from Harness Publicists across North America

Saturday’s (August 14) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, Ocean Downs, Yonkers Raceway, Vernon Downs, Saratoga Gaming and Raceway and Batavia Downs.

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Mystery Chase and Poker Hat, two newcomers to the open handicap pace at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, battled coming down the stretch before the former edged Poker Hat to win the $28,750 race Saturday (Aug. 15) afternoon.

With Tim Tetrick in the sulky, Mystery Chase sat second behind the front running Poker Hat for much of the race before winning out by a half-length or so at the wire. Mystery Chase left from the six hole in the nine-horse field and grabbed the first quarter lead followed by No. 2 Tivoli Hanover (Eric Goodell) and Poker Hat, the even money favorite in the race. First split was timed in 26.4 before Poker Hat assumed command, getting to the half in 55.1 with Mystery Chase sitting in the pocket.

It stayed that way for three-quarters with timer reading 1:23 before the two went head-to-head coming down the stretch. Mystery Chase, trained by Donnie Russell stopped the timer in 1:51 with Poker Hat second and Sailing Cruse (Andrew McCarthy) third.

This was the fifth win in 13 starts for Mystery Chase.

Saturday afternoon’s 16-race card also featured nine divisions of the Pennsylvania Stallion Series for 2-year-old pacing fillies. First four divisional victors were Our Little Dragon (Howard Parker), 1:56.3; Panopsis (Tetrick), 1:55.3; Free Fi Girl (George Napolitano Jr.), 1:54.3, and TheSantafe Express (Napolitano Jr.), 1:55.4.

— John Zimich

Donald Dancer wins the Vernon J. Dancer Memorial

Berlin, MD — Racing at Ocean Downs Saturday evening featured the Vernon J. Dancer Memorial Race.

Vernon J. Dancer was a successful harness driver, trainer and breeder who was voted into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame. In the year 2000 he passed away at the age of 77. “If he saw what I see here today at Ocean Downs, he would love it,” said Vernon’s son Donald Dancer. “He was all about excellence and respect for the sport.”

Donald drove morning line favorite, 3-1 Evan Bo Bevan in his father’s memorial race.

Starting on the rail, Evan Bo Bevan took the early lead and held off the late pushes from his competitors and reached the wire in 2:02.1.

Second Hand News took second, with Amber Alert bringing in the top three.

After the race, Donald spoke about how he felt, regarding his win in his father’s memorial. “This isn’t the first memorial that has been set up for my dad, but this is the first time I’ve been involved. Winning the race just means so much to me. I know it would mean a lot to him as well. It’s my obligation to be the same type of horseman that he was. A horseman with complete respect for the horses and the sport”

Donald Dancer has 12 wins at the Ocean Oval so far this season, but is approaching a milestone of 5,000 wins in his career. The 53-year-old driver is actually the all time leading driver among the esteemed Dancer racing family.

— Ozi Menakaya

Dave Ain’t Here wins Open at Yonkers

Yonkers, NY — Dave Ain’t Here (Stephane Bouchard), protecting a Yonkers Raceway pocket from an inside assignment, rolled by favored Psilvuheartbreaker (Jim Meittinis) Saturday night in the featured $50,000 Open Handicap Pace.

Psilvuheartbreaker, the 11-10 choice from post position No. 3, led through fractions of 28, 56.2 and 1:24.1, with Real Nice (Brent Holland) trying it first-over.

The people’s preference owned a length-and-a-quarter lead into the lane, but was about to be overtaken, “Dave” angled from the pocket, widening to 2-1/2 lengths in a life-best 1:52. Arduous (Eric Abbatiello), stepping out of the claiming ranks for new connections, snapped second-over Heartbreaker,” with King Cat Anvil N (Jordan Stratton) and Pandora’s Sox (Billy Dobson) completing the cashers.

For “Dave,” an 8-year-old Blissfull Hall gelding owned and trained by Ettore Annunziata, he paid $11.20 (third choice) for his fourth win in 16 seasonal starts.

— Frank Drucker

Frankyluvsmeatbals just misses track mark at Vernon

Vernon, NY — Frankyluvsmeatbals displayed speed and stamina while pacing to a 1:51.2 triumph in Saturday night’s (Aug. 15) $9,000 featured ninth race at Vernon Downs.

Missing the track’s standard for 4-year-old geldings by one-fifth of a second, the black son of The Panderosa-Tospanini recorded his second current victory and 13th all-time. Maryann Plano owns the career-winner of $105,857, who earned his 1:50.1 record at The Meadowlands last year.

— Jim Moran

Fast miles continue at Saratoga

Dave Oxford photo

Eagle Real One clocked a 1:52 win in the Joe Gerrity Jr Memorial Open Pacing Series’ second leg.

Saratoga, NY — Last Saturday, Tuffofthetoughest posted the fastest mile of the year at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway as the Ray Schnittker trainee went wire-to-wire for a 1:52.4 win in the first leg of the Joe Gerrity Jr Memorial Open Pacing Series. This Saturday, Schnittker would set yet a new 2009 mark as Tuffofthetoughest’s stable mate Eagle Real One blasted out of the gate and never stopped, clocking a 1:52 win in the Series’ second leg.

Runover Feeling (Kim Crawford) would match the effort later on the Saturday card behind a first-over win in his division, getting the best of Tuffofthetoughest who was the race’s front-runner and eventual second place finisher.

The third division was won by longshot Capote (Frank Coppola Jr) who bested 1-9 favorite Blue Boy (Denis St Pierre) to capture the win at 29-1.

The third of four legs of the Gerrity Series will take place next Saturday night at Saratoga with the final and consolation races to be held on September 5.

— Mike Sardella

Scotts Rolls Royce Upsets in Batavia feature

Batavia, NY — Scotts Roll Royce has been one of the best horses in Western New York this season and on Saturday night (Aug-15) at Batavia Downs Casino racing fans got to see why.

Stepping up from the claiming ranks, Scott Rolls Royce unleashed a powerful burst of speed around the final turn to win going away in the featured $9,000 Open Handicap. The final time of 1:54.4 was the fastest pace so far during the 2009 Summer-Fall meet. Jimmy Whisman was at the controls for owner- trainer Greg Luther of Ohio. The win was the 12th of the season for Scotts Rolls Royce ($18.40) and raised his 2009 earnings to over $53,000.

Triple Bars (Robert Verney), first-over in the mile finished a game second while Oh Gee Whiz (Jim McNeight), who led for most of the mile, wound up third.

— Todd Haight