from Harness Publicists across North America

Wednesday’s (July 15) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Ocean Downs and Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

Plenty of first time winners at Ocean Downs

Berlin, MD — Wednesday night racing at Ocean Downs exhibited a number of horses winning for the first time at the track this meet.

Sorceress Hall ($5.40) ran away with the first race. This 2-year-old filly finished second in her earlier race at the track in June. Utilizing great post position in this race to her advantage, Sorceress Hall came out of the first post quick to lead the entire race. She paced the first half-mile in 1:02 and took the wire in 2:02. Sorceress Hall is trained by Thomas Swann and was driven by David Hill III.

Arriving from Harrington Raceway to also win his first race at Ocean Downs this meet was Concertino ($2.80). Driven to victory by Sam Belote, this 4-year-old horse trotted to the wire in a fast 2:01.

Continuing the trend and winning his first race at Ocean Downs this meet was Broule Hanover ($11.00). This 5-year-old gelding raced four times in Ocean Down’s initial late closer, the Bud Light Pace Series, but failed to place better than third. Wednesday evening the pacer, trained and driven by Bryan Truitt, finally won here at the Ocean Oval, ending the race in 1:59.

The feature race of the evening was a fantastic race to watch. It featured the winner of the Bud Light Series Pace, Mr Thinker.

“He’s a true classy horse,” said trainer Charlene Polk about Mr Thinker. “He gets in good where he fits. As long as he gets away good, he has a very great chance of winning.”

Mr Thinker ($2.40) left the gate extremely well and won the $7,500 claiming class race. Polk says that the 9-year-old veteran racehorse is trained easy; that just a light jog is Mr Thinker’s form of Wheaties.

— Ozi Menakaya

Riley Rose is impressive at Pocono Downs

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Riley Rose, a 6-year-old Real Artist mare trained and driven by Sean Bier, turned in her second straight impressive effort Wednesday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

She came out on top in the winners over $25,000 lifetime handicap pace for fillies and mares, winning by a neck over Nip N Attack, driven by Jim Morrill, Jr. with a time of 1:50.3. In her only other 2009 start at the Northeastern Pennsylvania five-eighths oval Riley Rose won in 1:51.1.

“I didn’t want to get away third,” said Bier, who left from the No. 4 post with Nip N Attack leaving from the No. 6 hole.

Riley Rose battled Nip N Attack for the early lead with the opening split being timed in :26.2 before the latter took over with the half registered in :54.4 with the two horses in front of the field. Don’t Deny Me (Jason Bartlett) joined the two front runners at the three-quarter pole and the battle was on coming down the stretch before Riley Rose won by a neck over Nip N Attack with Don’t Deny Me third.

“Things worked out well for us in this race,” further offered Bier. “We beat some tough horses. I’m going to give Riley Rose a week off so she can get fresh. Hopefully, she’ll come out of this race sound.”

Matt Romano, who only drove in two races Wednesday night, brought two longshots to the winner’s circle. He won with 24-1 Beretta Hall in the 13th race for $30,000 claiming horses, colts and geldings, and came back in the first half of the late Daily Double with 148-1 Puttin On The Charm. That win came from the eight post and the winning horse paid $299.60, $83.80 and $21.40.

This was the trotter Puttin On The Charm’s second lifetime win in 55 starts. The 5-year-old gelding trotted the mile in 1:57.4. Beretta Hall, a classy 7-year-old stallion, won in 1:52 to boost his earnings to almost $420,000.

— John Zimich