Racing Roundup: Righteous extends winning streak to six at Tioga
July 3, 2009,from Harness Publicists across North America
Friday’s (July 3) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Tioga Downs, Yonkers Raceway, Rockingham Park, Harrah’s Chester, Vernon Downs, Saratoga Raceway, Buffalo Raceway, Scioto Downs, Cal-Expo and Hoosier Park.
Righteous extends winning streak to six at Tioga
Nichols, NY — Righteous and leading driver Jimmy Marohn, Jr. tallied their sixth win in a row at Tioga Downs on Friday night.
Fred Brown Photography
Righteous ran his winning streak to six on Friday at Tioga Downs.
Since shipping into the Paul Bernardo stable on May 23, Righteous has yet to be defeated at Tioga. The 4-year-old son of Conway Hall-Set The Program went to the front and never looked back through fractions of :28.2, :58.3, and 1:28.4 before coasting home a winner in 1:59. Slated For Success (Fern Paquet, Jr.) slipped loose late for second, while Affaro Hanover (Kyle DiBenedetto) finished third.
Matthew De Cillis and Jack Hazan own Righteous, who with the victory increased his win total on the season to 11, and lifted his seasonal earnings to more than $28,000.
In the featured $12,000 Open Handicap Trot, Diva Diva (Andy Santeramo) posted her seventh victory in 20 starts on the year. The 6-year-old daughter of Yankee Paco-Lean Cuisine was one of two mares in the field and despite a tough first over grind got up to win in a photo. The win increased her seasonal bankroll to more than $58,000. Diva Diva is trained by Julie Bishop for J L Benson Stables Inc.
Andy Santeramo posted a driving grand slam on the night’s ten race card, while Phil Fluet and Bruce Clarke posted doubles.
— Dustin Ross
American Lane, Sentbytheangels win Yonkers co-features
Yonkers, NY — The night before we celebrate American Independence, we salute American Lane. The millionaire added to his seven-figure bankroll Friday night, wiring Yonkers Raceway’s co-featured $48,000 Open Handicap Trot.
With Cat Manzi taking his customary seat for trainer Carl Cito, Jr., American Lane — the 6-5 favorite from penultimate post position No. 7 — stepped around pole-sitting Armbro Barrister (Jeff Gregory) before a :28.1 opening quarter-mile. From there, walk-around fractions of :59 and 1:28.1 left American Lane with more than enough in reserve.
He threw in a :28.1 kicker for a 1:56.2 effort, getting to the line a measured three-quarters of a length before Armbro Barrister. Stonebridge Diablo (Jason Bartlett, five winners on the 13-race card), a first-up Victor’s Vicky (Jordan Stratton) and last week’s winner, Chick N Tell (Stephane Bouchard) completed the cashers. Chick N Tell was done in by an unenviable combination of an outside assignment in a “paceless” trot.
American Lane, a 7-year-old Primrose Lane gelding co-owned by David Scharf and Jerry Silva, returned $4.40 for his eighth win (46th career) in 20 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $16.80, with the triple paying $77.50.
Friday night’s co-featured Filly and Mare Open Pace saw Sentbytheangels (Ryan Anderson) get by the leader right on the money.
After Quicksilvercandy A (Larry Stalbaum) rolled from post No. 3 — through intervals of :28.1, :57 and 1:24 — she slapped five lengths on the field turning for home. However, the wheels began to get wobbly, and Sentbytheangels — the 6-5 choice despite three weeks of R&R — extricated herself from a tiring pocket-sitter, Cowgirls N Indians (Bouchard), and took off after the leader. The people’s preference made it to the church just in time, winning by a head in 1:54. Cowgirls N Indians, Jinni’s Fantasy N (Gregory) and Eagle Hilarious (Jordan Stratton) grabbed the small coin.
Sentbytheangels, an 8-year-old daughter of Run The Table trained by Joe Anderson for owner Gerrie Tucker, returned $4.50 for her eighth win in 23 ’09 tries. The exacta (two favorites) paid $10, with the triple returning $26.80.
— Frank Drucker
Bruce Ranger wins four at The Rock
Salem, NH — Rockingham Park leading driver Bruce Ranger had another big day on Friday, winning four of the 10 races on the card.
Ranger, a two-time driving champion in the two previous years he competed full time at The Rock, also won four races on a single card this season on June 7. In 2003 and 2004, Ranger turned in six and seven win days on several occasions and he once won eight races on one program for an all-time Rockingham record.
On Friday, Ranger started the day with a win in the first race with Scoot Diablo ($6.40), and then was victorious in the fifth with Casimir Godzilla ($2.80), the seventh with Cadence N ($6.60), and the ninth with Kid Conway ($5.00).
Also on Friday, the second annual Rockingham Park Pet Food Drive got off to a fast start with all segments of the racetrack and community at large coming together to contribute bags and cans of dog and cat food to benefit the New Hampshire Food Bank. Donations will be accepted throughout the July 4th holiday weekend and may be dropped off in the Clubhouse and Grandstand lobbies from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
— Lynne Snierson
Blueridge Western wins in 1:51 at Harrah’s Chester
Chester, PA — Coming off a third-place finish to Foiled Again in the Battle of Lake Erie at Northfield Park, Blueridge Western picked up right where he left off at Harrah’s Chester Casino and Racetrack, taking the $30,000 To Ri Boy on Friday evening in 1:51.
The 4-year-old Allamerican Ingot gelding stalked pacesetters Dontloseyourdayjob (Richie Silverman) and Domitian Hanover (Eric Goodell) before edging first-over with one circuit to go. After a half of :55.2, Blueridge Western applied steady pressure to Dontloseyourdayjob up the backstretch through a three-quarter split of 1:22, reeling in Dontloseyourdayjob with 150 yards to go and holding off a late charge from McCedes (Corey Callahan), who switched three-wide off the far turn.
Tony Morgan drove Blueridge Western for owner Francis Azur and trainer Kevin McDermott. Blueridge Western’s 19th career win pushes his earnings to $966,464.
— Harrah’s Chester Publicity Department
Four share the Friday spotlight at Vernon
Vernon, NY — Prime performances by Forty Carrots, Eng-amer Davanti, Chuck Connor, Jr. and Howard Okusko, Jr. were highlights of Friday night’s nine-race program at Vernon Downs.
Fotowon photo
Forty Carrots won his pari-mutuel debut in 1:56 for Jim Bailey.
Forty Carrots became the track’s initial 2-year-old winner of the season following a 1:56 pacing performance in Friday’s first race. Following a front-striding 1:58 qualifying score on June 26, Forty Carrots used similar tactics to chart his first official start in the victory column. Trainer Jim Bailey did the teaming for owners Richard Clair and Lance Gordon.
Eng-amer Davanti came within two-fifths of a second of the fastest trotting mile of Vernon’s 56th season after a 1:54.1 triumph in the $5,500 featured eighth event. Having logged nine 2:00 tallies here for owner-trainer Tracy Brainard during the past two seasons, Eng-amer Davanti returned from Canada’s Mohawk Raceway and completed a career-fastest mile for Connor, that bettered his previous record by 1-3/5 seconds.
Connor, a former two-time Downs driving champion, recorded his initial triple of the local campaign, while Okusko, the track’s current driving leader, raised his win total to 51 after securing his seventh hat trick of the meet.
In addition to Eng-amer Davanti, Connor also finished first with the trotters Witness Perfection and Glory’s Comer, while Okusko’s tallies came behind Sweet Baby Jane, Tip The Tide and Cross Creek Whiz.
— Jim Moran
Hennessey wins four at Saratoga
Saratoga Springs, NY — At the start of the weekend in which Wally Hennessey will compete in the Hall of Fame race in Goshen, N.Y., the sensational reinsman again reminded us why he is enshrined in the Hall with his performance on Friday night at Saratoga.
Dave Oxford photo
Colie’s was one of Wally Hennessey’s four winners on Friday at Saratoga.
Hennessey drove four winners on the program that started in the early evening due to the fireworks performance at the conclusion of the races.
Hennessey guided favorites Pretty Wicked and Colie’s home first for his brother, trainer Dan Hennessey, and also scored victories behind Love’s Conquest and Pimlicos Treasure on the Friday card.
While Hennessey again shined on Friday night, it was another racing veteran that took the evening’s feature race. Bubba Dunn is enjoying an incredible season in 2009 for trainer Melissa Beckwith as he again won an Open Trot on Friday at the Spa. Mark Beckwith was at the lines for the 10-year-old trotter’s back-to-back wins.
This win came in 1:57.1, the fastest of the five wins this year for the classy high stepper. The time also set a track record for 10-year-old trotting geldings at Saratoga. Bubba Dunn returned $9.50 for the win. Pablo Angus (Dan Cappello, Jr.) was the runner-up in the feature while Princess Maddie (Hennessey) earned the show spot.
— Mike Sardella
Australian Stock wires the field in Buffalo Open
Hamburg, NY — The early season trotting sensation Australian Stock, a 5-year-old Angus Hall gelding out of the American Winner mare Katya Hanover, went wire-to-wire in 1:59.1 and won the $9,000 Open Handicap Trot for owner David J. Slyman at Buffalo Raceway on Friday night.
Driven by Kevin Cummings, Australian Stock ($10.80), leaving from the pylons in the field of seven, made every pole a winning one in beating six rivals for his fifth win of the 2009 campaign. Setting fractions of :29.3, :59.3 and 1:29.2, Australian Stock and Cummings beat second place finishers Jack Sparrow and driver Jim McNeight by two lengths. Cade Callihan (Ray Fisher, Jr.) came in the show spot.
Trained by D. J. Millner, the $4,500 share of the purse put Australian Stock’s season’s bankroll at $29,699 and $265,842 lifetime.
It was the second win for Cummings, who had three on the night. Kevin also scored with Thomas Be Quick ($5.20) and Ima Cricket Also ($32.00).
In the $9,000 Filly and Mares Open Handicap Pace, Ken Holliday guided Jezzabell Hotspur ($4.60) to her ninth win of the season for owner Betty Tauber, hitting the timer in 1:57.1.
“She’s just a pretty good old mare,” said Holliday. “She shows up every week to do her job.”
— Sam Pendolino
The Mame Event takes top trot at Scioto
Columbus, OH — The Mame Event took command of his nine rivals with a bold move past the half-mile marker and went on to win Friday’s featured trot at Scioto Downs. The 4-year-old gelded son of Chip Chip Hooray scored by 7-3/4 lengths in 1:57.
The winner was steered by Tony Hall for trainer Scott Cox and defeated Dream On Shorty and Christina Victory.
The co-featured pacing event was taken in a gate-to-wire performance by I Give Youmy Word, trained and driven by Rocky Stidham. The 4-year-old daughter of Dragon Again prevailed by a length over April Thirty and Gran Cameo.
— Dean A. Hoffman
TV Mom gets the trip at Cal-Expo
Sacramento, CA — Open handicap trotters, racing for a $7,100 purse, were featured at Cal-Expo on Friday night, in which TV Mom was the fastest of all.
Coming away in fifth position from post four in the field of six, driver Lemoyne Svendsen was well aware of his surroundings at the quarter-mile pole, timed in :29.3.
“I knew Easter Call (Rick Plano) was behind me and figured I better wait inside because he’d be coming at some point and I’d follow him,” said Svendsen.
Staying inside as planned when the 6-5 favorite Easter Call pulled first-over from last at the half-mile marker, timed in :58.4, Svendsen would soon have some brief concerns.
“I was a little worried once Easter Call passed me and I went to follow him because she wasn’t catching up to him as quickly as I thought she would. But then halfway in the turn I knew I was okay because she did catch up with him.”
Following the live cover of Easter Call on the final bend, Svendsen found himself and his charge just 2-1/2 lengths back at the three-quarter station, timed in 1:28.4.
“I knew it was going to be a race from there because that’s what “Mom” does.”
Moving three and four wide for the drive at the same time Easter Call was taking over the lead, the fight was on, but Svendsen was confident.
“I thought I’d be able to get by Easter Call because I knew my horse would give me all she had and that’s what she did.”
Wearing down a game Easter Call in deep stretch, TV Mom would win ($17.40) by one length. Owned by Maurice Sigmon and trained by George Reider, the 6-year-old stopped the timer at 1:58.1, thus recording her 28th career win. Easter Call had to settle for second, and Cherry Tree Luke (Jim Lackey) made a nice rally to be third, just a neck farther back.
“It was a very good race for one of my favorite horses to drive here,” finished Svendsen.
— Scott Ehrlich
Sara’s Lucky Charm wins first start at Hoosier Park
Anderson, IN — Sara’s Lucky Charm became just that for first time owner Jon Taylor on Friday, winning her first career start in a leg of the Sandra Lil series at Hoosier Park Racing and Casino. The 2-year-old filly paced her mile in a time of 1:56 for Taylor, who co-owns the Electric Yankee filly with Indy Lane Stables and John McGill.
A bulky field of 11 lined up behind Todd Nixon’s starting gate for the second leg of the series. Sara’s Lucky Charm waited patiently to get into racing mode, giving Scruuppti and Trace Tetrick a free rein at the front for fractions of :27 and :57.2. Sara’s Lucky Charm was then on the outside and on the move for Dan Shetler, enduring a first-over journey to the three-quarter marker in 1:28.1.
The positioning seemed to be only a stepping stone for Sara’s Lucky Charm as she continued to move forward in the stretch. Kilo Dream and Brandon Bates found a good gear late and began closing in quickly from the extreme outside, but their efforts were too late as Sara’s Lucky Charm held on for the win by a half-length.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” said Shetler. “She (Sara’s Lucky Charm) has a big engine. I drive a number of horses for Wilbur (Eash) and he does a great job. This filly looks like she has a lot of potential. I just wanted to race careful and just take care of her.”
The win for Shetler behind Sara’s Lucky Charm was one of four on the racing program. The black filly is trained by Wilbur Eash.
“It makes a good impression when you win the first start for a new owner,” said Eash of Taylor’s first win. “She (Sara’s Lucky Charm) is a nice filly, and she looked good warming up. I just kept my fingers crossed. I was hoping Dan (Shetler) could duck her. I was tickled the way she raced today.”
Sara’s Lucky Charm, named after breeder Lavon Miller’s wife, heads into the $20,000 Sandra Lil final on Saturday, July 11, for Million Dollar Indiana Championships Day, featuring Indiana-sired trotters and pacers vying for a total of $1 million in purses.
— Tammy Knox