from Harness Publicists across North America

Tuesday’s (August 4) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs and Saratoga Raceway.

Nicole’s Promise wins Open Handicap Trot at Pocono

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Nicole’s Promise, close in her last two starts in the Open Handicap Trot at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, beat the boys Tuesday night in a thriller. The 6-year-old Dream Vacation mare, driven by Tom Jackson and trained by John Marshall, won by a nose over a fast closing Chosen Voyageur (Andrew McCarthy) with the timer reading 1:54.

In her two previous starts against the boys, Nicole’s Promise had been a close second to Gift Kronos and third to Grain Of Truth.

Nicole’s Promise, 0-for-9 coming into the Tuesday night race, sat third for the opening split behind Four Starz Robro (Kevin Sizer) and Chosen Voyageur. Jackson and the winner took over the lead before the half and held off Chosen Voyageur at the wire with Man About Town (George Napolitano, Jr.) finishing third in the race that carried a purse of $28,750.

G Ts Graig, a 14-year-old pacing gelding, keeps rolling along like old man river. With Anthony Napolitano in the sulky, G Ts Graig won for the 10th time in 2009 for trainer Ron Burke. The graybeard went wire-to-wire from the No. 1 post in a race for $12,500 claiming pacers. Time of the mile was 1:54 and there were mulitiple claims on the 1-2 favorite in the race.

— John Zimich

National Pastime grabs initial 2009 victory

Saratoga Springs, NY — As the baseball season goes through the heart of its season, it was a different National Pastime that took center stage at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway on Tuesday night.

The claiming pacer was down in company seeking his first win of the season, despite having hit the board in four of his previous six starts. Brian Cross moved the favorite to the lead approaching the quarter pole and withstood relentless pressure throughout the mile before recording the win in 1:56, the fastest mile of the night by a full second.

National Pastime is owned by Lindsay Karlin and Dave Dennett and trained by Andy Sardella.

The meet’s leading driver, Frank Coppola, Jr., lengthened his already hearty lead on the first Tuesday of live racing at Saratoga as he piloted four winners on the summer card.

Live racing continues with New York Sire Stakes featured on Wednesday and Thursday evenings with first post of 7:20 p.m.

— Mike Sardella