by harness racing publicists across North America

The Friday (July 14) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Buffalo Raceway, Plainridge Park, Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs, Scioto Downs and Saratoga Raceway.

Osprey Vision in focus at Buffalo Raceway

Hamburg, NY — Osprey Vision was in focus during Buffalo Raceway’s $8,200 co-featured trot on Friday night (July 14) as he went a lifetime best 1:57.1 over the fast track to produce a surprising $23.60 victory over Serious George. Lucky Pablo ($18.00) kept the upsets going in the co-main event by breaking an 0-for-20 streak in 2017 with a head victory over Shawnee Magic in 1:59.3.

Steve Roth photo

Osprey Vision scores the $23.60 upset in a lifetime best 1:57.1.

It was all Osprey Vision in the opener as David McNeight III sent him right to the top. Establishing fractions of :28.3, :58.3 and 1:28.0, it appeared the only trotter to have a chance to catch Osprey Vision was Before I Die. But his hopes were quickly dashed as he broke stride allowing Osprey Vision to hit the wire uncontested. Serious George (John Cummings Jr.) was 3-1/4 lengths back and picked up the second place check with Winkys Pride (Drew Monti) rolling into third.

Owned by Marissa Russo and trained by David Russo, the 8-year-old gelded Osprey Vision (Ken Warkentin-Summerhill Hallie) now has six wins in 24 starts, pushing his seasonal earnings to $43,214 and $142,947 lifetime.

It was a real tussle in the second $8,200 trotting race with Shawnee Magic, Trotting R T, and City Kid all enjoying the front end before hitting the opening panel in :29.1. With Shawnee Magic (Kevin Cummings) hitting the half in 58.2, Lucky Pablo was sixth but first-over and on the move.

Grinding it out to the top in the stretch, Lucky Pablo (Monti) got up in the shadow of the wire to nip the favored Shawn Magic by a head while a game City Kid (Larry Stalbaum) finished in third.

Lucky Pablo (Lucky Chucky-Classical Princess) is owned by Crawford Farms Racing and is trained by Maria Rice. The win moved the 5-year-old gelding’s winnings to $20,980 this year and to $97,317 in his career.

McNeight III, Cummings Jr., Stalbaum and Monti all produced doubles on the evening.

Racing will continue on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. with an 11-race program set.

For more information including the latest news, race replays, results and upcoming promotions, go to www.buffaloraceway.com.

— by Brian Mazurek

Plainridge Park

After spending the last two weeks competing at Yonkers Raceway, Better Said shipped back to Plainville and brought her New York attitude along as she would not be denied in the $18,000 Open Handicap for filly and mare pacers at Plainridge Park on Friday afternoon (July 14). Better Said (Shawn Gray) wanted the lead but had an arduous journey getting it. After leaving mid-pack she was still parked at the quarter in :26.1 and didn’t find the pylons until the three-eighths pole. Better Said then got a very short breather before the pressure was thrust on her once again. Elm Grove Inarush (Greg Merton) motored up the outside and drew alongside the leader down the backstretch and at that point this contest became a match race. Better Said was inside with Elm Grove Inarush on her flank and the pair separated themselves from the pack around the last turn. Merton tried hard to keep Elm Grove Inarush advancing but Gray leaned back in the bike with the lines held high and Better Said held sway to win by a length in 1:52, which was a new seasonal mark. It was the fourth win of the year for Better Said ($6.00) pushing her earnings to $42,840 for owner Michael Polansky. The 5-year-old daughter of Well Said is trained by Kyle Spagnola. In the co-featured $10,000 conditioned pacing event for resident distaffers, Golden Idol (Eddie Davis Jr.) flew off the wings and dictated every step of the mile as she peerlessly toured the facility before pulling away to a six-length win in 1:52, which was a new lifetime mark. Golden Idol ($3.80) is owned by Barrie Farrar, Roger Farrar II and Michael Perpall and is trained by Barrie Farrar. Kevin Switzer Jr., Eddie Davis Jr., Jim Hardy and Greg Merton all had driving doubles on the card. Live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon at 4 p.m.

Tioga Downs

Northern Soiree (Mike Merton) would charge late to steal Fillies and Mares Open Pace II ($9,000) on Friday (July 14) at Tioga Downs. K J’s Caroline (Jim Taggart Jr.) would charge out to the early lead but Shutthefrontdoor (Scott Coulter) would take over after the first quarter. Shutthefrontdoor (Well Said) would get pressured at the three-quarter mark by Iaquinta (Mike Simons). Northern Soiree (Western Ideal) who is owned by Sam Rosenberg and trained by Patti Harmon, would go three-wide in the stretch and soar by to win in 1:52.1. The 7-year-old mare would get her sixth win of the season winning in a career best 1:52.1, paying a whopping $19.00 for the win. K J’s Caroline (Roddy’s Bags Again) would come up to finish second. Goldstar Rockette (Aaron Byron) would finish third. Fern Paquet Jr. would have the hot hand tonight, winning three times. First with DC Flashback ($5.30). Second win was with Scarlett N Silk ($11.20). He picked up the driving triple with Heart Crusher ($9.40).

Vernon Downs

Wings of Royalty (Chris Lems) won the trotting feature ($9,500) at Vernon Downs on Friday night (July 14). Owned by Raymond Campbell and trained by George Ducharme, Wings Of Royalty (Rc Royalty) would fly out of the gate and control all the fractions, :28.1, :57.1, 1:24.3, 1:52.4. The 7 year-old horse would pay $2.70 for the win and won for the 17th time in his career. Winding Hill (Jimmy Whittemore) was second with Lucid Thoughts (John MacDonald) getting third. John MacDonald and Chris Lems continue to slug it out for driver title. MacDonald was shutout tonight but leads with 54 wins for the season. Chris Lems added three wins to his total tonight. He also won with Mittnage A Trois ($4.00) and Gimme The Cash ($3.70). That gives him 52 for the season. Jimmy Whittemore is a distant third with 28. Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Saturday with a nine-race card starting at 6:45 p.m. For more information please go to www.vernondowns.com.

Scioto Downs

A TC Queenie came to put on a show for her six competitors during the $25,000 open trot at Scioto Downs on Friday (July 14) as she took the win in her first time back in this class.
It was A TC Queenie (Kayne Kauffman) who took the early lead off the gate to gain the lead over Kanthaka (Aaron Merriman) where the two battled it out during the race. It was a close battle down the stretch where A TC Queenie was trailing behind Kanthaka and Lets Go Bucks (Dan Noble). The three would cross the wire in a close photo for first, second and third.
A TC Queenie beat Kanthaka by a nose, where Kanthaka beat Lets Go Bucks by a neck stopping the clock at 1:54.2. The 4-year-old mare is trained by Ron Steck and owned by Z Tam Stables. She got her third career win of the season bringing her to a total to 11 wins for her career. It would be Ohsowigglesspecial who stepped up and stood out in the $25,000 open pace in a new lifetime mark of 1:52.2. Dan Noble was in the sulky and was able to get the job done and win two in a row for this mare, trainer and co-owner, Joe Paver. Pearl Warren and Dennis Paver as the other connections. Ohsowigglesspecial kept a low profile during the race sitting fifth most of the race, it was wasn’t until she hit the top of the stretch when she was able to show the other girls what she could bring to the table. Holding out for the win over Youlookhot (Randy Tharps) who took second, Nora Rockewell (Josh Sutton) taking the third place check and fourth Somewhere Sweet (Aaron Merriman). Live racing will continue Saturday (July 15) with a 14-race card, post time 6:30 p.m. For a complete race schedule, visit the Scioto Downs website at www.sciotodowns.com.

Saratoga Raceway

The track’s defending Filly and Mare Pacer of the Year So Nice (Ponder) has been at it again of late at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Amber Buter trained distaffer got off to a bit of a slow start in 2017 but in recent months has straightened things right back out. So Nice scored her first victory of the year while competing in Pennsylvania in late May and since returning to the Spa in June has reestablished herself as a top flight mare. The 7-year -ld was the 3-5 betting favorite in the $14,000 Fillies and Mares Open on Friday night (July 14) and moved out to the early lead after putting up a first quarter in a speedy :26.4. After getting a brief breather, So Nice was tested throughout the majority of the second half but proved to be up to the task. The veteran mare, who was driven to victory by Jimmy Devaux, stopped the timer in 1:52.1 to set a new seasonal mark in her fourth victory of the campaign. Tataria (Mark Beckwith) finished second in the feature while Godiva Seelster (Wally Hennessey) came on for third. With the earnings from the Friday score, So Nice is now just a couple thousand shy of reaching the half-million mark lifetime. Devaux piloted three winners on Friday night after securing five victories on the Thursday card at the Spa. Live racing continues on Saturday night with a first post time of 6:45 p.m.