from harness publicists across North America

Thursday night’s (Aug. 11) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Vernon Downs and Saratoga.

My Lucky Word leads Lems grand slam

Vernon, NY — After Vernon Downs’ leading driver John MacDonald notched five victories on Wednesday night’s card, current runner-up Chris Lems posted a natural grand slam to start off Thursday evening’s nine-race program — taking the featured $7,500 Miracle Mile trot with My Lucky Word ($7.00) as part of the sequence.

Lems sent the 4-year-old Lucky Chucky mare to a clear lead in the compact field of four, controlling the terms through easy splits of :28.1, :57.2 and 1:26.3 before posting a :27.4 closing quarter to evade a late push from even-money favorite Twice Too Nice (John MacDonald), who stalked intently from the pocket. My Lucky Word prevailed by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:54.2 for her 13th career win. Dave Dewhurst trains My Lucky Word for owner Philip Hale.

Lems also teamed up with Cascata ($6.10, 1:53), Patton ($3.70, 1:57.3) and Illusionsndreams ($9.20, 1:57.3) to lead all drivers on the night.

Claude Huckabone III posted a training and driving double, upending odds-on favorites with Act Of Valor ($15.60, 1:56.3) and Wine Photo ($30.00, 1:54.4).

Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday (Aug. 13) evening, with post time set for 6:45 p.m. (EDT).

— James Witherite

Saratoga
Craziville (Crazed) prevailed in Thursday’s feature at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The 3-year-old trotter scored a victory in the $8,000 trot for New York sired high-steppers and did so in career best fashion. Bet down to odds of 1-5, Craziville had to survive a battle in the stretch before drawing clear late to win in 1:59.3. The Kyle Spagnola-trained gelding raced on Tuesday night in the New York Sire Stakes Excelsior B and did well to secure a second place finish in that one despite starting from the outside post position. Thursday’s victory was just the second of the season for Craziville though the sophomore trotter has hit the board 11 times in his 17 starts in 2016. The win was the second consecutive on the card for driver Frank Coppola Jr. who piloted a 1-5 favorite to victory in the evening’s previous race for a different Spagnola. Trainer Dave Spagnola’s No Tears Blue Chip (Roll With Joe) scored convincingly to record his third win of the year as the public’s choice on Thursday. Coppola completed a natural hat trick when he guided claiming pacer Southern Swan to a mild upset for Dave Spagnola in the evening’s sixth race on a night in which Coppola and the Spagnolas thrived. Live racing continues on Friday night at Saratoga with a 7:05 p.m. first post.