Racing Roundup: Sherri On Ice upsets in Dover Distaff Open
December 15, 2009,from Harness Publicists across North America
Tuesday’s (Dec. 15) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Dover Downs, The Meadows and Monticello Raceway. Sherri On Ice upsets in Dover Distaff Open Dover, DE — Longshot Sherri On Ice ($75.00) closed with a rush to win the $26,000 Mares Open Pace at Dover Downs on Tuesday. Fotowon photo Sherri On Ice scored at odds of 36-1 in the Mares Open Pace at Dover. Sherri On Ice lurked on the outside while Sportsfancy (Eric Goodell) and Chloes Silver Star (Ron Pierce) battled for the lead as the field turned down the stretch. Vince Copeland turned Sherri On Ice loose and the Sportsmaster-Snappy image 6-year-old roared down the lane to score a 1:53.2 victory in the week’s top distaff event. Chloes Silver Star, last week’s winner, finished second while Kellytuck Sophie and Jon Roberts picked up third money. Pacific Philly, who was fourth, saw a three-race win streak come to an end. T R Stables owns Sherri On Ice, a four-time winner this season, who has banked $100,880 in 2009. The win was the third of the night for Vince Copeland. Ron Pierce drove Gabrielles Girl to a 1:52.1 score in the $22,00 Mares Jr. Open for his second winner on the card and the mare’s fourth win of the campaign. Josh Green trains her for Tom Kelly, former Minnesota Twins world series winning manager, and Margaret Mancini, who own the 4-year-old daughter of Camotion-Cheryl’s Place. Lofty Widget closed well for Corey Callahan to finish second, with Alice’s Restaurant and Jim Morand the show finisher. — Marv Bachrad Mystery Chase wins Meadows Preferred Pace Washington, PA — Parked for most of the opening quarter and first up down the backside, Mystery Chase overcame it all Tuesday at The Meadows as he captured the $27,500 Preferred Handicap Pace. Leaving from post six, Mystery Chase was stuck outside in a wicked :26.4 opening panel before Eric Ledford found a spot fourth along the pylons. From there, the 4-year-old son of Real Artist-Search For Cam moved uncovered to put away early leader Dougs Fame and score in 1:52.1. Roadway saved ground to finish second, a half-length back, while Dougs Fame saved show. Donnie Russell trains Mystery Chase, who won for the third time in his last four starts and extended his career bankroll to $596,597, and owns with Edward Needle. In hitting the ticket, Roadway and Dougs Fame each achieved a milestone; the former eclipsed $100,000 in lifetime earnings, and the latter became a $300,000 performer. Aaron Merriman and Dave Palone each drove three winners on the 14-race card while Ron Burke fashioned a training triple. — Evan Pattak Keystone Rideau derails Southbound Trucker at Mighty M Monticello, NY — Two weeks ago Keystone Rideau defeated Southbound Trucker in Monticello Raceway’s weekly pacing feature and last week it was Southbound Trucker who got the final call in the best race of the week. However, on Tuesday afternoon, once again Keystone Rideau derailed Southbound Trucker over the wet racetrack in a 1:56.3 clocking in the weekly winners over pace. In all of the aforementioned outings, when Southbound Trucker won Keystone Rideau was second and when Keystone Rideau won Southbound Trucker finished second. Geri Schwarz photo Keystone Rideau and Mike Micallef once again derailed Southbound Trucker. Uniquely, both pacers are generally at their best when they come from behind and that again was the case on December 15. Driver Greg Merton moved Southbound Trucker first-up at the half and Mike Micallef put Keystone Rideau on Merton’s back and together both pacers moved on the outside toward the leaders.
They were alongside pacesetter True Desire and driver Jimmy Marohn, Jr. on the final turn — Southbound Trucker two-wide and Keystone Rideau three-deep. But when the field straightened for home Keystone Rideau had the most pace and he scampered off to a two length triumph over the Mighty M’s Horse of the Year. True Desire held on for the show dough.
Mark Ford trains Keystone Rideau who is owned by James Snyder. He paid $5.40 for win.
Also of note was Jordan Stratton winning five races on the card. The national Rising Star of the Year scored his first victory with Moen Stables’ Blue Collar Raider in 1:58 in the second race and then came back to win the fourth with Josh Wharton’s Yankee Vigilante in a time of 2:00. In the seventh race Stratton reined Heather Aruda’s Casablanca Hall to a 2:00.2 triumph which was the pacer’s fifth victory in his last six starts. He then won the ninth with Andrea Hill’s Jovial Jester N in 1:58 and capped his afternoon with a 1:59 triumph in the 11th race with Semalu Express who is owned by Ed Quick, Andrea Kaplan, William Crowley and Brittany Sciulla.
— John Manzi