Racing Roundup:

Wednesday’s (Aug. 26) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows, Harrington Raceway, Saratoga Casino and Raceway and Plainridge Park.

Show Runner takes Meadows feature; Palone wins seven

Washington, PA — Racing at her fourth different track in as many starts, Show Runner had little trouble adjusting to The Meadows as she rolled to an easy front-end victory in Wednesday’s $20,000 Filly & Mare Not Listed Preferred/Preferred Handicap Pace.

Show Runner performed recently at Running Aces, the Meadowlands and Harrah’s Philadelphia, finishing first or second on each occasion. She extended that streak Wednesday, zipping to the lead for Tony Hall and scoring in 1:51.2. The pocket-sitting Stucklikeglue was two lengths back in second, with Macharoundtheclock third.

Mike Watson trains Show Runner, a 5-year-old daughter of Little Steven-Peace Runner who boosted her career bankroll to $257,850, for A Piece Of The Action LLC.

Dave Palone collected seven victories, including three for trainer Ron Burke, on the 14-race card — nothing unusual there for harness racing’s “winningest” driver. But the payoffs on those winners were surprising. While Palone’s horses usually are heavily supported at the windows, his seven Wednesday winners returned a combined $64.60 to win. That’s an average of just less than $9.23 per winner — the equivalent of 7-2 odds.

Friday’s program at The Meadows features a pair of stakes for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers: a $183,616 Pennsylvania Sires Stake and a $60,000 PA Stallion Series event. First post is 6:55 p.m.

— Evan Pattak

Harrington Raceway
Michael Casalino’s Tough Mac ($3.80, Jon Roberts) was victorious in the $16,000 Open Trot Wednesday (Aug. 26) at Harrington Raceway in 1:55.3. Tough Mac was returning to his home state after a two start stint at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono yielded him a third and fourth place finish. The Dylan Davis-trainee was sent immediately for the lead from post position three and assumed command from rail-riding Pocket Trip approaching the opening quarter-mile. Pocket Trip soon faltered and went off-stride, giving Six Gun Hall a pocket journey as Tough Mac strolled through the mile on top and held off a late charge from Powerful Charger for the win. Six Gun Hall finished third. It was the seventh win of the year for Tough Mac, whose seasonal earnings surpassed $84,000. Roberts and Ross Wolfenden each had a driving double.

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
Jolie I Am (Prayer I Am) continued his winning ways on Wednesday night at Saratoga Casino and Raceway. The Andrew Byler-trained 3-year-old is enjoying a terrific season in which he now owns six victories in nine starts. Leading driver Bruce Aldrich Jr. piloted Jolie I Am and moved the favorite out to the lead approaching the quarter pole. The race’s 4-5 betting favorite dug in to prevail in a career best 1:58.1 in the evening’s co-featured $11,250 conditioned trot for New York sired participants. The win was one of three on the night for Aldrich who owns a hefty lead in the local driver standings while conditioner Andrew Byler scored a pair of victories on the card. Byler’s Dions Prayer (Prayer I Am) cruised to a wire-to-wire victory in a career best 2:00 with Jimmy Devaux in the sulky. Devaux scored a grand slam on the Wednesday card. Live racing continues on Thursday night at Saratoga with a first post time set for 7:05 p.m.

Plainridge Park
Miss Annalise, driven by Chris Long, was the top distaff performer once again at Plainridge Park on Wednesday afternoon, capturing the $7,500 Open event for fillies and mares. It was the third victory in four local starts for Miss Annalise, who is owned and trained by Bruce Inch. The 1:53 effort established another new mark for the mare, the third time in as many victories that Miss Annalise has lowered her lifetime best at Plainridge. Elsewhere on the card, trainer Randy Smith posted a pair of victories, moving him into third place in the Plainridge standings. Smith is now just four wins behind Marissa Tyler. Leading driver Mike Eaton took both ends of the early daily double, extending his lead to four wins over Eddie Davis Jr. Live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon and is headlined by the featured trotting event of the week. In the $7,500 Open event, Hey Buddy Mac, who has scored back-to-back sub-1:55 victories, will meet track record holder Coco Lindy. First post on Thursday is at 4 p.m.