from harness publicists across North America

Saturday’s (March 8) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Buffalo Raceway and Saratoga Casino and Raceway.

Running Book romps in Buffalo Open Pace

Hamburg, NY — Running Book is currently like a fine wine; he’s getting better with age.

Steve Roth photo

Running Book is all alone at the wire in Buffalo Raceway’s Open Pace.

The 10-year-old Running Book proved he’s still got plenty left in the tank as he buried seven rivals in the $10,500 Open Pace at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday night (March 8).

With Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. in the sulky, Running Book ($4.30) blasted off the starting gate and never looked back in posting an impressive 6-1/4 length win over Naked News (Jim McNeight) in a seasonal-best of 1:54.4. Salazar (Shawn McDonough) picked up the show dough.

After a rather routine opening half-mile of :58, Running Book and Wrenn bottomed out the field with a :56.4 last half. It proved more than enough as the pair looked around for oncoming competition in the stretch but found no takers.

Trained by Buffalo Raceway’s leading conditioner JD Perrin, Running Book has now scored three wins in eight starts this season for owner Tessa Roland. He’s earned $16,775 in 2014 and has 35 career victories and $652,825 in lifetime winnings.

The racing action resumes at Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday night with a 12-race card slated to begin at 5 p.m.

— Brian J. Mazurek

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
Whogoesfirst (Cambest) pulled off the upset in the Open Pace on Saturday night at Saratoga Casino and Raceway. No stranger to the local Open, Whogoesfirst (Jim Devaux) fired out early and was part of a significant early speed duel. Winding up in the pocket behind last week’s Open winner Money Twitch A (Bruce Aldrich, Jr.), Whogoesfirst shook loose late and won an extremely close four way photo, stopping the timer in 1:54.2. Money Twitch A got nosed at the line and had to settle for a strong second place finish in the $17,000 feature while Sparky Mark (Jim Morrill, Jr.) nearly overcame being parked the mile and wound up the third place finisher. Whogoesfirst, who is trained by co-owner Luanne Case, prevailed at odds of 8-1. The defeat in the Open was a rare one for Morrill who piloted an incredible seven winners on the Saturday card.