Racing Roundup: Palazzo Princess upsets in Meadows F&M Preferred
September 3, 2010,from harness publicists across North America
Friday’s (September 3) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows, Saratoga Gaming and Raceway, Vernon Downs, Cal-Expo and Scioto Downs. Palazzo Princess upsets at 10-1 in Meadows F&M Preferred Washington, PA –— Trailing by 8-1/2 lengths at the half, Palazzo Princess picked up live cover, rallied wide through the stretch and scored a 10-1 upset in Friday’s $22,500 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Pace at The Meadows. On a day when a strong head wind kept many pacesetters from finishing well, Natalie made a powerful first-over move to wrestle the lead from Idol. But Natalie couldn’t withstand the late brush of Palazzo Princess, who poured through the lane for Eric Ledford and downed Natalie by a head in 1:52.1. An Original closed well for show. Paul Kennedy trains Palazzo Princess, a 4-year-old daughter of Jate Lobell-Hawaiian Exotica who triumphed for the fourth time in her last five starts and extended her career earnings to $364,036 for Paint Creek Farms. Dave Palone drove four winners and Tony Hall three on the 15-race card. — Evan Pattak Saratoga Gaming and Raceway Vernon Downs Cal-Expo Scioto Downs
It was a familiar trek back to the winner’s circle for Prime Interest on Friday night as the high class trotter recorded his seventh feature win of the season. The Jackie Rousse trainee had gone over a month without a win heading into Friday’s $16,500 Open, as long of a stint as he’s had without a victory in quite some time. That changed after leading driver Frank Coppola, Jr. moved the classy trotter right out to the front end at the start and they would wind up wiring the Open trotters in 1:56.3. Prime Interest withstood a first over challenge from the race’s favorite, Pembroke Prayer (Billy Dobson), before drawing off in the stretch. Pembroke Prayer had his three race win streak broken on Friday but finished a strong second. The Windsurfer A (Dan Cappello, Jr.) came on in the stretch to finish third. Prime Interest, who moved his career bankroll to over $443,000 with the Open win, returned $7.30 to win.
The wagering favorite My True Delight had to work hard before pulling out a neck victory in Friday night’s $11,000 featured sixth race at Vernon Downs. Fourth to the half, reached in :57.2, My True Delight continued to advance, reaching third entering the final quarter, where she took charge, and then held off a late rally by Lillywhites to post a 1:53.2 victory in the week’s Miracle Mile-1 contest for female pacers. She paid $7.90 to win. Claude Huckabone, III did the driving for trainer Tim Lanpher and owner Judy Lanpher as the 7-year-old daughter of Bettor’s Delight-My True Art collected her second local score, fifth this season and 26th all-time. It was the third tally in the last four outings for the career-winner of more than $251,000. Huckabone also won with the trotter Valley Crown to earn his third double at the 59-program meet. Defending driving champ Jimmy Whittemore captured three of Friday’s 10 races, while driver Rick Plano visited the winner’s circle on two occasions.
The tempo forced a strategy change, but Calzone (Rich Wojcio) was up to the challenge once again. Open 2 handicap trotters, racing for a $5,200 purse, were featured at Cal-Expo on Friday night in which Calzone showed his durability. Coming away last into a first quarter that would come up in a very deliberate :31, Wojcio’s hand was forced. On the move just after 3-16ths of a mile, the 5-year-old cleared to the point to the 7-16ths-mile marker and reached the half-mile juncture in 1:01.3. Getting rated in the third split, Calzone reached the three-quarter station in 1:31.4. Getting shown the whip to the top of the lane, the gelding went on while drifting slightly into the two-path, then drifted out a bit more at the seven-eighths-mile pole, but with a two length advantage. With Wojcio keeping the whip in the air, Calzone kept to business. Bred, owned and trained by Gordie Graham, Calzone won ($2.40) by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:59.4. Meringue (Tim Maier) sat the pocket to Calzone and finished second with trot. Berkshire (Steve Wiseman) finished another 2-1/4 lengths farther back in third while also having trot at the wire.
The tenth time was the charm. That was the case for Faster N Funk who was winless in nine starts before taking the Friday night trotting feature at Scioto Downs. The 4-year-old Chip Chip Hooray gelding scored in 2:00.1 for trainer-driver Sandy Beatty and owner Debbie Guiler. Favored Glide Right set the tempo for driver Shawn Barker as Beatty settled his trotter in the middle of the nine-horse pack. Faster N Funk moved into the outside flow before the half-mile marker. When the leaders started to slow with a quarter-mile remaining, Beatty moved Faster N Funk three wide and he prevailed in a cavalry charge that saw eight horses finish within 3-1/2 lengths. The winning margin was a head over Florida Mac Attack while Balance Spur got third money. Glide Right faded to finish sixth. Faster N Funk paid $18.40 to win. Last year Faster N Funk won four times and had three seconds in 21 starts but the best he could manage this year was a pair of third-place finishes in nine starts.