from Harness Publicists across North America

Saturday’s (Nov. 28) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Yonkers Raceway and Batavia Downs.

Runover Feeling wins Open Handicap Pace at Yonkers

Yonkers, NY — Runover Feeling successfully defended his weekly pacing feature title, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $36,000 Open Handicap Pace in a bang-up effort on Saturday (Nov. 28).

Tom Berg photo

George Brennan drove Runover Feeling to a 1:53.1 win on Saturday.

With George Brennan driving for trainer Mark Ford, Runover Feeling was engaged in his own private match race with tepid 2-1 favorite Giddy Up Lucky (Jason Bartlett) for the better part of the final half-mile. That scenario emerged when Runover Feeling — leaving from post position No. 5 after an inside defection — moved from fifth. He went up and over the early leader, Livestrong (Yannick Gingras), after a :57 intermission.

Giddy Up Lucky, left first-up after the new leader grabbed the baton, drew even at the three-quarter pole, ensuring a certified ding-dong battle. Runover Feeling was a nose to the good at the 1:24.2 three-quarters (spiffy :27.2 third quarter), a nose to the good turning for home and a half-length to the good at the wire, which he found in 1:53.1. Artist Cafe (Patrick Lachance), Southwind Tabor (Greg Grismore) and Eckstrom (Stephane Bouchard) completed the cashers.

Runover Feeling, a 7-year-old Western Hanover gelding owned by Bob DiNozzi, returned $12 (third choice) for his sixth win in 43 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $36, with the triple returning $387.50.

— Frank Drucker

Michael Scores triumphs again at Batavia

Batavia, NY — Former Batavia Downs Casino track record holder Michael Scores notched the 69th win of his career when he closed with a furious rush to win the featured $9,000 Preferred Handicap on Saturday night.

Paul White photo

Michael Scores (#7) won the Preferred Handicap Pace at Batavia.

With leading driver Kevin Cummings in the sulky, Michael Scores got away seventh in the field of eight. He was still six lengths behind at the top of the stretch when he kicked it into another gear and went zooming by the tiring leaders in deep stretch to win by a quarter-length in 1:55.3 for owners Jim and Sandy Compton. Jim is also the trainer. The win put Michael Scores over the $550,000 mark in career earnings.

Allamerican Improv (Ray Fisher, Jr.) and Oh Gee Whiz (Ron Beback, Jr.) hooked up coming to the half and were clear turning for home but had to settle for second and third with Oh Gee Whiz getting up late for second.

The final two nights of the 63rd summer-fall meet take place next Friday and Saturday. Post time is 7:05 p.m.

— Todd Haight