by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows

Friday’s (Nov. 13) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Yonkers Raceway. The Meadows, Hollywood at Dayton Raceway, Vernon Downs, Batavia Downs and Saratoga Casino and Raceway.

Sell A Bit N takes Friday distaff feature at Yonkers

Yonkers, NY — Sell A Bit N (Jordan Stratton, $11.60) went the distance and repeated Friday (Nov. 13) night, winning Yonkers Rceway’s $40,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.

Rarin’ to go from post position seven, Sell A Bit N worked around Medusa (George Brennan) and was then left without much in the way of adult supervision.

So, she toyed with her rivals (:28, :57.1, 1:25.3, 1:53.2), easily whipping a second-over Al Raza N (Eric Carlson) by three-quarters of a length. Medusa, a first-up Dune in Red (Brian Sears) and Stormunn (Brent Holland) rounded out the payees. As for 3-2 favorite Krispy Apple (Matt Kakaley), she wound up seventh, done in by a non-leave from an eight-hole in a paceless race.

Stratton won five of the evening’s dozen races..

For third choice Sell a Bit N, a 5-year-old Down Under daughter of Julius Caesar owned by Harry von Knoblauch and trained by Peter Tritton, it was her seventh win in 18 seasonal starts.

The exacta paid $37.20, the triple returned $221.50 and the superfecta paid $2,270.

— Frank Drucker

The Meadows
Allbeef N Nobull waited patiently for the Lightning Lane, then poured through for Dave Palone to capture Friday’s (Nov. 13) $18,000 Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Pace at The Meadows. While Sam Hill and the first-over Southern Allie battled for the lead from the three-quarters on, Allbeef N Nobull saved ground and energy in the pocket. The son of McArdle-She Likes It All, the lone 3-year-old in the field of accomplished veterans, found the Lightning Lane in time to nip Sam Hill by a nose in 1:52.3, with Southern Allie third. Ron Burke trains Allbeef N Nobull, who extended his career bankroll to $197,507, for Burke Racing Stable, Donald Emond, Howard Taylor and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Mike Wilder collected four victories on the 15-race card while Tony Hall and trainers Randy Bendis and Norm Parker each fashioned a triple.

Hollywood Dayton Raceway
Straight ‘A’ handicappers were rewarded with a 1-2-3 finish in Friday (Nov. 13) night’s $11,000 Open Mares Pace at Hollywood Dayton Raceway as American Girl, Albanian Era and Artistic Fusion were the first three to cross the finish line. American Girl (Josh Sutton), making her second local start, was sent off as the 7-5 betting favorite and did not disappoint. Despite drawing post position seven, the winner settled fourth off the gate through a quick :26.3 opening panel.Sutton elected to brush the 6-year-old daughter of Art’s Chip during the middle half-mile, moving first-over until clearing to the lead at the :55.2 midway point then opening a five length lead with a :27.2 third quarter, reaching that station in 1:22.4. All that was left was a steady :29.3 closing quarter to seal the deal in 1:52.2. Runner-up Albanian Era (Jeremy Smith) hugged the pylons in fourth until fanning out for the stretch drive and closing strongly. Artistic Fusion (Kayne Kauffman) used the innermost post position draw to advantage, racing most of the mile in the pocket before yielding for a third place finish. Tyler George trains American Girl, who now sports career earnings of $580,598 for Darla Gaskin and Stanley Rosenblatt.

Vernon Downs
Amid chilly and windy conditions, John MacDonald–the leading driver at Vernon Downs–enjoyed good fortunes on Friday the 13th, prevailing in six of the evening’s 10 races. After wins aboard I Saw Red ($14.20, 1:55.4) and Lucky Taryn ($5.50, 1:56) for trainer Andy Gardner, the 33-year-old MacDonald captured the co-featured $5,500 top-level trot with Jen Sansone trainee Governor Victory ($6.30, 1:56.2). Not only did his first three victories come in pace-setting fashion, but so would the three to follow, as he swept the evening’s final three races. Robert Gale trainee Megaparfaite ($17.40, 1:56.2) and the Bette Calice-trained Sharpshootennorris ($6.90, 1:59.1) would bring MacDonald’s win total to five, and his own trainee Express Jet ($4.60, 1:57) proved victorious in a first-level distaff pace to cap the six-win evening. MacDonald extended his lead over Chris Lems to 13 wins with three programs remaining in the 2015 season at the Miracle Mile. Live racing returns on Saturday (November 14) evening, with the first of 11 races due off at 6:45 p.m.

Batavia Downs

Racing brave in a first-over trip, lightly regarded Studio City ($19.80) scored his second straight top-class win, taking the $10,000 Open trot at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Nov. 13). After Curious George (Jack Flanigen) directed the field to a :28.4 quarter, Studio City (Dave McNeight III) pulled first-over at three-eighths and started his march to the front. The outer flow continued to grow as Write That Down (Shawn McDonough) joined the fray in a :59.1 half. When the group hit three-quarters, Studio City and Curious George were neck and neck before Write That Down tipped three-deep around the last turn and Justgottogetthere (Ron Beback Jr.) found room in the passing lane. The quartet battled four-abreast all the way downs the lane with Studio City getting up to photo out Justgottogetthere in 1:59.2. Write That Down finished third. Two heads and a neck separated the top four finishers of the race. It was the fifth win of the year for Studio City and pushed the 2015 earnings of the 6-year-old Conway Hall gelding to $50,407 for owners Scott Woogen and Lisa Denison. Lisa Lederhouse trains the winner. Sean McDonough continued to be the hottest driver on the grounds, winning four races on Friday. That moved him in to third place among the locals for dash wins this meet. The leader in that race, Kevin Cummings, had a driving double along with Ron Beback Jr. and Dave McNeight III. Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Nov. 14) with post time set at 6:15 p.m.

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
Campanile (No Pan Intended) scored a wire-to-wire win in Friday’s feature at Saratoga Casino and Raceway. Dismissed at odds of 7-1, Campanile moved out to the early lead and cruised through a first half in 57.0 before getting tested by Yonkers invader So Nice (Billy Dobson) approaching the three-quarter pole. The Chris Marino-trained Campanile, who recently moved over the half-million dollar mark in lifetime earnings, dug down for some of her back class and responded to driver Austin Siegelman’s urging, turning away So Nice before drawing away to prevail in 1:53.3. Pocket sitter La Fiesta (Bruce Aldrich Jr.) finished second while longshot Deliciouslynaughty (Stephane Bouchard) got up for third. Campanile, who recorded her first victory in the Fillies and Mares Open in 2015, returned $16.80 to win and led an exacta and triple that paid $89.50 and $567, respectively. Live racing continues on Saturday night at the Spa with a first post time set for 6:45 p.m.