from harness publicists across North America

Friday’s (May 22) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows, Saratoga Casino and Raceway, Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs and Buffalo Raceway.

Phone Terror prevails in $18,000 Meadows pace

Washington, PA — Phone Terror challenged Do Me Honor midway down the backside and needed the rest of the mile to put her away as she captured Friday’s $18,000 Filly & Mare Not Listed Preferred/Preferred Handicap Pace at The Meadows.

Phone Terror was sitting third when Dan Rawlings sent the 6-year-old daughter of Western Terror-Miss Lex after Do Me Honor. The mares dueled gamely, with Phone Terror a neck in front in 1:53.3 at the wire. The ground-saving R Marie Hanover finished third.

Robert Barnard trains Phone Terror, who extended her career bankroll to $355,001, for Lucy Raymond.

Tony Hall piloted three winners on the 12-race program.

Live racing at The Meadows resumes Tuesday (May 26), when the card features a $7,500 total pool guarantee for the Pick-4 (races four-seven). First post is 12:55 p.m.

— Evan Pattak

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
It’s A Miracle (Always A Virgin) scored her second Open win in the last three weeks at Saratoga Casino and Raceway on Friday night. The Jose Godinez-trained mare powered out to the early lead in :27 and moved to retake the lead after yielding briefly to last week’s Open winner Road Bet (Stephane Bouchard). It’s A Miracle withstood challenges from several rivals before drawing clear to win the $18,000 Fillies and Mares Open in 1:53.4. Bruce Aldrich Jr. piloted the 5-year-old mare to her fourth victory of the season. Road Bet held strong to finish second while Let’s Go Higher (Billy Dobson) closed for third. It’s A Miracle returned $6.70 to win as the public’s second choice in the wagering. The exacta paid $35 and the triple $172.50. Live racing continues on Saturday night at Saratoga with a 6:45 p.m. first post.

Tioga Downs
Sliding third-over on the backstretch before circling four-wide off the turn, Mach It A Par ($10.20) passed all seven of her rivals in Friday evening’s featured $10,000 conditioned pace for fillies and mares at Tioga Downs. The 5-year-old Mach Three mare took no part in the pacesetting proceedings, languishing at the back of the field through a sensible :56.1 half-mile. Before reaching the backstretch, owner/driver Dan Clements moved Mach It A Par third-over to track live cover behind Jets Are On (Corey Braden) and Maejusmac (Mike Simons). As Jets Are On turned up the pressure on pacesetter Rock N Load (John Cummings Jr.) past a 1:25.1 three-quarter split, Maejusmac made a three-wide bid, carrying Mach It A Par four-deep off the far turn as Jets Are On struck the front at the eighth pole. Mach It A Par would ultimately slingshot to the fore, passing Jets Are On in the final 50 yards to prevail in 1:53.3. Rock N Load was a worn down but gamely beaten third and Maejusmac checked in fourth after showing minimal kick off live cover. Renaldo Morales III trains Mach It A Par, who scored her ninth career win. Clements scored a driving double on the evening’s eight-race card, as did Fern Paquet, Jr. and Mike Simons. Live racing returns to Tioga on Saturday evening, with first post at 6:15 p.m. The week’s schedule rounds out with a special Sunday evening card and an all-stakes Memorial Day afternoon program, which features the first leg of the new Graduate Series for 4-year-old pacers and trotters along with New York Sire Stakes events for 3-year-old pacing fillies.

Vernon Downs
Michael Casalino’s Purity ($6.60) was never in doubt, sprinting off through a :55.1 back half to soundly defeat her four rivals in Friday evening’s $10,000 Mares Open Pace at Vernon Downs. The 4-year-old Always A Virgin mare had no trouble securing the top spot from her inside post, rating a soft :57.4 first half-mile while facing nary a challenger. On the far turn, she edged clear of pocket sitting The Filly Princess (Chris Lems) and first-over Always As Fast (Joe Nassimos), opening up the margin to two lengths through a :27.2 third quarter. Off the corner, Purity continued to amass a clear advantage over the others, ultimately putting 6-3/4 lengths on The Filly Princess for a 1:53 triumph. Tiger Boudoir (Truman Gale) held third off a tracking trip. Jimmy Whittemore drove Purity for trainer Jeff Lieberman. For Whittemore, the win was one of three on the night, also teaming up with Thats My Dream ($7.80, 1:57) and Incredible Gambler ($5.30, 1:54.2). John MacDonald also recorded a driving hat trick, victorious with Precious Rose N ($5.30, 1:56.2), Pancakes ($3.20, 1:55.4) and Sistas ($8.30, 1:59.1) on the 11-race card. Racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday evening, with the first of 11 races due for a 6:45 p.m. start. The 3-year-old trotting fillies take center stage in New York Sire Stakes action, with 25 trotters contesting three divisions.

Buffalo Raceway
Driver Jack Flanigen steamrolled his way to five victories while it was ‘family night’ for the Monti crew in sharing top honors at Buffalo Raceway Friday evening. Flanigen posted wins behind Dedalos ($5.40), Secluded Island ($5.90), Farmersixfournine ($4.80), Classic Camelot ($22.00) and Cracker Stoney ($14.80). Driver Drew Monti picked up three victories while father Darrin had a pair of training wins on the 13-race program. The Monti stable took the opener as Ooga Booga (co-owned by grandfather Carl Monti and Darrin) rolled to a popular $2.60 decision while later in the evening they saw Im The Cash Man (owned by Carl) go gate-to-wire for a paltry $2.60 return. Drew Monti capped the hat trick with Sam Can who found the winner’s circle for a $14.00 payoff. Buffalo Raceway’s leading driver Kevin Cummings had three wins, all of which were for trainer Kirk Desmond. Racing continues on Saturday night at Buffalo Raceway with a 13-race card slated for 6:35 p.m.