from harness publicists across North America

Friday’s (Oct. 9) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows, Yonkers Raceway, The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, Vernon Downs, Batavia Downs and Saratoga Raceway.

Palone wins six at The Meadows, including feature

Washington, PA — Out before the half, I’m The Pied Piper launched a relentless first-over move through the slop that carried him to a narrow victory in Friday’s (Oct. 9) $20,000 Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Pace at The Meadows.

Let go at 10-1, I’m The Pied Piper was fifth before Dave Palone sent him after the leader, Cammikey. The 6-year-old son of Western Ideal-Lisjune finally edged away in the stretch and held off the late rally of Dealin Dan by a nose in 1:52. Cammikey saved show.

Ron Burke trains I’m The Pied Piper, who extended his career bankroll to $286.830, for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Panhellenic Stable and JJK Stables.

Palone piloted six winners — four for Burke — on the 15-race card while Tony Hall fashioned a four-bagger.

A special Saturday program at The Meadows features the $200,000 Pennsylvania Fairs championships, including $25,000 finals in eight divisions. First post is 6:55 p.m.

— Evan Pattak

Yonkers Raceway
There’s a new leading lady in town. Odds-on favorite Al Raza N (Jordan Stratton, $3.90) ground down triple millionairess Anndrovette (Jason Bartlett) Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $48,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace. In her first start at the adult table, Al Raza N, from post position two, was her usual unhurried self. Outside numbers Anndrovette and Cinamony (George Brennan) both were put into play, with the former seating the latter. After early intervals of :27.2 and :55.4, Al Raza N took out of fourth. She engaged Anndrovette toward a 1:23.2 three-quarters (:27.3 third quarter), with Anndrovette owning length lead into the lane. However, Al Raza N was far from done, going past by three-quarters of a length in a life-best 1:52.1. Cinamony, who angled off the pylons for the drive, couldn’t match strides and settled for third. Envious Hanover (Brent Holland) and Justhaven’tmetuyet (Eric Carlson) settled for the remainder. For Al Raza N, a 5-year-old down under daughter of Gotta Go Cullect owned by Durrazzanno Stables and trained by Augie Abbatiello, it was her sixth win in 16 seasonal starts (3 wins and a second since arriving stateside). The exacta paid $29.60, the triple returned $153.50 and the superfecta paid $923.

The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono
Fancy Desire ($12.80), the 2014 Lynch Memorial winner at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono but winless in 23 starts until coming home first last week, made it two straight in Friday night’s $24,000 mares pacing feature here, storming home in 55.1 – 27.2 to complete the sloppy track mile in 1:52.2. After winning off the pace last week, Fancy Desire was sent frontwards early by driver Anthony Napolitano, making the lead in 27.3, then resting to the half in 57.1, before engaging in the sprinting tactics that enabled the daughter of Real Desire to win by a length over pocket-sitting Handsoffmycupcake. Gallie Bythe Beach rallied from second-over to be third, another length back and a neck ahead of the field’s lone sophomore, Stacia Hanover, who was 2-5 despite having raced only once in 48 days and who found first-over into such quick back numbers a bit too hard to handle here. The Daniel Renaud-trained winner sent her bankroll to $108,568 for the season and $461,310 lifetime for owner Robert Di Nozzi. This was the last Friday night card of 2015 at Pocono; the track will now operate on a Tuesday-Wednesday-Saturday basis until the curtain rings down on November 21. Tomorrow night’s feature is a $26,000 pace, in which Bushwacker, second behind a big win by Mach It So in last week’s feature, figures to be winging early as he starts from the rail in the eight-horse field.

Vernon Downs
On a Friday (October 9) evening where steady rain and a stiff headwind in the home straight severely affected the closing ability of many, only one horse of the 78 which raced at Vernon Downs on the 10-race program could muster a final quarter mile faster than 29 seconds. That horse was 3-year-old trotting colt J A T O ($3.00), and his :28.2 closing sectional propelled him to his fourth win in as many local starts after he enjoyed dominance on the New York State fair circuit. Fern Paquet, Jr. settled the son of Big Apple Deli well off a soft early pace in the $5,500 sub-featured event, rated well off a 1:00.3 initial half mile from Charming Dream (Claude Huckabone, III) before angling second-over to track Jersey Boy (Josh Kinney) on the approach to the far turn. While Jersey Boy forced a quickening :29.2 third quarter from Charming Dream by stepping up the pressure through the turn, J A T O fanned three-wide off the corner, vaulting clear in the final furlong. The William Okusko trainee drew off by 4-1/4 lengths for a 1:59 triumph over sloppy going, earning his 23rd career win in 25 races for Margaret and Amy Butler. In the evening’s featured $8,000 Open II Trot, War Hero ($3.80) brushed to the lead at race’s midpoint, drawing clear at will for a 7-1/4 length win over Big Chocolate (Jimmy Whittemore) and the mildly gaining Oh No Three O (Jeffrey Long), stopping the timer in 1:58.4 after posting a monstrous :27.4 third quarter. Ben McNeil drove the homebred 7-year-old Ken Warkentin gelding for owner Howard Gill and trainer Jessica Okusko. Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday (October 10) evening, with the first of nine races due off at 6:45 p.m. Eastern time.

Batavia Downs
In as definitive a manner as could be displayed, Tequila Haze ($11.20) led at all stations en route to capturing the $7,700 Open II trotting feature at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Oct. 9). While weekly regulars Lutetium and BZ Glide were not in the race, Tequila Haze (Jim McNeight) took full advantage of the opportunity and used his gait speed to power to the front off the gate, and take immediate command of the race. Enjoying a loose-length lead, McNeight took the field through fractions of :29.2, :59.3 and 1:28.3 before raising the lines and giving Tequila Haze his head around the last turn. With some rocking and knocking encouragement down the lane, Tequila Haze held strong and hit the wire in front in 1:58. Keystone Wild Card (Drew Monti) was second and Studio City (Dave McNeight III) was third. It was the fourth win of the year for the 4-year-old gelded son of Muscle Mass and it raised his seasonal earnings to $33,399 for owners Michael Ventura and James McNeight Jr. Shawn McDonough scored a driving triple of Friday’s card while Jack Flanigen and Ray Fisher Jr. both had doubles. Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Oct. 10) with post time for the first race set at 6:35 p.m.

Saratoga Raceway
Kaitlyn Rae parlayed a perfect pocket trip for connections trainer Rene Allard and driver Billy Dobson, to score in tonight’s filly and mare open in 1:53.4.