from Harness Publicists across North America

Wednesday’s (September 23) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs and Harrington Raceway.

Michaelrowyourboat sets Meadows all-age trot record

Meadow Lands, PA — Michaelrowyourboat unleashed a powerful uncovered bid that carried him past the dueling leaders and on to victory in 1:52.3 — fastest mile ever trotted at The Meadows — in Wednesday’s $27,500 Preferred Handicap.

Hidden Viggorish, the 4-5 favorite, set sail for the front but found herself battling for the point with a stubborn Master Begonia, who would not release her. Hidden Viggorish finally cleared past the half but had to endure fractions of :26.4 and :55.

That set the stage for the winning burst by Michaelrowyourboat and trainer/driver Jimmy Smith, who scored by a length over Master Begonia, with Hidden Viggorish saving show. Hidden Viggorish established the previous all-age track record of 1:53.1 — a mark that still stands as the fastest ever by a 3-year-old trotting filly on a five-eighths-mile track — in 2006.

Flowing Mineral Farm owns Michaelrowyourboat, a 4-year-old gelded son of Victory Sam-Tall Sunflower who has won 17 races and $365,871 over the past two seasons.

Dick Stillings drove four winners and Brett Miller three on the 15-race card.

— Evan Pattak

Native Bride wins Open I Fillies and Mares Pace at Pocono

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Native Bride, making her second start of the 2009 season, went a big mile on a track listed as ‘good’ to win the $30,000 Open I Pace for fillies and mares on Wednesday at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. The 4-year-old AllAmerican Native mare, driven by Joe Pavia, Jr. and trained by Gary Napierala, stopped the timer in 1:50.2.

Leaving from the one post in the eight-horse field, Pavia sat fourth for the first half of the mile with Dr Nabrinsky (Ryan Anderson) the opening split leader with a time of :26.2 before Pancleefandarpels (Jason Bartlett) led the field to the half in :54.1.

It was down the backstretch when Pavia went first over to overtake the field with the three-quarters timed in 1:22.1. Native Bride, who was sixth in her first start back at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs the previous week with similar company, won by 1-1/4 lengths over 11-1 longshot Teenage Paige (Tom Jackson) with Ireneonthemove (Greg Grismore) third in the race.

The 1:50.2 time was just two-fifths of a second off the 4-year-old mare pacing mark of Sherry.

Pavia, second in the driver standings to Jim Morrill, Jr., had six wins through the first 14 races Wednesday night.

In the prior race, an Open II Fillies and Mares Pace, Pavia won with Esmeralda Semalu, a 5-year-old Electric Stena mare that he also trains. Esmeralda Semalu paced this mile in 1:50.4. This marked her fourth straight victory. Mind Boggling (Anthony Napolitano) was second while Chantal Hall (Jimmy Whittemore) was third.

— John Zimich

Fivedollarsforsox sets seasonal mark at Harrington

Harrington, DE — George and Tina Dennis and Ask W Stables’ Fivedollarsforsox ($11.20, George Dennis) set a seasonal mark Wednesday with a 1:56.3 win in the $21,700 Junior Open Trot at Harrington Raceway.

Fotowon photo

Fivedollarsforsox won the Junior Open Trot in a seasonal best 1:56.3.

The 6-year-old SJ’’s Caviar gelding assumed command from Allmar Surprise approaching the quarter-mile pole and never looked back in his two length triumph over Spunky Vic. It was his sixth win of the year for trainer Dennis.

Driver Jim Morand won three races on the program to pull within four of the 8,000 win milestone.

— Matt Sparacino