by harness racing publicists across North America
The Sunday (July 16) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Saratoga Raceway, Tioga Downs and Dresden Raceway.
Smalltownthrowdown captures Saratoga feature
Saratoga, NY — Smalltownthrowdown (Cash Hall) was the champion of the 3-year-old colt and gelding division of the New York Sire Stakes for trotters in 2016. Following his championship campaign, Smalltownthrowdown changed connections and moved to the stable of trainer Rene Allard. The talented high-stepper made his debut for Allard in Sunday afternoon’s (July 16) feature at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
Melissa Simser-Iovino photo
Smalltownthrowdown takes the Saratoga feature.
After using two winning qualifiers as preps, Smalltownthrowdown had post three in the $14,000 Open Trot on Sunday and moved out to the early lead with Billy Dobson in the sulky. The favored Cash Me Out (Mark Beckwith) was relegated to the pocket and tracked the leader throughout. The six-horse feature saw a blanket finish with five of the six separated by only a neck at the wire.
When the dust settled, it was Smalltownthrowdown who emerged victorious in the mile clocked in 1:55.2. Boli (Wally Hennessey) hit the board for the ninth consecutive start as he finished second while Cash Me Out had to settle for third after the scramble in the stretch in the feature. Smalltownthrowdown paid $7.60 to win and started an exacta and triple that came back $45.60 and $122.50, respectively.
Live racing resumes on Thursday afternoon at Saratoga with a matinee that starts at 12:15 p.m.
— by Mike Sardella
Tioga Downs
Bettorsluckystreak (Jim Taggart Jr.) took the featured matinee pace on Sunday afternoon (July 16) at Tioga Downs. Believe This Bob (Aaron Byron) would take the lead and own all the early fractions, :25.4, :55.1, 1:22.3. Bettorsluckystreak (Better’s Delight), who is owned by Ken Weckstein, Richard Rubin and trainer Gary Messenger, would ride the pocket the whole way until the top of the stretch. He would storm to the front and win with a lifetime best of 1:51.0. Bettorsluckystreak ($11.60) would win for the fourth time in 21 starts this season. Team Captain (Fern Paquet Jr.) would come late to finish second. Believe This Bob would settle for third. Scott Coulter who is known as “The Tan Tornado” was the only storm that hit Tioga Downs on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon. Coulter would win with Gold Star Spike ($8.00). His second victory came with Fritzie Pic Up Man ($3.80). “The Tan Tornado” would guide Ideal Legacy A to an upset victory, paying $37.60 for the win. His last win came on the last race of the day, leading Anderlecht ($6.20) to a gate-to-wire victory. Mike Simons added two more wins on Sunday giving him 49 for the season. Mike Merton is in second with 31 victories. Tioga Downs is back live on Friday (July 21) starting at 6:50 p.m. The track from Nichols, NY will be featuring their annual “Miss Tioga Downs Pageant” in between races. For more information go to www.tiogadowns.com.
Dresden Raceway
Three horses will be going into next week’s C$11,600 final of the Mark Austin Pacing Series undefeated. Step In My Groove won for the second time in a row at the local half-mile track’s Mark Austin Pacing Series for driver Nick Steward in 2:00.3. The 4-year-old Rambarran gelding is owned by Pam Loomis and trained by Bill Kirkpatrick. Alyssa Marie and Alex Lilley finished second while My Greek Princess and Tyler Borth were third. The second division of the Austin Pacing Series rookies saw Action Town and driver/trainer Donnie Rankin head to the winner’s circle for the second week in a row. The 3-year-old Mister Big gelding paced the mile in 2:02 for owner Ken Sommer. Mark Williams guided Got It Made to a second place finish while Beer And A Haircut and Tyler Borth finished in a dead heat for third with Thriller Night and Garrett Rooney. Pull The Shade and Rooney also made it two in a row in the Mark Austin Pacing Series for driver Rooney in 1:59.3. The 3-year-old Dragon Again filly is owned by Sherri Abbot of Windsor and trained by Steve Roberts. You Said It and Steward were second while Williams was at the controls for third place finisher GMC Trooper. Abitofalright was the winner of the fourth division of pacers for Steward in 2:03.2. Kirkpatrick is the owner and trainer of the 7-year-old Blissfull Hall gelding. Rooney was in the race bike for second place finisher Senior Player while Bad Blake and Alex Lilley finished third. Rooney scored four wins on the day to give him 20 on the season at Dresden Raceway as the leading dash driver. Today’s handle was C$24,666.