from Harness Publicists across North America

Saturday’s (August 2) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Yonkers Raceway, Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs, Ocean Downs, and Cal-Expo.

Semalu Express captures Open at Yonkers

Yonkers, NY — Favored Semalu Express (Jason Bartlett) rode a pocket trip to a blanket victory Saturday night in Yonkers Raceway’s $40,000 Open Handicap Pace.

Leaving from post position four, Semalu Express ducked in behind Dragon Master (Jim Pantaleano) as that one led through intervals of :27.3, :56.3 and 1:25.2.

Those two, along with a stubborn, first-over Cam’s Fool (Jeff Gregory) decided matters through the lane, with Semalu Express ducking inside and sticking his tongue out when it counted. He was a nose better than Cam’s Fool in 1:53.4, with Dragon Master third, beaten a head. Night Train Shane (Dan Dube) and Magnum (Steve Smith) completed the cashers.

Semalu Express, a 4-year-old son of Rustler Hanover trained by David NcNamara for co-owners Edward Quick, Jordan Faarkas, Jeffrey Rabinowitz and Glenn Silverstein, returned $5.20 for his fourth win in 16 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $37.40, with the triple good for $128.

Leading driver Bartlett’s win in the feature was one of his quartet during the dozen-race card.

— Frank Drucker

Tioga trot goes to Cold Winner

Nichols, NY — Jimmy Marohn, Jr. steered Cold Winner to a 1:56.4 victory in the featured $14,000 Open Handicap Trot on his way to a driving triple on Saturday night at Tioga Downs.

Fred Brown Photography

Cold Winner won the $14,000 Open Handicap Trot in 1:56.4.

The duo left from post position six and went right to the front with an opening quarter of :29. Eddy Kash and Howard Parker used the quarter pole move to take command past the fans and the stands for the first time. However, Marohn had a different opinion on the set up of the race and retook the lead past the half-mile pole in :58.2. Cold Winner was never in doubt the rest of the mile through a three-quarter time of 1:27.1 before coasting home to victory with a final panel of :29.3. Blazing Winner and Fern Paquet, Jr. shook loose late for second, while Eddy Kash and Howard Parker hung on for third.

It was the third straight victory at the third different track for the 5-year-old son of Credit Winner, out of the Mr Lavec mare Fancy Racket. Cold Winner is trained by John Stark, Jr. and thus far in 2008 has posted five wins, four seconds, and a third in 14 outings, for earnings of more than $53,000.

Marohn also steered Bankerette to victory in the opening race of the night and found himself in a dead heat for win with Manzeer in the sixth race, finishing on even strides with Dyna Rail and Charles Poynton.

Howard Parker posted a driving double on the night’s nine-race card.

— Dustin Ross

Marks wins five at Vernon

Vernon, NY — Driver Josh Marks enjoyed one of his finest outings ever at Vernon Downs on Saturday night, teaming five winners in nine races, including Western Tsunami, who captured the $10,000 featured eighth event.

Competing in the top division of this week’s Miracle Mile pacing class, Western Tsunami idled in fifth as Outlaw Blues led his five speedy rivals to the quarter in :27.1, the half in :55.4 and the three-quarters in 1:23.3. Making his move early on the backstretch, the 5-year-old gelding advanced to second at the third station, then kept on rolling until he finished a length ahead of The Best in a gritty 1:51.3 effort.

The win was the fifth in a row, fourth locally, and it enabled the fleet-footed son of Western Hanover to tie fellow sidewheelers Basilio Blue Chip and Caroline Star and the trotter Hanger Pride N at six for most local equine victories after 50 programs. The time was a new win mark for the career earner of $86,980, who has chalked up eight total triumphs in 2008 for the Just Luck Stable.

Marks’ other tallies came behind the pacers Passthegreypoupan, in 1:52.3 for owner Ken Jacobs; Pembroke Crankcall, in 1:54.4 for the Just Luck Stable; No Dice, a 1:53.2 dead-heat decision with How Forever Feels for the Bulletproof Enterprises; and Lord Maximus N, in 1:54.3 for Scott West and trainer Tracy Brainard, who also conditions the other four first-place finishers.

Marks, who grew up in the track’s backstretch, joined Jim Morrill, Jr. as the only reinsmen to have won more than four races during a single program at the meet.

Brainard’s five-win training feat is believed to be an all-time track record.

Downs Doings: Morrill, Jr., who only competes here on special occasions, posted five wins on July 26, and a track record seven scores on May 17…Saturday’s fifth race dead heat is the fourth for win at the Downs thus far this season…Driver Joe Nassimos, who reportedly only suffered bruises and scrapes in a ninth race mishap here on Friday, was scratched from his seven scheduled Saturday starts due to swollen ribs.

— Jim Moran

Anderson Avenue takes series opener at Ocean Downs

Berlin, MD — Anderson Avenue, the 7-year-old son of Matt’s Scooter-Pamela Heather won for the third time this summer at Ocean Downs, pacing to a first leg victory in Saturday’s Deer Run Golf Club late closer series (1:58.4, $5.80).

The Melissa Olsen-owned and trained gelding was driven by 20-year-old Justin Vincent, the son of veteran driver Kim Vincent, who is also driving at Ocean Downs this summer. The 5-year-old Kosher King (Victor Kirby) finished second while On The Money, a 4-year-old mare owned, trained and driven by Wayne Long, came in third.

— Jim Whittemore

Top Topper remains atop the heap at Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — Open handicap pacers, racing for a $7,700 purse, were featured on closing night of the spring-summer meet at Cal-Expo, in which Top Topper gave his pilot a very nice 48th birthday gift.

In advance of starting from his assigned post five in the field of the same number, trainer Rocky Stidham had to deal with the highly unlikely chance that his charge, for the second straight week, would have to return to the paddock to get a shoe tacked on.

“This week, it was the opposite shoe from last week,” said Stidham. “But this week it really didn’t concern me other than to have the problem because unlike last week, he was a little calmer — probably because he now thinks that it’s a part of his new routine.”

Firing out for the lead and obtaining it just as the field entered the first turn, Top Topper would pace the first quarter in a blazing :26.4, a quarter that didn’t look that fast. He reached the half-mile pole in a speedy :55.2. Starting to open up the lead a bit at the 9-16ths marker and gradually expanding his lead through the final turn while pacing strongly and not being asked, Top Topper, now leading by three lengths, would reach the three-quarter station in 1:23.4.

His lead as the field entered the stretch was narrowed to 1-1/2 lengths by Keystone Eli (Lemoyne Svendsen), who had now taken over the pocket. Holding firm under minimal urging, Top Topper would go on to win ($3.80) by 1-1/4 lengths. Owned by Ben Kenney in partnership with Stidham, Top Topper would pace the mile in 1:52, a lifetime best. Keystone Eli was clearly second best, and D Jokerman (Steve Wiseman) finished another 3-3/4 lengths farther back in third.

“His confidence is soaring and this was his best race for us yet, plus it’s always a great present to win on your birthday. Additionally, I can’t thank my partner Ben Kenney enough because he always seems to know to pick out the right horses,” finished Stidham.

Cal-Expo is now dark for live harness racing until Friday, September 12, when the fall-winter meet will begin.

— Scott Ehrlich