from harness publicists across North America

Friday’s (Sept. 12) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Yonkers Raceway, Scioto Downs, The Meadows, Batavia Downs, Vernon Downs and Saratoga Casino and Raceway.

Royal Cee Cee N, Somebody AS win features at Yonkers

Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway’s Friday night (Sept 12) $44,000 co-featured Open Handicaps—one for distaff pacers and one for trotters of any gender that’s out there–were won by a from-last Royal Cee Cee N (Brian Sears, $15) and Somebody AS (Dan Dube, $17.60).

Unhurried from outside her seven rivals, Royal Cee Cee N saw last week’s victress, Venus Delight (Jason Bartlett), out past a :27.1 opening quarter-mile and into turn two before making the lead. The slight 2-1 choice then rated a :56.2 intermission before Classy Lane Rose (Dube) moved from fifth.

However, she didn’t continue that bid in and out of a 1:24.4 three-quarters, forcing Campanile (Eric Carlson) wide and Royal Cee Cee N even wider.

Venus Delight opened a couple of lengths in and out of the final and looked home…and a relentless close by Royal Cee Cee N. Sixth—nearly five lengths back–turning for home, she snapped Venus Delight on the money, winning by a nose in 1:53.3. Campanile, Set Me Up (George Brennan) and Strings (Eric Goodell) rounded out the payees.

For millionairess and fifth choice Royal Cee Cee N, an 8-year-old Down Under daughter of Christian Cullen owned and trained by Mark Harder, it was her sixth win (third consecutive and 40th career) in 24 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $114, with the triple returning $293.50.

The week’s marquee trot was a two-speed number, with 2013 Yonkers Trot champ Dewycolorintheline (Jordan Stratton) putting up intervals of :28.1, :58.3, 1:26.3, all the while shadowed by Somebody AS. The latter, after an early sequester from post position No. 4, went inside and went by. The margin was three-quarters of a length in 1:55.

Wishing Stone (Brennan), last week’s winner–and this week’s 9-5 choice–Traverse Seelster (Tyler Buter) and Obrigado (Brent Holland) completed the cashers.

For fourth choice Somebody AS, a 5-year-old Striking Sahbra gelding co-owned by Acl Stuteri AB & Kjell Johansson and trained by Anette Lorentzon, he’s now 4-for-15 this season. The exacta paid $90, the triple returned $847 and the superfecta paid $2,806.

Driver Brian Sears won six races on the night.

— Frank Drucker

Scioto Downs
Tall Cotton sets a new track record of 1:53.2 for an aged gelded trotter at Scioto Downs. The previous record of 1:54 was held by JJ Hall and War Cry Hall. The 8-year old son of Revenue S out of B Cor Peatra is trained by Ron Burke who also owns along with Weaver Bruscemi, Ed Gold and Howard Taylor. Tall Cotton started from post four in the field of eight condition trotters. Chris Page had the lines and chased after the $18,000 purse. Page left hard for command and trotted an opening quarter in :27.3. Dan Noble and Fusion Man followed suit and were able to drop in second. The quick pace continued on to the half clocked in :55.4. Boy Meets Girl K and Randy Tharps started their first-up rally and pushed the pace down to three quarters in 1:24.4. Fusion Man sat the pocket until wheeling in mid-stretch to give his bid, but would be just a head shy. Final Breath and Hugh Beatty were a closing third. She’s Shocking sets a new career best of 1:51 in the $25,000 Filly and Mare Open Pace. The 5-year old mare by Electric Yankee out of Notorious One is conditioned by Scott Mogan who partially owns with Diamond Chip Stable and Charles Guiler. Kayne Kauffman had the assignment from post six in the full field of nine, but that didn’t deter him from leaving. She’s Shocking left like a rocket along with heavy favorite, Betterluvnexttime who cleared to the opening quarter in :26.2 and provided a perfect pocket trip to She’s Shocking. The pace didn’t slow much as they paced to the half in :54.4. Sissy Bar and Dan Noble started their first-over bid and gave cover to a second over Sweetheart Dance. Sissy Bar applied pressure as they paced down to three quarters in 1:22.3. This left Kauffman licking his chops as they battled until the top of stretch. She’s Shocking waited for room from a tiring Sissy Bar to pull out and pace a head clear of Betterluvnexttime. Jim Pantaleano and Sweetheart Dance came on for third.

The Meadows
Camcruiser Hanover stalked patiently from the pocket, then blew by in the Lightning Lane to complete an 11-1 upset in Friday’s $20,000 Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Pace at The Meadows. Major Belle wrested the early lead from Camcruiser Hanover but had to step a lively 26.4 opening quarter to do it. In the stretch, Camcruiser Hanover was the fresher horse. The 5-year-old Yankee Cruiser-Cami Whitestocking gelding roared through the Lightning Lane for Jim Pantaleano to triumph in 1:51.1, 1/2 length better than the rallying Southern Allie. Major Belle saved show. Paul Corey trains Camcruiser Hanover, who extended his career bankroll to $138,796, for Edgar Hunt and Robert Gritzer. Dave Palone drove six winners and Tony Hall three on the 15-race card.

Batavia Downs
For the second straight week and three out of his last four, BZ Glide came from well off the lead via a furious stretch drive to capture the $9,500 top trotting feature at Batavia Downs on Friday (Sept. 12). Heavy post-time favorite Lutetium (Kevin Cummings) sprang off the gate, circled around co-leaver Sack Full Of Gold (Drew Monti) and made his way to the lead immediately after the third race started. He pulled the field along to a :59.4 half before coming under attack from Justgottogetthere (Jim McNeight) who was motoring up the outside. While the top two were slugging it out past the five-eighths, BZ Glide (Mike Caprio) was seven lengths off, sitting seventh on the rail before Caprio got his horse in gear. By the time the trotters hit the top of the lane, BZ Glide was on Justgottogetthere’s back and in full flight tipping three-deep. As Lutetium was fading back to the pack, BZ Glide was circling the stagnant Justgottogetthere to take the lead, the race and the winner’s share of the purse. The 5-year-old Yankee Glide gelding tripped the timer in 1:58 and paid $12.20 for the win. BZ Glide is owned by his driver, Mike Caprio and is trained by Alana Caprio. It was the sixth win in 17 starts and his effort increased his annual income to $47,355. Reinsmen Kevin Cummings and Shawn McDonough both scored driving hat tricks and Dave McNeight III posted a double.

Vernon Downs
A Penny Earned (Conway Hall-Penny Dream) scored a front-running victory in the $10,000 Open I Trot feature at Vernon Downs on Friday night. The gelding charged to the front before the field reached the first turn and never looked back to win in a solid time of 1:53.4. A Penny Earned (Chris Lems) grabbed the lead from Wild And Crazy Guy (John Macdonald) just after the gate opened and led through a quarter of 27 seconds, 56.1 for the half and 1:24.3 for three-quarters. Wild And Crazy Guy sat the pocket trip behind the leader throughout the mile and did finally tip out in the stretch, but was unable to get any nearer the leader. In fact, Helios (Claude Huckabone III) came rolling up the inside to take second away from Wild And Crazy Guy in the final strides. The complete order of finish was: A Penny Earned, Helios, Wild And Crazy Guy, Evil Urges, Jaipur, Surface Tension, Grey Ice, and War Hero. A Penny Earned is owned by Alfred Ross, Natalia Oliva, and George Ducharme of Massachusetts and Paul Fontaine of Rhode Island. George Ducharme is also the trainer.

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
Jack’s Reef (Credit Winner) was one of several upset winners at Saratoga Casino and Raceway on Friday night. Coming out of the barn of leading trainer Jordan Derue, Jack’s Reef was a 12-1 longshot in the evening’s $8,000 featured trotting race. Showing early speed from post position seven, Jack’s Reef made the early lead but gave way at the quarter to the race’s favorite Lucid Thoughts (Jay Randall). With several rivals going off-stride in the race, Lucid Thoughts and Jack’s Reef drew away around the final turn. Derue’s 10-year-old trotter out trotted the 1-2 favorite in the stretch and wound up drawing away late to win in 1:58.1. It was the second consecutive victory in 1:58.1 for Jack’s Reef who won for the fifth time in fifteen seasonal starts. Lucid Thoughts was a clear second while Blackwolf Run (Sam Schillaci) came on for third. Derue holds a six win lead in the trainer standings over conditioner Heidi Rohr.