from harness publicists across North America

Friday’s (Feb. 18) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows, Buffalo Raceway and Cal Expo.

Sand Windsor powers to victory in Meadows’ $22,500 F&M pace

Washington, PA — Racing much more aggressively in her second start of the year, Sand Windsor parlayed two strong moves to victory in Friday’s $22,500 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Pace at The Meadows.

Sand Windsor earned $202,757 last year at 3, but she opened her 2011 campaign with a conservative effort that saw her finish sixth. On Friday, Brett Miller took off the gloves, sending her forward from the gate, then moving her first up from fourth.

The daughter of Real Desire-Time N Again responded beautifully, gobbling up the leader, Spring Again, and prevailing by three-quarters of a length in 1:53.3. A hard-luck Jans Luck, who lacked racing room, was second while Sadie’s Place rallied for show.

Tye Loy trains Sand Windsor, who won for the eighth time in 28 career starts, for Bill Sanders.

Miller and Dave Palone each drove three winners on the 14-race card.

— Evan Pattak

Buffalo Raceway
A pair of $10,000 Opens, along with very windy conditions, greeted the horses and drivers at Buffalo Raceway on Friday night. With a thawing track, and two days in the 50s, track superintendent Dave Dylo did a remarkable job getting the track ready for racing. The track condition was listed as good. In the Open Trot, Dover Downs invader Perfect Man, a 6-year-old Malabar Man gelding, won in 2:01.4 for owner Michael Ouriel. It was the first win this season for Perfect Man who won $56,095 last year. Perfect Man ($25.00) leaving from post five in the field of eight and driven by Jack Flanigen, settled in sixth as eventual second place finisher Shoe In (Ken Holliday) cut the early fractions of :29.3 and 1:01.1. Just past the half, Perfect Man swung to the outside and a strong backside brush put him in contention at the three-quarters in 1:32.2. A :29 last quarter-mile put the winner a head in front at the wire. Noble Commander (Ray Fisher, Jr.) finished third. Trained by Neal Russo, the $5,000 share of the purse put Perfect Man’s season’s bankroll at $11,125 and $135,082 lifetime. In the $10,000 Filly and Mares Open Pace, Artistry In Rhythm made it three Open wins this year, as the 9-year-old chestnut mare won in a season’s best 1:58.4 for owner Betty Tauber. Artistry In Rhythm ($25.60), dismissed by the bettors at 11-1 and driven by regular reinsman Ken Holliday, came first-over after settling in seventh and cruised to an easy three length win over Pembroke Primo (Kevin Cummings). Newberry Winner (Jamie Dunlap) came in the show spot. Trained by Sherri Holliday, the $5,000 share of the purse put Artistry In Rhythm’s season’s bankroll at $17,500 and $328,742 lifetime.

Cal Expo
A half-dozen ladies were featured at Cal Expo over a sloppy track on Friday night for a purse of $3,400, in which She Is So Glad paced an outstanding :26 final quarter to score. The eventaul winner started last for driver Rich Wojcio through first half fractions of :29.4 and 1:01.2. The 20-1 longshot moved to second-over position to the 9-16ths pole, but having stalled cover past the five-eighths marker, Wojcio moved his 4-year-old back inside past the midway point of the final turn, only to be trapped at the three-quarter station timed in 1:31.2. Angling under urging into the stretch and starting to take off, but still five lengths off the lead with an eighth of a mile to go, Wojcio increased his chances. Now flying with a sixteenth of a mile to go, Wojcio could see the flash of the photographer’s bulb. Owned by Hans Karge and Billie Schwartz in partnership with breeders Jay Rosenberg and trainer Jim Wilkinson, Jr., She Is So Glad zoomed by in deep stretch with the wind at her back to win ($42.60) by one length in 1:58.4. Biggest Big Bertha (Rick Plano) finished in second and Scooter Babe (Steve Wiseman) finished just a neck farther back in third.