from Harness Publicists across North America

Tuesday’s (August 11) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows and Monticello Raceway.

Merriman wins seven at The Meadows

Meadow Lands, MD — Aaron Merriman, the sport’s leading dash winning driver in 2009, drove seven winners on the 16-race Tuesday card at The Meadows, including Oatmeister in the $17,500 featured trot.

Merriman scored his seven-bagger for as many trainers — Rick Hercules, Kurt Sugg, Kevin McDermott, Bill Bercury, J.W. Miller, Ron Burke and Bethie Murdock.

Although several of his victories were with favorites, Merriman brought home Ohio Chip and I Know Your Lookin at 9-2, Angelo Kosmos at 4-1 and Fleetmaster at 7-2.

— Evan Pattak

Aldrich, Parker rein four winners at Monticello

Monticello, NY — Despite the economy, wagering this season is up over last year at Monticello Raceway and that could be partly because there have been enough horses in the entry boxes to present full daily racing cards. And perhaps the quality of the driving talent on hand has kept the bettors, mostly off-track, interested. Jordan Stratton, Jimmy Marohn, Jr., Zeke Parker, Billy Dobson, Bruce Aldrich, Jr. and Kyle DiBenedetto competing here regularly is certainly beneficial.

On the Tuesday afternoon card, Bruce Aldrich, Jr. and Zeke Parker each reined four winners and when Jordan Stratton added two of his own there wasn’t much left for the rest of the drivers though Marohn and Dobson each managed a driving victory.

Aldrich reined the most impressive winner on the program when he guided Tattoo Hall to a come-from-behind, 1:55.4 victory in the weekly pacing feature over favored PH Bestman, driven by Jimmy Marohn, Jr.

The Canadian owned PH Bestman had scored a 1:53.3 victory at Yonkers Raceway on July 17 and sported a second place finish at the Meadowlands, individually timed in 1:50.4, in his last outing on August 2, which was enough power to enable the betting public to make the 4-year-old Cambest stallion the favorite.

Sent off at odds of 6-5, Marohn sent PH Bestman for the lead from post position eight and Aldrich and Tattoo Hall, who left from the four-hole, parked them to a stiff :27.4 first quarter before they yielded command. From there Marohn got his pacer a breather and they passed the half in :58.1 with Aldrich and Tattoo Hall shadowing the leader.

After pacing by the three-quarters in 1:27 with a two length lead it appeared that PH Bestman would reward his backers but Aldrich got Tattoo Hall, an altered son of Cambest, in high gear in the deep stretch and they got up in the final strides to score a head decision over PH Bestman. Billy Dobson and Up Held took home the show dough.

Tattoo Hall, co-owned by his trainer, Luanne Kronniger, and the SP Racing Stable, earned a seasonal best clocking while winning his fourth race of the year.

— John Manzi