from Harness Publicists across North America

Tuesday’s (July 14) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Vernon Downs and Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

My Girl Lora wins sixth of year at Vernon

Vernon, NY — My Girl Lora became the winningest pacing performer, while Tip The Tide and Hanger Pride N tied the trotting high mark during Tuesday night’s racing at Vernon Downs.

Fotowon photo

My Girl Lora posted her sixth 2009 Vernon Downs score on Tuesday.

Jimmy Whittemore did the teaming for his dad, owner and trainer Dennis Whittemore, as My Girl Lora ($15.20) took command of the sixth race nearing the three-quarter mark and continued on to a 1-1/4 length triumph, becoming the first equine to reach six scores in 38 current Vernon programs.

Tuesday’s “Family Night” tally marked the seventh season’s score and 23rd all time for the 6-year-old daughter of Space Shuttle-Under The Sheets, who earned a 1:53.2 speed mark in the process. The steady side-wheeler is now a career winner of more than $109,600.

Tip The Tide, a 1:56.3 winner in Tuesday’s seventh race, and Hanger Pride N, who posted a career-best 1:57.4 score in the ninth event, joined Crown Rules and L’Argent Hall as the only diagonally gaited horses to achieve four victories at the meet to date.

Leading driver Howard Okusko, Jr. and trainer Jessica Okusko each recorded three triumphs during Tuesday’s nine-race card, while defending dash champ Josh Marks and last season’s top trainer Tracy Brainard each produced a pair of first-place finishes.

— Jim Moran

Grain Of Truth wins Open Trot at Pocono

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Big Boy Lloyd, a 4-year-old Dream Vacation gelding, pushed his lifetime earnings over the $200,000 mark Tuesday night in winning the $25,000 Open Trot at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

The win was the sixth in 16 starts and the first in Open or Open Handicap Trot competition since June 2 at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. Grain Of Truth’s last seven starts all were in the Open Handicap Trot there.

Driven by Jim Morrill, Jr. and trained by Ken Rucker, Grain Of Truth left from the seven hole in the eight-horse field and was caught on the outside for the first quarter of the race, sitting fourth behind track newcomer Four Starz Robro (Anthony Napolitano) with the quarter reading :27.1.

Shortly thereafter, Morrill and Grain Of Truth made the front, getting to the half in :56.2, three-quarters in 1:25.1 and crossing the finish line in 1:54. Instant Photo (Howard Parker) finished 1-1/2 lengths behind with third going to Four Starz Robro.

Morrill, the track’s leading driver, collected two wins on the night to push his 2009 total to 175 on the 60th race day of the 135-day meet.

— John Zimich