from harness publicists across North America

Friday’s (May 13) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Buffalo Raceway, Vernon Downs and Saratoga

Red Clay goes from last to first in Buffalo win

Hamburg, NY — Luck was on the side of Red Clay on Friday (May 13) at Buffalo Raceway.

Steve Roth photo

Red Clay collects his first win of the season by coming from last place.

After making a costly break while leading the pack last week, Red Clay was on his best behavior this time around and scored a neck victory in 1:59.2 over Lucky Pablo in the featured $8,200 trot.

Sitting sixth and last past the half mile pole, Red Clay started his march to top as Lucky Pablo set the splits of :29.3, :59.4 and 1:30.2 over the fast track. At the top of the stretch, driver Shawn McDonough and Red Clay went three-wide, stayed on gait, and put a neck in front just before the wire. Lucky Pablo (Jim Morrill Jr.) was a broken-hearted second and Striker Ace (Ray Fisher Jr.) third.

Co-owned by Patricia Cappotelli and trainer Carmen Cappotelli, Red Clay (American Mike-Ersa Kash) is a 6-year-old gelding who won for the first time in his third start of the campaign. His seasonal earnings moved to $5,142 and $30,956 lifetime.

McDonough, Morrill Jr. and David McNeight III finished the evening with a driving doubles while trainer John Mungillo had a pair of victories.

Racing will continue on Saturday (May 14) at 6 p.m. with an 11-race program scheduled. The Pick-5, which begins in the fifth race, will have a carryover of $1,217.

For more information including upcoming promotions, race replays, results and the latest news, go to www.buffaloraceway.com

— by Brian J. Mazurek

Vernon Downs

A Penny Earned ($3.00) lived up to odds-onbilling in the featured trotting event Vernon Downs on Friday (May 13) night,posting a 1:54.2 mile to claim the winner’s share of a $7,500 purse. Chris Lems sent the 7-year-old Conway Hall gelding to thefront from the outset, working clear of My Lucky Word (John MacDonald) througha :27.3 first quarter mile. After rating a :29.2 breather in the second quarterand dismissing of My Lucky Word, A Penny Earned was forced to accelerate by thefirst-over Winding Hill (Jimmy Whittemore), who pressed to withinthree-quarters of a length on approach to the far turn. A Penny Earnedresponded immediately to the challenge, ultimately edging clear to a two-lengthtriumph, the 28th of his career. Winding Hill sustained his pursuit in second,while My Lucky Word was nine lengths detached in third. Trainer George Ducharme co-owns A Penny Earned with AlfredRoss, Paul Fontaine, and Nicola Oliva. John MacDonald led all drivers with three wins on thenine-race card, while Lems recorded a double. The 50-cent Pick 5 once again went uncovered, resulting in acarryover of $1,101 to Saturday (May 14) evening’s program. First post isslated for 6:45 p.m. EDT.

Saratoga

Campanile (No Pan Intended) continued her dominance of the Friday (May 13) features at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Chris Marino trainee prevailed for the third consecutive week in the feature for fillies and mares as she overcame her assigned outside post position to make the early lead: a lead she would never relinquish. Austin Siegelman piloted the 7-year-old mare to her eighth victory of the year and fifth at the Spa in 2016. Campanile held off the late challenge of her co-favorite Bettorhaveanother (Bettor’s Delight) to score in 2:00.2 in the 1 1/16 mile Open for distaff pacers. Longshot Elm Grove Inarush (Mark Beckwith) came on to finish third in the $15,000 feature. Campanile paid $6.30 to win as the race’s 2-1 co-favorite and led an exacta and triple that returned $22.20 and $111.50, respectively. Campanile is owned by Mike Casalino, Jr. Live racing continues at Saratoga on Saturday night (May 14) with first post time set for 6:45pm.