from Harness Publicists across North America

Saturday’s (November 15) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Yonkers Raceway, Scarborough Downs, Pompano Park, Batavia Downs, Northfield Park, and the American Harness Drivers Club.

Art’s Ragin Jet wins Open Handicap Pace at Yonkers

Yonkers, NY — Art’s Ragin Jet (Jeff Gregory) stuck his tongue out at just the right time, getting a Yonkers Raceway decision over Psilvuheartbreaker (Jim Meittinis) in Saturday night’s $40,000 Open Handicap Pace.

Art’s Ragin Jet, leaving from post position six, had to chase “Heartbreaker” as the tepid 2-1 choice eschewed an early seat behind Semalu Express (Pat Lachance). Psilvuheartbreaker led through weigh stations of :27.3, :57.1 and 1:25.3, but could not dispose of his first-over challenger in a solid final quarter.

Art’s Ragin Jet earned the narrowest of “sloppy” victories, gutting it out in 1:53.1. Semalu Express was third, beaten three-quarters of a length, with Up Front Peyton (Stephane Bouchard) and Saratoga John (Steve Smith) grabbing the small change.

Art’s Ragin Jet, a 5-year-old Jet Laag gelding owned and trained by Shaun MacDonald, returned $7.70 (second choice) for his 13th win in 26 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $27, with the triple returning $81.50.

— Frank Drucker

Fitch wins number 7,400

Scarborough, ME — Veteran teamster Leigh Fitch, now well into his fifth decade of driving along the state of Maine harness racing circuit, makes no apparent concession to age. The feisty Fox (as he is known to fans and competitors alike) continues to amass milestone wins. On Saturday he worked out his 7,400th lifetime trip down victory lane as he expertly steered Wildfire Woman through the storied Scarborough Downs stretch.

Derek Davis photo

Leigh Fitch guided Wildfire Woman at Scarborough Downs on Saturday to record the 7,400th win of his career.

“The Fox has not lost one ounce of ability,” said longtime local harness observer Don Patchell. “He continues to drive aggressively when circumstances call for it, but his trademark, patient style remains a textbook example of how to get the most out of a harness horse.”

That patient style paid off on Saturday as Fitch sat well off the suicide pace set by the front-running Battleshoe Bridge before pouncing from his “foxhole” at the three-quarter-mile marker with 18 lengths still separating him from the leader. As the weary pacesetter’s legs became rubbery, Fitch guided his charge through a determined three-wide rally to overtake the rabbit and post a four length margin of victory.

With 7,400 career wins now under his belt, Fitch remains the third-leading dash-winner in state of Maine history — trailing only Walter Case, Jr. (11,027) and Billy Parker, Jr. (9,490).

— Michael Sweeney

15-1 longshot upsets in Billings Trot

Pompano Beach, FL — David Ehrenberg, II, a landscape/construction business owner from Westerville, Ohio, upset the field with 15-1 longshot Vals Empress ($33.80) in winning the C.K.G. Billings Amateur Trot leg at the Isle Pompano Park.

Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith

Vals Empress and driver David Ehrenberg, II won the C.K.G. Billings Amateur Driver Series leg at Pompano Park in 1:59.2.

Vals Empress led from start to finish in the $6,000 third race, winning by 3-1/4 lengths in 1:59.2. It was Ehrenberg’s first victory in the series this year and the first time he has ever driven at the Isle Pompano Park. He has been competing in the series for four years. Single Spice (Scott Woogen) was second with Striking Osborne (Laurie Poulin) third.

It was a lifetime mark for Vals Empress, a 5-year-old mare by CR Renegade. She was the only mare in the field. Trained by Peggy Faurot, Vals Empress was recently purchased and was making her Isle Pompano Park debut for owner Clay Faurot, Sr.

I Can Only Imagine ($5.00) showed true grit and raw speed as he went first-over from before the half-mile pole and was able to not only collar pacesetter Armbro Dynamic (Wally Hennessey) and put him away down the stretch, but then hold off Mahdi (Joe Pavia, Jr.) to win the $16,000 Open Pace in 1:51.3. Sugar’s Pride (Dan Clements) was third.

Driven by Bruce Ranger, I Can Only Imagine won by one length and it was his ninth win this year. Trained by Tom Harmer and owned by Michael Polansky, I Can Only Imagine is a 6-year-old stallion by Cole Muffler.

The fastest mile of the night was scored by Monet CC ($9.80) and trainer/driver Joe Pavia, Jr. They came first-over in the backstretch against pacesetter and race favorite He Wants It All (Bruce Ranger) and were able to wear the leader down in the stretch to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:51.1. ML’s Boy (Anthony Napolitano) was third.

It was a lifetime mark for Monet CC and the ninth win this year for the 5-year-old stallion by Artist Stena. Maurice Minman and Robert Gianquitti own Monet CC.

— Steve Wolf

Year Of The Dragon takes Batavia feature

Batavia, NY — Janet Herdegen’s Year Of The Dragon made his return to Western New York a winning one when he took the featured $9,000 Open Handicap Pace on Saturday night at Batavia Downs Gaming.

Assigned the rail in a field of seven, Year Of The Dragon, with Jim Morrill, Jr. in the sulky, got away second behind last week’s Open winner Arm And A Leg and Kevin Cummings.

Pulling the pocket heading to the three-quarters, Morrill and “the Dragon” were up to challenge Arm And A Leg and they raced that way around the final turn. Turning for home Morrill let it out a notch and Year Of The Dragon responded, drawing off to win by 2-1/2 lengths in 2:00 over a very sloppy racetrack. Arson Ant, with Troy Boring, closed up to be second while Kermunn and Ron Beback, Jr. finished third.

The win was the 10th of the season for Year Of The Dragon (Dragon Again-Maurita Hanover) and raised his seasonal earnings to more than $88,000. The Michelle Gramza trainee returned $3.20 to win.

Former Downs leading driver Jim Morrill, Jr. guided home seven winners the last two nights which gives him 57 victories for the Summer-Fall meet. His win percentage is over 44 percent.

Ron Beback, Jr., in pursuit of his first ever Batavia dash leading title, leads Ray Fisher, Jr. 65-62. With seven racing programs left in the 2008 season the title may not be decided until closing night, which is December 6.

— Todd Haight

Northfield cancels live racing on Saturday

Northfield, OH — Due to a power outage, Northfield Park has canceled racing for Saturday, November 15.

We anticipate being open for simulcasting on Sunday, with live racing and simulcasting as scheduled on Monday.

We will advise regarding a makeup date when that decision is made.

— Keith Gisser

Landy wins AHDC race on Saturday

Cherry Hill, NJ — Teenage whiz kid Harry Landy proved that he can race with the big boys as he grabbed his first victory as a member of the American Harness Drivers Club, scoring with Jet Escape in the fourth leg of the 2008 Fall Pacing Series on a soggy Saturday at Freehold Raceway.

The high school student from Monroe Township, New Jersey, sat as patient a pocket trip as any seasoned veteran could, shadowing Neil Goldstein and Do You Really. Goldstein had taken early control of the contest and was determined to carry the mail from coast to coast.

Turning for home, Goldstein appeared to have a comfortable edge on his younger competitor and was poised to sail away. However, Landy, in a perfectly timed move, pulled to the outside and with a very fresh Jet Escape, blew beyond Goldstein and Do You Really.

Unfortunately, Harry’s biggest fans, dad Sam and granddad Gene, both pretty fair horsemen in their own right, were out of town. They could not be at the track to witness history as Harry and Jet Escape got to the wire in front. Time of the mile over a sloppy racetrack was a good 1:59.3 after fractions of :29.1, :58.4 and 1:29.1. Goldstein and Do You Really were second while John Regina and El Nino Hanover took the show dough. Bob Hechkoff and Northern Cloud, winners in leg three, were fourth while Rich Timmerman with Midtown Jazz and George Munniksma steering Mystical Truth rounded out the order of finish.

AHDC members David Yarock and Phil Winkler, on behalf of their firm Met Life Financial Access Network and the Edward Weiner and Edward Yarock Equine Scholarship fund, sponsored the second amateur pace on the card. While not officially an AHDC event, it featured members of the club as its participants.

In wire-to-wire fashion, Bedminister, New Jersey’s John Regina took the victory, teaming with Makin’ A Statement in a time of 2:02 for trainer Ann Dipietro. Summer Winkler was on hand to present the champion’s trophy to Regina in a raucous winner’s circle celebration. Yarock finished second with Jingling while Miguel Lopez was third with Blusgirlscanthelpit. Phil Winkler and Mini Mini Me, Tony Piserchia with Legal Trouble N and Dr. Karyn Malinowski behind Rocking Lilly N also participated in the festivities.

As scheduled, the American Harness Drivers Club will return to action at Freehold Raceway with the fifth leg of the Fall Pacing Series on Saturday, November 22.

— David Krepow