by harness publicists across North America

Wednesday’s (May 13) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows, Harrington Raceway, Buffalo Raceway and Hippodrome 3R.

Sam Hill gets Lightning Lane win in Meadows feature

Washington, PA — Sam Hill stalked the leader, Dew N Doughnuts, from the pocket, then nailed him in the Lightning Lane to capture Wednesday’s (May 13) $20,000 Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Pace at The Meadows.

Greg Wright, Jr. hustled Sam Hill to the pocket, where the 9-year-old Artsplace-Apple Of My Eye gelding was content to let Dew N Doughnuts do the heavy lifting. Sam Hill had just enough to get by the leader in deep stretch, downing him by a nose in 1:51.3. I’m The Pied Piper finished third.

John Sullivan trains Sam Hill, who extended his lifetime bankroll to $342,332, for Don Tiger.

Tony Hall and Dave Palone each piloted four winners on the 13-race card. Palone, who notched career win 17,000 in the first race, ended the day with 17,003 career victories.

— Evan Pattak

Harrington Raceway
Keith Pippi’s Traverse Seelster ($3, Ross Wolfenden) was an impressive 1:55 winner in the $16,000 Open Trot at Harrington Raceway Wednesday (May 13). Traverse Seelster seized control early from Spunky Jack in an opening quarter in 28.2 seconds. Traverse Seelster then led the field of five to a half-mile in 58 seconds and three-quarters in 1:27.1. The venerable 7-year-old Angus Hall gelding then drew off effortlessly in the stretch for a dominating score over Spunky Jack. Powerful Charger closed late for third. Trained by Josh Green, it was the first win in four 2015 starts for Traverse Seelster, who added to his healthy lifetime bankroll of nearly $640,000. The all aged track record holder for trotters, Traverse had been second in his previous three starts. Victor Kirby had four wins on the program. Allan Davis, Tony Morgan and Ross Wolfenden each had two wins.

Buffalo Raceway
It wasn’t easy but Justgottogetthere managed to narrowly ‘get to’ the finish line before anyone else and take the $9,500 conditioned trot at Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday night (May 13) in 1:59.1 over the fast track. In the co-featured $9,500 fillies and mares conditioned pace, Ugly Betty continued to dominate the division with another impressive victory. This week, she cruised to a 3-1/4 length score over A Cameo In Life in 1:56.3. The opener saw Justgottogetthere and driver Jim McNeight use their typical tactics, racing to the top and setting the fractions. After posting panels of 29.2, 1:00 and 1:29.4, the duo was prepared to take on challengers in the final quarter-mile. The pocket-sitting Studio City (Ron Beback Jr.) gobbled up ground down the passing lane but finished in second place just a head behind the leg-weary but game Justgottogetthere ($5.10). Northern Bullet (Jack Flanigen) had a great chance as well but drifted out badly in the stretch and settled for third. It was the sixth victory in 11 appearances this season for Justgottogetthere (Valley Victor-Mara’s Theme), who has missed the board just once in 2015. The 6-year-old gelding is co-owned by Antonietta Landi and the North Creek Racing Stable LLC. The win pushed his seasonal earnings to $35,387 and $173,869 lifetime. Ugly Betty (David McNeight III) proved to be the best once again in the co-featured pace for the ladies. She was assigned the outside seven post, was parked the first quarter-mile and that made no difference. Once driver Kevin Cummings got Ugly Betty to the lead, it was a battle for second place. After being given a parking ticket by A Cameo In Life (Kevin Cummings) to the quarter-marker, Ugly Betty ($6.20) cleared and registered times of 28.4, 58 and 1:27.3. She enjoyed a three-length edge at the top of the stretch and never looked back. A Cameo In Life managed to take the place position while V’La Faire (Wade Tomaszewski) finished third. It was the first pari-mutuel start for Tomaszewski. Owned by Margaret Payne and Jennifer Falcone, Ugly Betty (Camluck-Red Road Rage) has won seven times in 15 tries in 2015. The 7-year-old mare has now won $39,439 this season and $210,912 in her career. Rex Clabaugh handled the training duties.

Hippodrome 3R
Kim Sorel and driver/trainer Martin Gingras swept three-wide on the final turn and were able to scoot by the field in the stretch to win the featured trot at the Hippodrome 3R on Wednesday. The duo faced a ten minute long objection as the judges viewed an incident where Gingras may have pulled too early and interfered with a trailing horse. They were found to be OK and declared the race winner. Sent off at odds of 15-1, Kim Sorel paid $33.90 to win. The race saw three lead changes by the half-mile marker as SOS Afterthestorm (Francis Picard) led after the start, but was overtaken by SOS Ticket Master (Stephane Brosseau) by the opening quarter-mile. Then it was the roan horse Erge Jack, with driver Pascal Berube, coming first-over and they got to the lead before the half-mile pole. Then Kim Sorel moved to the outside in the backstretch and caught cover when SOS Ticket Master pulled the pocket to challenge. It was after the three-quarter mile pole on the final turn when Gingras tipped three-wide with Kim Sorel and went on to win by one length over SOS Afterthestorm with Erge Jack third. Fractions were :29.3, 1:00.4, 1:31.4 and a final time in 2:03. Owned by Claude Nadeau of Sorel-Tracy, QC, it was the first win in two starts this year for Kim Sorel, a 4-year-old mare by Taurus Dream. This was the first Wednesday night live program of the Hippodrome 3R season and what better way to kick off the racing action then with a 30-1 longshot coming in the very first race. SOS Revange and driver Francine Morrissette put the toteboard to work, leading from start to finish in a five length romp. They paid $63.00 to win.