from harness publicists across North America

Sunday’s (May 8) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs, Saratoga and Hippodrome 3R.

Something For Doc sprints clear in top Tioga pace

Nichols, NY — Kelly Ford’s Something For Doc ($7.60) repelled a stout challenge from even-money favorite All Stienam to capture Sunday fternoon’s $8,200 top-level pacing event at Tioga Downs.

Fred Brown photo

Something For Doc held sway in Sunday afternoon’s featured $8,200 conditioned pace at Tioga Downs.

Justin Huckabone secured the pocket early with the 8-year-old Western Hanover gelding, brushing with a circuit to go to overtake Golden Gun (Tyler Freese) after a :27.2 initial quarter.

After rating a :29.2 second split, Something For Doc was forced to accelerate by the favored All Stienam (Jim Marohn Jr.), who applied stern first-over pressure on the backstretch.

Something For Doc would not be worn down, edging away off the far turn and defeating All Stienam by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:53.1. All Golden Gun just stayed on for third from his loose pocket trip.

Jennifer Lappe trains Something For Doc, now a 22-time winner.

— James Witherite

Vernon Downs
After a couple slow nights, defending Vernon Downs driving champion John MacDonald righted the ship on Sunday afternoon, teaming up with four winners on the 10-race program. The centerpiece of MacDonald’s grand slam was his featured win with Damon Blue Chip ($5.30), a 7-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding he trains for the J P Stables. Damon Blue Chip sustained a first-over bid through the far turn, passing Ilikethemtrashy (Truman Gale) in upper stretch and holding off a late charge from Nubble Light (Claude Huckabone III) for a 1:54.1 score in the $7,500 top-level conditioned pace. Panpero Firpo (Chris Lems) stayed on for third from a pocket trip. The native Canadian also posted driving wins with Fox Valley Cadet ($2.40, 1:55), Rugged Heart ($39.80, 2:01.3), and Screenplay ($15.00, 1:57).

Saratoga
It took until the final stride to decide whether Slugfest (Conway Hall) or Cash Me Out (Cash Hall) had prevailed in Sunday’s Open Trot at Saratoga. Slugfest was on the front end in the 1-1/16th mile feature and the back-to-back Trotter of the Year at the track was met with the first over challenge of the favored Cash Me Out (Jim Devaux). Those two top flight trotters slugged it out for better than a half-mile before Slugfest held off his rival by the slimmest of margins to win in 2:03 on a windy afternoon at the Spa. It was the third victory of the season in the Open for the Maureen Salino-trained Slugfest who was the public’s second choice in the wagering at odds of 8-5. Cash Me Out has now hit the board in four consecutive Sunday features at the Spa while Lucid Thoughts (Shawn Gray) earned the show spot. Slugfest was driven to the Open score by Jay Randall.

Hippodrome 3R
Even though there were four return winners from last week’s opening day card, it was the invader from Rideau Carleton, Beach Runner A M, who supported his race favorite status with a tough victory in the 10th race feature pace on Sunday at Hippodrome 3R. Racing over a track labeled “good” with a two second allowance due to rain and cold blustery weather, driver Sylvain Lacaille took no chances with Beach Runner A M as they went right to the lead and held it the entire one mile race, holding off a late charge by C C Nite Raider (Pascal Berube) to win by a neck in 2:00.4. Matt’s Phil (Francis Picard) was third. It was the second win in six starts this year for Beach Runner A M, a 9-year-old gelded son of Beach Of Faith, who is trained and owned by Alain Martin. The winner paid $4.10 for the victory. For Lacaille, the victory was one of two winners on the afternoon card as he also won the third race trot with Jewels In The Sand ($3.20). The total handle, simulcasting and on-track numbers continued to rise over the prior year at the Hippodrome 3R. Sunday’s total handle was up 52.8 percent, simulcasting up 385 percent and on-track handle, despite the inclement weather, was up 7.9 percent.