Racing Roundup: Monday, September 15, 2008
September 16, 2008,from Harness Publicists across North America
Monday’s (September 15) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows, Harrington Raceway, and Monticello Raceway. Real Hanover takes $25,000 Meadows Pace Meadow Lands, PA — Real Hanover unleashed a powerful first-over move that carried him to victory in the $25,000 Preferred Handicap Pace on Monday at The Meadows. With Stormin Rustler on the lead following a quarter-pole move, trainer/driver Rodney Bolon tipped Real Hanover off the pylons and asked for pace. The 6-year-old son of Western Hanover-Rhyme Hanover responded with a determined bid and a win in 1:53.2. Fox Valley Armor, the 4-5 favorite, was pinned inside and finished second, 2-1/2 lengths back, while Stormin Rustler saved show. James Snyder owns Real Hanover, who has banked $280,432 in his career. The card also featured a leg of the “USA vs. New Zealand Drivers Challenge,” which featured four American amateur drivers competing against four representatives of New Zealand. The Americans swept the exacta, with Leslie Zendt scoring a stalking victory with Buy Caviar and Brent Davis and Hello Poppa capturing place. Steven Phillips of New Zealand finished third with Commissioner Tag. Time for the mile was 2:02. J.C. Miller, Jr. trains Buy Caviar, a 4-year-old daughter of S J’s Caviar-Hidden Riches, for Raymond Giambelluca. — Evan Pattak Village Blitz earns seventh sack of season Harrington, DE — Arty Foster, Jr.’s Village Blitz earned his seventh win of the year on Monday with a wire-to-wire, 1:52.4 score in the $20,000 Junior Open Pace feature at Harrington Raceway. Foto Won photo Village Blitz was a 1:52.4 winner in the Junior Open Pace at Harrington. Driven by Tony Morgan, the 8-year-old Village Jiffy gelding was a two length winner over Cool Cal and Classic Card Shark as his seasonal earnings soared to nearly $115,000. ‘Blitz’ is also trained by Foster Jr.
Morgan and drivers Ross Wolfenden and Mike Cole each had three winners on the card.
On September 28, the Mildred Williams Driving Series will hit Harrington, featuring some of the sport’s top female drivers. There will be a fundraiser throughout the night to benefit the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition. For more information, please call (302) 398-5933.
— Matt Sparacino
Dead heat for win in Monticello trot
Monticello, NY — Wolf’s Elvira and He Rocks finished in a dead-heat for win in a conditioned trot on Monday at Monticello Raceway.
Geri Schwarz photo
Wolf’s Elvira (#2) and He Rocks (#3) would finish in a dead heat for win on Monday at Monticello.
The final time of 2:01.4 was not the track mark for a dead-heat for win by trotters. The record is 1:59.3 set by Kadillac Kyle (Brian Walker) and Simply Game (Bobby Petitto) when they came home together on July 24, 1996.
Wolf’s Elvira, in rein to Jordan Stratton, took command on the first turn after leaving from post position two. He Rocks, with Chuck Poynton aboard, settled in second behind the leader after starting from post three.
The trotters then raced one-two until the final turn at which point He Rocks, though still in second position, moved alongside Wolf’s Elvira and the two engaged in a proverbial stretch duel and at the wire the photo finish camera couldn’t separate them. Third place, some four length behind the winners, went to Dunmore Topaz, handled by Kyle DiBenedetto.
Wolf’s Elvira is owned by Woody Hoblitzell and He Rocks is the property of Jodie Poynton.
— John Manzi