from Harness Publicists across North America

Editor’s Note: The USTA Newsroom is pleased to debut “Racing Roundup,” a daily look at overnight result stories from the sport of harness racing.

Monday’s (July 14) edition of Racing Roundup features result stories from Mohawk, Plainridge and the Meadows.

Unique Legacy hauls down Town Pro title

Campbellville, ON — Unique Legacy turned in an impressive two-move effort in scoring a mild upset in Monday night’s C$57,300 Town Pro Pacing Series Final for 3-year-old fillies at Mohawk Racetrack in 1:52.2.

New Image Media photo

Unique Legacy was a 1:52.2 winner in the Town Pro Final.

Mark MacDonald called on the filly’s early speed for the first time in her young career and the daughter of Real Desire-Unique X Ample shot to the early lead from post six before yielding to Lola Palooza in the first panel of :26.3.

Meanwhile, the race favorite Go Get Her had landed in fifth position and waited for things to settle before Jack Moiseyev sent her up to challenge for the lead. That daughter of Western Hanover took command just past an opening half of :55 seconds.

As the field raced towards three-quarters, Autumn Magic, a winner in both preliminary legs, made a move out from fourth and challenged the pacesetter through three panels in 1:24.1. The top pair battled until the top of the stretch before Autumn Magic began to give way, allowing Unique Legacy clearance to move to the outside.

Once clear, the filly fired to the lead and widened her advantage to 2-1/4 lengths at the end. Lola Palooza rallied to pick up the place spot with Roxanna Hanover charging through late to pick up the show spot. Go Get Her faltered to finish sixth and afterwards driver Jack Moiseyev said the filly just did not feel like herself at the half.

“She is a real nice filly, she showed her true potential tonight,” said driver Mark MacDonald of the winner. “She was sick her last couple of starts, and they did the work on her and got her healthy for the final. I thought I’d be a bit more aggressive with her tonight. I’ve been just taking her off the gate in her last couple because she just wasn’t right. I thought maybe I’d try and put her more into the race tonight. I tried to sit in behind Jack (Moiseyev driving race favorite Go Get Her) and it worked out.”

Monday’s victory was the sixth of the campaign in just eight starts for the Casie Coleman trainee and was a new lifetime mark for the filly who is owned by Robert Hamather. The lion’s share of the purse increased her career total to $77,988.

— Greg Blanchard

Lare rockets to victory in Bergstein final

Plainville, MA — After falling short as the heavy betting favorite in last week’s elimination, Yankee Rocketeer redeemed himself Monday afternoon, winning the $26,100 final of the Stan Bergstein Pace at Plainridge Racecourse.

“I was fortunate to get a great pocket trip,” said winning driver Kevin Lare. Leaving from post position two, Lare and Yankee Rocketeer sat behind front-running Ezpz Lemonsqueezy (Bob Sumner) past fractions of :27.4 and :55.3. At that point The Awful Truth (Brewer Adams,) last week’s winner, made the first over move and even with NY Ice (Frank Antonacci) grabbing the second over trip Lare wasn’t concerned.

“Even though Brewer came flying by me at the five-eighths pole I still was staying on the wood and waiting to make a move down the lane. That was what I was able to do and it worked out great for me,” Lare later explained.

Despite breaking a hopple at the three-quarters Ezpz Lemonsqueezy nonetheless hit the marker in 1:23, and repelled the challenges of both Adams and Antonacci. Lare had a clear shot at the front runner in the stretch and prevailed by a length. Ezpz Lemonsqueezy, the only filly in a field otherwise made up of males, was a strong second, while NY Ice grabbed the show spot.

The winning time of 1:53 established a new lifetime mark for Yankee Rocketeer. The son of Artsplace is owned by the North State Street Stable and Harness The Power.

Afterwards Lare, who also trains Yankee Rocketeer, had a message for Stan Bergstein. “I am sorry that you were not able to be here for the final because it would have been an honor to be in the winner’s circle with you and accept the winning trophy from you,” the gracious driver-trainer said. The ever busy Bergstein was present last week for the elimination round of the event named in his honor.

With this year’s edition of the Stan Bergstein Pace now in the books, the focus shifts to the feature event of each season at Plainridge Racecourse, the Bert Beckwith Memorial Pace. The $75,000 Invitational event will be contested on Monday, September 1.

— Lenny Calderone and Bob Lieberman

TSM Opal Star T cruises in Meadows series victory

Meadow Lands, PA — TSM Opal Star T, who overwhelmed her Reynolds division last week with a 1:53.4 mile, came right back to her home track Monday with an in-hand victory in a division of the Donna Dunn Pace at The Meadows.

In the second leg of the series for freshman filly pacers, Dick Stillings sent TSM Opal Star T through an easy first half of :58.1. But when first-time starter Samantha Q threatened late, TSM Opal Star T slipped effortlessly into another gear, defeating Samantha Q by 5-1/4 lengths in 1:55.4. Ashtoreth Hanover was a distant third.

It was one of five wins on the 16-race card for Stillings. Jan Fread trains TSM Opal Star T, a daughter of Jate Lobell-TSM Black Pearls, for Ted Tomson.

Native Pursuit (Allamerican Native-Lindwood Pursuit) and Pretty Pedals (Allamerican Ingot-Hip Huggers) also captured $8,000 Donna Dunn divisions.

In the $23,000 Preferred Handicap Pace, Third Day blistered the first quarter in :27 but had plenty left in reserve to triumph in 1:51, equaling his career best and giving Dave Palone one of his five wins on the card. Classic Cullen N was 2-1/2 lengths back in second with War Boots a closing third. Mike Palone trains Third Day, a son of Cole Muffler, for Fran Azur.

— Evan Pattak