from harness publicists across North America

Wednesday’s (June 17) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Harrington Raceway, The Meadows, Harrah’s Philadelphia, Buffalo Raceway and Hippodrome 3R.

Powerful Charger reels in win Wednesday

Harrington, DE — Jim King Jr. and Tim Tetrick’s Powerful Charger ($8.40, Victor Kirby) notched his seventh win of the year Wednesday in his 1:54.1 triumph in the $16,000 Open Trot at Harrington Raceway.

The 7-year-old Powerful Emotion gelding stalked pacesetter Tough Mac throughout the mile before edging clear of that rival in the final strides. Rolls Blue Chip finished third.

Trained by co-owner King Jr., it was the 29th career win for Powerful Charger. It is sure to be an eventful week for trainer King Jr., who trains Wakizashi Hanover (5-2, Tim Tetrick), a North American Cup elimination winner who will compete in the C$1 million final at Mohawk Racetrack (Ontario, Canada) on Saturday June 20. The North American Cup Final is slated as the 12th race on the Mohawk program with an estimated post time of 10:40 p.m.

Kirby had three driving wins on the program. Art Stafford Jr. had two wins.

— Matt Sparacino

The Meadows
Atta Boy Dan battled Sam Hill for the early lead but was unassailable once he reached the top, scoring in 1:50 in Wednesday’s $18,000 Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Pace at The Meadows. Sam Hill stretched Atta Boy Dan to a demanding 26.3 first quarter. Rather than weakening late, however, the 6-year-old Western Terror-Dropitlikeitshot gelding drew off late for Dave Palone, downing the rallying Ideal Magic by 2-1/2 lengths. Sam Hill finished third. Ron Burke trains Atta Boy Dan, who extended his career bankroll to $321,117, for Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Tony Hall piloted four winners on the 14-race card.

Harrah’s Philadelphia
A field of eight lined up behind the starter for the featured event on Wednesday afternoon (June 17) from Harrah’s Philadelphia, a pace for non-winners of $15,000 in their last 5 starts. The favorite at post time was Joe Pavia Jr. trainee Steelhead Hanover. The 6-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight was looking to rebound after a last place finish from post nine at Pocono in his last start. At the start, the favorite was put into play immediately, settling for pocket position behind the speed of Jodi Siamis’ Eighteen (Geo. Napolitano Jr.). They remained first and second past the half (:54.3). Morning line favorite Mcardle’s Lightning (Scott Zeron) drove up to challenge for the lead, as they reached three quarters in 1:22.1. Eighteen was able to quiet the bid of the first-over challenger, but was unable to stop the stretch surge of Steelhead Hanover (Tim Tetrick). With a last quarter of :26.3, Steelhead Hanover won by a length, stopping the clock in 1:49.1. Eighteen did finish second, while Mcardles Lightning finished third. It was the 20th career win for Steelhead Hanover ($4.40) in his 80th career start. He is owned by Dijo Racing, Agc Stables, J. Barbera, and Pint Size Racing. Driver Tim Tetrick continued his hot hand with five wins on the card.

Buffalo Raceway
One thing is for certain, seven isn’t a lucky number for Justgottogetthere. With four starts in his last six outings coming from the seven post, Justgottogethere has come up empty. But the 6-year-old gelding has been lights out when drawing from the six post inward, going a perfect 4-for-4. Wednesday night (June 17) was a perfect example of that. Justgottogetthere took advantage of some much appreciated post relief and went gate-to-wire to claim the featured $9,500 conditioned trot at Buffalo Raceway. Driver Jim McNeight took the pace-setting Justgottogetthere right to the lead from the three-hole and posted splits of 28.3, 59.0 and 1:28.1. In the stretch, however, Justgottogetthere ($3.10) was begging for the finish line as BZ Glide (Mike Caprio) was charging fast but finished a disappointing neck behind in 1:57 over the fast track. Serious George (Shawn Gray) took the show position. Now victorious eight times this season in 15 starts, Justgottogetthere (Valley Victor-Mara’s Theme) is co-owned by Antonietta Landi and North Creek Racing LLC. He has earned $46,327 in 2015 and $126,938 lifetime. Kisses N Kicks ($10.40) ground out a first-over trip and pulled away from the field late in the $9,500 Open II for the distaff pacers. A Cameo In Life posted the fractions of 29.2, 59.0 and 1:28.1 but Kisses N Kicks started the slow and steady grind on the rim just before the opening half. In the drive to the wire, Kisses N Kicks had little trouble holding off her competition and took a 1-1/4 length victory in 1:57. Infrontigo Hanover (Jim McNeight) finished a non-threatening second while Country Delight (Jack Flanigen) rallied for third. Driven and trained by David McNeight III and owned by Courtney McNeight, Kisses N Kicks (Life Sign-Kissing Rain) has now won six times in 20 starts this season, putting $41,588 in the bank. It upped the 7-year-old mare’s career total to $166,460. Kevin Cummings finished the night with three victories and Jim McNeight had a driving double. Racing returns to Buffalo Raceway on Friday night at 6:35 p.m. with a 10-race card scheduled.

Hippodrome 3R
Promesse Imperial made it three straight wins at the Hippodrome 3R Wednesday, but the young colt was tested big time as he made two three-wide moves in the race. Driven by Jerome Lombart, Promesse Imperial tried leaving from post five in the sixth race feature trot at 3R only to find that SOS Afterthestorm (Francine Morrissette) was on the lead fighting with SOS Justice (Michel Fontaine), so Lombart wisely backed Promesse Imperial away from the dogfight and settled in fourth place. Meanwhile, SOS Afterthestorm stung SOS Justice to a :28.3 opening quarter mile. Then they went to the half-mile in a speedy :58 as Lombart started Promesse Imperial first-over and they were able to flush SOS Afterthestorm from the pocket in the backstretch, but he was not advancing enough so Lombart asked his colt to try again and they tipped out three-wide. Past the three-quarters in 1:29.1, SOS Justice still had the lead and Bouffon P V (Yves St. Jacques) joined the fight fanning four-wide trying to loop the field as they started down the stretch. But Promesses Imperial proved to be the strong horse as he came on in the stretch and then held off a late charge by Dance Hall George (Gaetan Lamy) to win by three-quarters of a length in 2:01.3. There was a dead heat for third between Bouffon P V and SOS Robocop (Stephane Brosseau). Not only was it the third straight win for Promesses Imperial, it was also a lifetime mark as the 3-year-old homebred colt by Imperial Angus continues to improve as he prepares for the upcoming Quebec-Bred Series. Trained by Andreane Lapierre, Promesses Imperial is owned and was bred by Jerome Lombart of Bromont, QC and paid $6.20 to win. Longshots were the order of the night at 3R, starting in the first race with Gringo ($73.40), the seventh race with The Platinum Guy ($20.30), the eighth race with Amanda Star ($48.80) and the ninth race with Shanghai Ben ($71.70). Driver Denis St. Pierre had the hot hands Wednesday, winning four races on the program. Management at the Hippodrome 3R announced today that first-race post time for regular racing program on Wednesday (June 24) will be advanced to 1:30 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. In addition, the post time for the qualifiers scheduled before this racing program will be advanced from 6 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. Live racing resumes Sunday with first race post time at 1:30 p.m. For more information visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.