had no choice because Siegel was leaving and I had to try and make him get in behind me. But I didn’t think the :28.2 really hurt her.”

On top by two lengths at the half-mile pole, timed in an honest :57.1, Plano noted who was responsible for the :28.4 second quarter.

“I let her trot where she was comfortable and we ended up getting to the half in :57.1. But since she felt comfortable and I had trained her pretty good, I still thought she’d race well — but my main concern was to keep her flat.”

Reaching the three-quarter mile station, timed in 1:26.3, Plano was realistic, which wasn’t good for his opponents.

“I knew my horse could trot in 1:56 from there if she was up to the task, plus I didn’t think anybody else could go that much since they were all off qualifiers and layoffs, whereas my horse had been racing.”

Getting her earplugs popped with 3-16 of a mile to go, and drawing clear by 2-1/2 lengths to the seven-eighths mile marker, Plano only had to urge his charge three minor times in the last eighth of a mile.

“I let her trot down the lane and she was trotting good — now all I had to do was keep her to the task.”

Holding firm to nicely win ($10.80) by 1-1/2 lengths, the J. Paul Reddam-owned 4-year-old stopped the timer at 1:56.2, a season’s best. TV Mom (Lemoyne Svendsen) finished in second, and I Look Special finished another 1-1/2 lengths farther back, in third.

“It was a good race for her and hopefully she’ll come back and race as good next week,” Plano finished.

Live racing will resume at Cal-Expo on Thursday and continue through Saturday. Post time each night is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., pacific.

— Scott Ehrlich

Robin Of Locksley wins Batavia Open pace

Batavia, NY — A sloppy racetrack couldn’t rain on the parade of Robin Of Locksley who won his first $8,000 Open Handicap pace of the summer-fall meet on Saturday night at Batavia Downs Casino.

Paul White photo

Robin Of Locksley and Ron Bebak, Jr. swam to victory at Batavia Downs on Saturday night

Using his horse’s good early gate speed, reinsman Ron Beback, Jr. put Robin Of Locksley on the lead and they went wire-to-wire to win by a head, in 1:58.2.

Turning for home “Robin” appeared to be in hot water as a first-over Scotts Rolls Royce (Jimmy Whisman) was up to challenge and the favorite, Arm And A Leg (Kevin Cummings), was gearing up three-wide on the far outside, but they were all in futile chase as “Robin “ was able to dig-in and hold-on. Arm And A Leg wound up second and “Scott” finished third.

Robin Of Locksley won for the sixth time this season for owner Pete Spaeth and trainer Bob Gruber III. The 7-year-old son of JK Outlaw raised his lifetime earnings to more than $185,000.

Bob Gruber also conditions Escape Pass, who was victorious in the co-featured $7,000 Open II pace.

Leading driver Kevin Cummings continued with his hot hand, guiding home five more winners to follow the four he recorded on Friday night. D.J. Millner scored a four-bagger on the training side.