from Harness Publicists across North America

Tuesday’s (November 17) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Dover Downs, The Meadows, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs and Monticello Raceway.

Perfect M Forever continues hot streak at Dover

Dover, DE — Perfect M Forever retuned to the winner’s circle in the $26,000 Mares Open Pace on Tuesday at Dover Downs.

Fotowon photo

Perfect M Forever was a 1:53 winner in the Mares Open Pace.

In the feature race, after taking the lead it was all Eric Goodell and Perfect M Forever in a 1:53 victory. It was the fifth time in her last six outings that the 4-year-old Stand Forever-Perfect Model mare, trained by Josh Green, has won. The win brings her seasonal earnings for KSJ Stables to $128,067. Apache Dame continued her return to top form as Ross Wolfenden drove her to a second-place finish. Chloes Silver Star, last week’s feature race winner, had to settle for third.

North State Street Stable’s All Or None made her local debut a winning one in the $22,000 Mares Junior Open Pace. Corey Callahan piloted the Lorie Hamilton-conditioned Cam’s Card Shark-Heather’s Western 3-year-old to her fourth consecutive win and seventh of the season. Jonathan Roberts and Kellytuck Sophie rushed past early leader VC Atom N (Vince Copeland) at the half but could not hold off the challenge from All Or None in the stretch. Alice’s Restaurant was third with Ron Pierce at the controls.

Another streaking distaff, Donttellmewhattodo with Ross Wolfenden, racked up her third straight score in an $18,500 Filly and Mare pace. Darryl Gombert, Jeff Rose and Hankook Stable own the DM Dillinger-Murder Of One 6-year-old trained by Charles Cochran. Shady Sabrina (Eric Goodell) was next with Lofty Widget (Ron Pierce) third.

Jim Morand and trainer Les Givens teamed for four wins during the program. Corey Callahan, Ross Wolfenden and owner Nanticoke Racing had two wins each.

— Marv Bachrad

Dougs Fame makes it five straight at The Meadows

Washington, PA — An unhurried sixth at the half, Dougs Fame swooped the field with an uncovered :27.4 backside blitz and captured Tuesday’s $27,500 Preferred Handicap Pace — his fifth consecutive win — at The Meadows.

Dougs Fame hadn’t been further back than second at any point in his current streak, but Dave Palone allowed him to settle before launching his assault on the leader, War Boots. As Dougs Fame gobbled up ground, War Boots appeared to take a bad step and subsequently left the course.

Dougs Fame avoided the confusion and scored in 1:52.1. Aaron Merriman neatly guided Bobnoxious around the faltering War Boots, enabling the millionaire 9-year-old to preserve second, 1-1/2 lengths in arrears. Object Of Art was a non-threatening third. It was one of six wins on the 13-race card for Palone.

Ron Burke trains Dougs Fame, a 4-year-old son of Apaches Fame-Armbro Vertical who pushed his career bankroll to $278,551, for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, JJK Stables and W.W. Haas, Jr.

— Evan Pattak

Dennis menaces Open Handicap Trot field at Pocono

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Mike Simons came first up before the half with Dennis and took control of the race down the backstretch in the $30,000 Open Handicap Trot Tuesday at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, winning the race in 1:54.3.

This marked the first appearance in 2009 for the 4-year-old gelding trotter at the Northeastern Pennsylvania racetrack. Tabitha Teresczuk trains Dennis, a winner for the fourth time in 23 starts in 2009, with earnings of more than $122,000.

Leaving from the three post, Simons was sixth at the opening split, some six lengths back of Tom’s OK Lady (Greg Grismore) with the timer registering :27.2. At the half in :57.3, Dennis was second and still on the outside before the trotter exploded to the front to become the new leader at the three-quarter mark with a time of 1:25.3.

Dennis had a nine length lead at the top of the stretch and won by 4-1/4 lengths over Super Chuck (Joe Pavia, Jr.) with third place going to A Gentleman (Tom Jackson).

— John Zimich

Southbound Trucker keeps on trucking

Monticello, NY — If you think the announcement that Southbound Trucker wins the Open Pace again at Monticello Raceway sounds redundant it’s because it probably is. But then think about how all the horses, drivers and owners who have been chasing the veteran pacer all season long must feel and it’s a safe bet that redundancy is probably not the most prominent emotion.

Geri Schwarz photo

Southbound Trucker won another pacing feature, this time in 1:55.4.

On the afternoon of November 17, Southbound Trucker once again copped the weekly pacing feature as the veteran cruised to his 14th seasonal victory, this week in a time of 1:55.4.

Greg Merton was again in the slky for trainer Art Stametien and as ususal the 6-year-old Sharky Spur gelding dind his thing from off the early pace. Tricky Grin and Jordan Stratton fired to the lead but they found themselves on the limb as Billy Dobson and Blueridge D’Bang parked them to a :28.4 quarter before letting Tricky Grin take command.

Stratton then led the field by the half in :57.4 at which point Southbound Trucker, who had been content to follow in fifth position, moved to the outside and began his ramble toward the front end. Southbound Trucker took the lead on the outside as the field passed the third panel and from there it was catch me if you can — and nobody could — as Merton eased-up his charge in the deep stretch but still finished 1-1/2 lengths ahead of a fast closing Bilmar Rustler, who was driven by Mike Forte. Semalu Express sauntered home in third pace for Zeke Parker.

“I find it almost incredible how Artie can keep him so sharp after 34 races this year and 39 last year,” Merton said about Southbound Trucker. “I don’t know how he does it but I hope he keeps on doing it.”

With his victory Southbound Trucker paid $5.20 for win and increased his seasonal bankroll to over $76,000 for owner George Stamatein.

— John Manzi