by harness publicists across North America

Wednesday’s (Sept. 10) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Monticello Raceway, Harrington Raceway, The Meadows and Batavia Downs.

Rose Run Nash wins for 18th time at Monticello

Monticello, NY — Rose Run Nash scored his 18th victory of the season at Monticello Raceway on Wednesday afternoon (Sept 10) when Jimmy Marohn Jr. drove him to s 1:57.4 triumph over On The Podium driven by Bruce Aldrich, Jr.

Geri Schwarz photo

Rose Run Nash (No, 3) kept his claim to most wins by any horse in 2014 by scoring his 18th victory Wednesday at Monticello Raceway.

The 5-year-old altered son of Trainforthefuture has moved four victories ahead of Too Salty and continues to lead North America in races won this year by a trotter. In fact Rose Run Nash trails Mighty M pacer Shortest Distance by just one triumph for most victories by any Standardbred in 2014.

Coming into the contest off a 1:57.4 victory last week Rose Run Nash repeated that performance with a gutsy victory.

The race began with Larry Stalbaum sending Mr Invincible to the front and carrying Marohn’s trotter to a :27.4 first quarter before they relinquished command. Once on top Marohn kept the pedal to the metal and had a two-length lead at the half as the timer tripped :58.

Up the backside the betting favorite On The Podium, in from Saratoga Raceway, trotted by Mr Invincible and was in second position behind the pace-setter as they trotted by the third stanza in 1:27.4.

When the field headed for home Rose Run Nash had already held off a challenge from Typical Newyorker (Mike Merton) and still had a one length lead. However, by mid-stretch Rose Run Nash was visibly tired but he was dead game when On The Podium rallied along the pylons.

Rose Run Nash gave such a great effort that his head swung from side to side like a pendulum with each hard fought stride toward the finish line. So much so that the head swinging was visibly noticeable to the railbirds who got to see a determined veteran equine give his all to win a race, something that Rose Run Nash has done 17 times previously this year.

“He was running out in the stretch and I let him do it so as not to interfere with his determination to win. And I wasn’t jerking his head from side to side, he was doing it himself reaching down for something extra with each of his final strides,” Marohn said in the winner’s circle as trainer Danny Gill held his pupil’s head and kept chipping “number 18-number 18” referring to Rose Run Nash’s season win total.

“I’ve driven a lot of horses but I don’t think I ever felt the determination that Rose Run Nash showed in his victory today,” Marohn added. “Maybe he is used to winning but he surely gave his all in victory today. And people will tell you they (horses) are dumb animals, but when you are around them you know better.”

Rose Run Nash is owned by Ed Hall. He paid $4.40 for win.

— John Manzi

Harrington Raceway
All good things must come to an end, but for I Like My Boss, that time is not now. The venerable trotter extended the longest current unbeaten streak to start a career in North America with his 15th consecutive win in the $17,000 Open Trot Wednesday (Sept 10) at Harrington Raceway in 1:56.4. I Like My Boss ($5.20, Jon Roberts) survived his first test versus Open class trotters, holding off Spunky Jack in a tight finish for a narrow win. I Like My Boss, owned by Jimmy and Ashley Parsons and trainer Bob Shahan, set all the fractions in his victory. After a comfortable lead most of the mile, Spunky Jack posed a fierce challenge in deep stretch, but under urging from Roberts, I Like My Boss responded and kept his record unblemished. The Delaware sire stakes champion, I Like My Boss, boosted his lifetime bankroll to nearly $240,000. Victor Kirby had three winners on the program. Allan Davis and Roberts each had a double.

The Meadows
Trailing by 6-1/2 lengths at the half, Classicality went widest in the stretch to pull off a 16-1 shocker in Wednesday’s (Sept 10) $18,000 Preferred Handicap Trot at The Meadows. It was the second consecutive Silky Sullivan-style upset for Classicality, who triumphed last week at 10-1. Waiting On A Woman took the field through the half in 56.3, but a 27.3 third panel made her vulnerable to Classicality’s late charge. The 4-year-old Classic Photo-Penn Worthy Lane gelding rolled home for Brian Zendt in a career-best 1:53 to down Better Caviar by 3/4 lengths. Daylon Miracle earned show. Lisa Dunn-Adams trains the homebred Classicality, who now boasts $143,427 in lifetime earnings, for Dunn Stable. Dave Palone drove five winners — three for trainer Ron Burke — on the 15-race card while Aaron Merriman fashioned a four-bagger.

Batavia Downs
In what has become a fairly regular event, a ship-in mare circled the locals in the top distaff race at Batavia Downs on Wednesday night. It’s A Miracle ($3.40) with Drew Monti aboard, proved to be the best mare on the grounds this week despite having to take the overland route in a pelting rain. As the starter released the girls for the seventh race feature, last week’s winner She’s A Maniac (Jim McNeight) flew to the front and led the field in post position order behind her to the quarter in :28.1. Halfway through the turn, Monti pulled It’s A Miracle and flushed Dontch Remember (Shawn McDonough) for live cover as they motored to the half in :57.4. The field got small as they were three in and three out at the three-quarters in 1:26.2 when Monti yanked the right line and tipped the 4-year-old Always A Virgin mare three-high. Around the last turn it was She’s A Maniac at the pylons with Dontch Remember outside of her and It’s A Miracle outside of her. When they straightened out, Kevin Cummings swung notorious closer Bazooka Terror four-deep around the pack and chased It’s A Miracle all the way down the stretch. But their effort was to no avail as Monti basically line-drove his mare to the wire, victorious in 1:55.3. Bazooka Terror was second and Dontch Remember was third. This was the fifth win in 28 starts for It’s A Miracle, boosting her annual earnings to $94,450 for owners Blindswitch Racing Stable, Santo Farina, David Sebolsky and Stanley Yaskowitz. It’s A Miracle is trained by Jose Godinez. The Monti/Godinez team also captured the co-featured Mares Open II with Cooking The Books ($7.10) in a similar off-the-pace fashion, winning by two lengths in 1:55. Downs driving domineer Kevin Cummings scored another grand slam on Wednesday night, giving him 68 wins for the meet and 242 for the year. Cummings is the tenth leading UDR driver in North America with a .355 mark.