from harness publicists across North America

Friday’s (Sept. 26) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Harrah’s Philadelphia, Vernon Downs, Batavia Downs and Saratoga Casino and Raceway.

Regil Elektra captures Philadelphia feature

Chester, PA — A field of eight fillies and mares lined up for the Friday feature from Harrah’s Philadelphia, a winners over $25,000 lifetime pace.

At the start, it was Dylan Davis trainee On The Cusp (Marcus Miller) getting away for the lead, with longshot Social Scene (Tony Morgan) securing the pocket, in a quarter that went in :26.1. After a half in :54.1, pressure came in the form of Ms Caila J Fra (Andrew McCarthy) who rushed up to take the lead by three-quarters in 1:22.

At the top of the stretch, Ms Caila J Fra was clear by four lengths, but favored Regil Elektra (Victor Kirby) shook loose from the rear of the field, rallying up to win by a head, stopping the clock in 1:51.1. Ms Caila J Fra finished second while Rockaround Sue shook loose late to be third.

The winner returned $4.80, keying a $48.40 exacta and a $119.00 trifecta.

Regil Elektra is owned by the Fred Monteleone Stables and is trained by Monte Gelrod.

— Mike Bozich

Vernon Downs
Oh No Three O (Ken Warkentin-Melinda Hall) was sent off as the even-money favorite by the betting public in the $10,000 featured trot at Vernon Downs on Friday night and he rewarded their support with a win in 1:54. Oh No Three O (Fern Paquet Jr.) trailed the field through the early fractions of :27.1 for the quarter and :55.3 for the half, while A Penny Earned (Chris Lems) was setting the pace. Oh No Three O benefited from live cover from Evil Urges (Jimmy Whittemore), who moved first-over as the field went up the backstretch. Evil Urges, in fact, made the lead as the field passed three-quarters in 1:24. A Penny Earned tried to fight back, but Oh No Three O made a strong charge down the outside to out finish the field of five and score the victory. Evil Urges was home second. A Penny Earned was actually passed at the end by Helios (Claude Huckabone III) for third. The complete order of finish was Oh No Three O, Evil Urges, Helios, A Penny Earned, and Wild And Crazy Guy. Oh No Three O is owned by Charlene Long. Paul Long is the trainer.

Batavia Downs
After getting hung out to dry last week, Armed Dangerously ($6.10) bounced back with the best effort of his career in winning the $9,000 trotting feature at Batavia Downs on Friday night. At the onset of the race, Justgottogetthere (Jim McNeight) made a laborious trip to the front after being parked out by Starlitestarbrite (Shawn McDonough) in :28.4. Then after taking his two length lead past the half, Dartmouth Hall (John Cummings Jr.) initiated the outer flow and took Armed Dangerously (Jim Morrill Jr.) along with him. When the pair drew near Justgottogetthere before the three-quarter pole, Cummings elected to tuck Dartmouth Hall in behind the leader while Morrill urged Armed Dangerously to trot on. Morrill’s decision ended the race because Armed Dangerously pulled away around the last turn and down the stretch to post a wrapped-up, three length victory in 1:57.4. The winning time was a new lifetime mark. Justgottogetthere gallantly hung on for second and Force Nine (Ron Beback Jr.) closed to show. It was the seventh win in 21 starts this year for the 5-year-old Cash Hall horse and it drove his annual earnings up to $38,511 for owner Mike Torcello. Armed Dangerously is trained by Gerry Sarama. There were also two divisions of the C.K.G. Billings amateur driver series on the docket. The first $4,500 division went to Windsong Destroyer ($16.40) driven by Richard Roach and the second $4,500 division went to Allpointsbulletin ($6.60) driven by Steve Oldford. Driver Jim Morrill Jr. piloted three winners on the night while Drew Monti registered a driving double. Morrill is currently the second ranked percentage driver in North America among all reinsmen starting at least 500 times this year. He is boasting a gaudy .403 UDR which is only .005 from the top spot.

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
Stirling Cadet (Conway Hall) continued his sensational season on Friday night at Saratoga Casino and Raceway. Harold Smith owns and trains the 3-year-old trotter who had a dominant summer racing in the New York Sire Stakes Fair Circuit after competing at a high level in overnight races at the Spa this spring. Stirling Cadet went on a tear this summer and piled up win after win at the fairs before winning the $10,000 final on Monticello by an incredible 15 lengths with Jim Devaux in the sulky. Devaux piloted Stirling Cadet in the $7,000 winners of two but not more than four lifetime trot and moved the breakout trotter out to the early lead in a sizzling opening quarter of :27.4. The race’s second choice in the wagering held off the favored Sheer Action (Billy Dobson) in the stretch before stopping the timer in 1:57.4. The win time served as a lifetime mark for the trotter who has now put together a season in which he has 12 wins and seven second place finishes in 21 starts en route to more than $40,000 in earnings. Sheer Action finished second while longshot Bull Spreader (Mickey McGivern) earned the show spot.