by harness racing publicists across North America
The Saturday (Aug. 18) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Batavia Downs, Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs, Saratoga Casino Hotel and Running Aces.

Monti, Perrin dominate to win five

Batavia, NY — Driver Drew Monti and trainer JD Perrin teamed up to put on a show Saturday night (Aug.18) winning five races on the 10-race card.

Paul White photo

Sir Ziggy’s Z Tam was one of five winners for Monti on Perrin at Batavia Downs.

The two teamed up to send Cheyenne Louie (1:57, $4.70), Hands Of Frank (1:55, $25.40),Foreign Officer (1:56.1, $2.60), Sir Ziggy’s Z Tam (1:53.4, $3.70) and Rock To Glory (1:55.4,$4.60) to the Purple Haze winner’s circle for pictures.

Sir Ziggy’s Z Tam was the pick of the pack, winning the featured $10,000 Open Handicap pace.

Southwind Torque (John Cummings Jr.) took an immediate lead from the pylons and rebuffed a challenge from Sir Ziggy’s Z Tam (Drew Monti), making him take a seat. After they hit the half in :56.4, the field was still in single file with no serious challengers in sight.

The top two continued in that order until the three quarters when Monti pulled Sir Ziggy’s Z Tam and drew alongside Southwind Torque. However Cummings was up for the challenge and maintained a one length lead to the head of the stretch. But “Drivin’ Drew” got to work, throwing the lines at Sir Ziggy’s Z Tam in the lane and he swelled up pacing by the leader in deep stretch to win by a neck in 1:53.4.

It was the 35th lifetime win for the classy Sir Ziggy’s Z Tam ($3.70) who now has $878,791 in purses earned for his career. The 10-year-old altered son of Art Major is owned by Tessa Roland and trained by JD Perrin

Kevin Cummings, who also had three wins on the card, took the $9,000 Open II with Im So Handsome who equaled his season’s best effort in the process.

Heaven Rocks (Drew Monti) left hard for the lead before Im So Handsome (Kevin Cummings) came out and took the top position from him. After a :28.3 quarter and :57.4 half Tyler (Shawn Gray) pulled at the five-eighths, brought Barry Hanover (Shawn McDonough) with him and they motored up the outside to the three-quarters in 1:26.2.

Im So Handsome and Tyler battled all the way around the last turn when Barry Hanover tipped three wide and took his best shot late. With all three across the track, Im So Handsome outlasted both challengers and hung on to win by a neck in 1:54.3.

Looking good now with seven wins on the year, Im So Handsome ($4.30) has also broken the half century mark in earnings, now boasting $50,549 in loot for owner Mike Torcello and trainer Gerry Sarama.

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs with a Sunday (Aug. 19) matinee that has a first race post time of 1:15 p.m. It’s Dollar Day Sunday with cold draft beer, soda or hot dogs served fresh trackside for only $1 each.

— by Tim Bojarski

Tioga Downs

BJ Lorado (Andy Santeramo) took the featured trot ($9,000) at Tioga Downs on Saturday (Aug. 18). BJ Lorado ($9.90) went to the front and led to a first quarter of :28 and the half of :57.2. Freddie Mac (Mike Merton) would go first-over and claim the lead at the three-quarter mark of 1:25.4. The two horses would then battle their way around the final turn together. BJ Lorado would dig down deep and re-claim the lead in the stretch to win in 1:55. Rose Run Rudi (Aaron Byron) came up to finish second. Freddie Mac settled for third. BJ Lorado is a 4-year-old gelding by Bo W. It was his sixth win of the season and it was career victory number 10. Trained by Marc Major for two of the nicest owners you would ever want to meet in Diane and Michael Norcross. The lovely couple can be seen here almost every night at the finish line rooting their horses on. Mike Merton and Jim Taggart Jr. each won three races on the night. Merton got his wins with Gifted George ($6.30), Vicki All ($9.50), and Mr Carrotts ($6.10). Taggart Jr. won with Pinstripe Pride ($13.80), Celebrity Lover ($15.80), and Master Of Puppets ($5.30). Uriel (Annie Stoebe) wins the Billings Amateur race ($6,000). Uriel ($13.80) charged to the front and went gate-to-wire (:28.1, :59.3, 1:27.3, 1:56.4). Owned and trained by Stoebe, he had to hold off the late rush of second place finisher Celebrity Bluechip (Jennifer Lappe). Connie Keeper (Bob Davis) was third best. Uriel is a 7-year-old gelding by Explosive Matter. It was his fourth win this season and career victory number 27. Tioga Downs returns to live racing on Sunday (Aug. 19) with their biggest card of the year. Sunday will feature Empires Breeders Classic (EBC) final for 3-year-old pacing fillies ($270,425) and the EBC Classic final for 3-year-old colts and geldings ($272,025). Also on the card is the Roll With Joe Open Pace ($143,000) and the Artiscape Open Mares Pace ($161,000). As well as two divisions of the Miss Versatility for Open Mares trotters (leg 3). The 13-race card starts at 1 p.m. For more information go to www.tiogadowns.com.

Vernon Downs

Skip Jive (Jimmy Whittemore) won the Vernon Downs featured pace ($6,500) on Saturday (Aug. 18). Whittemore won four races. Skip Jive ($8.80) jumped out to the lead and never looked back. Owned by Diane Whittemore and trained by Dennis Whittemore, he put up all the fractions (:28.4, :55.0, 1:22.1, 1:50.3). He held off the late charging JDs Brent N Sheree (Truman Gale) to secure the victory. Weapon to win (John MacDonald) finished third. Skip Jive is a 5-year-old gelding by Rock N Roll Heaven. It was win number five this season. He now has 16 career victories, none faster than tonight. Leading driver of the meet, Jimmy Whittemore, added four more wins to his total for the season. His other three wins came with Kerry B ($40.20), Muffin’s Man ($8.80), and Serious Major ($4.60). Truman Gale added two wins on the night as well. He went to the winner’s circle with Coopers Beach ($13.40) and Western Toro ($4.90). Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Thursday (Aug. 23) featuring two division of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for freshman trotting fillies. Post time is 6:10 p.m. For more information go to www.vernondowns.com.

Saratoga Casino Hotel

Mister Daytona N (American Ideal) made his local debut on Saturday night at Saratoga Casino Hotel as trainer-driver Mike Simons brought the 6-year-old to town to compete in the $14,500 Open Pace. Mister Daytona N, who has been a regular at Yonkers this season, flashed some uncharacteristic early speed in his debut at the Spa as Simons marched him out to the early lead in the feature. After putting up a first quarter in :27.2, Mister Daytona N slowed things down significantly before reaching the half in :57.2. From there, the talented invader accelerated and never stopped. With veteran local star Artful Way (Frank Coppola Jr.) closing in heading to three-quarters, Simons stepped on the gas and Mister Daytona N responded. All the while, Deetzy (Bruce Aldrich Jr) got the pocket ride and those three pacers drew away turning for home before Mister Daytona N stopped the timer in 1:51.4 to win by a length and a half. Deetzy was the runner-up in the Open while the favored Artful Way had to settle for the show spot. Mister Daytona N, who was the public’s second choice in the wagering at odds of 9-5, paced his final half in :54.2 highlighted by a :26.4 last quarter en route to what was his fourth win of the season. The exacta paid $29.80 while the triple returned $104 in the Saturday feature. Live racing resumes on Tuesday night at Saratoga with a first post time set for 7:05 p.m.

Running Aces

The Saturday night (Aug. 18) featured harness racing event at Running Aces was the $12,000 Open Handicap Pace for horses & geldings, with a talented field of seven facing the starter for weekly top honors. Stuckey Dote (Rick Magee) was sent off as the 7-5 favorite from post six, but was not a factor on this night. Holdingallthecards (Dean Magee) was last week’s winner and was the 3-1 second choice from post three. He fired quickly from the gate to snag the lead away from Firedrake (Brian Detgen) who charged to the front from post five. After establishing command just before the :27.4 quarter, Holdingallthecards held firm control of affairs with a moderate :57.2 middle half, keeping just enough in the tank to fend off a stretch rally by Firedrake. Holdingallthecards ($8.60) held sway with a half-length tally in 1:52.3 over Firedrake,and Whatchastarinat (James Yoder), for his fourth win in 22 starts this season. The winner is owned by William and Richard Mc Intyre and is trained by Denise Maier. The $14,000 Minnesota-sired 3-year-old pace went to Dream Chasin ($25.00), who picked up his fifth win of the year in 13 starts with a 1:55.4 score from gate-to-wire with Williams Hernandez in the bike. The impressive son of Fancy Schmancy has now banked $27,465 this season for owners/breeders Greg and Michelle Budach. Place At The Beach (Dean Magee) picked up her seventh win in her last nine starts by capturing the $9,000 mares claiming handicap pace in 1:55.3 for her 11th triumph of the year. The Minnesota-bred 8-year-old by Place To Be has now won 42 career races, $163,618 and paid $3.80 as the favorite. She is owned by Peg Hoffman and trained by Gerald Longo. Dean Magee posted another big night with four wins on the Saturday program, as he continues to be the hottest hitting driver over the last few weeks, climbing from fifth in the standings to a very strong second in that time period. Live racing continues at Running Aces on Sunday (Aug 19) with first post at 6 p.m. CDT and a carryover of $18,547.05 in the Pick-5 Jackpot wager.