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Tuesday’s (Nov. 8) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Monticello Raceway, The Meadows, Plainridge Racecourse and Dover Downs.

Southbound Trucker cops Monticello winners over in 1:55.1

Monticello, NY — During the 2009 campaign, Southbound Trucker was the Horse of the Year at Monticello Raceway. He performed well last season but raced mostly out of town and this year, having bankrolled just $22,000, the grand ole campaigner’s numbers were running far behind his previous seasons’ outputs.

Geri Schwarz Photo

Southbound Trucker was a 1:55.1 winner Nov. 8 at Monticello Raceway.

Nevertheless, at the Mighty M on the afternoon of Nov. 8, Southbound Trucker was as good as he ever was on a half-mile track when he stalked the pacesetter, Real Mystical, and rallied in the final strides to be victorious in a 1:55.1 clocking for driver Mike Forte.

The odds-on favorite, Real Mystical, sped out for the lead from the five hole but he had to work hard to gain command which he finally did just before the :27.4 first quarter clocking. From there driver Bruce Aldrich, Jr. had Real Mystical showing the way against the best pacers on the grounds, Aldrich’s charge couldn’t runaway and hide as he often did when competing in claiming events.

Still, Real Mystical had the lead up the backside and Southbound Trucker finally approached him as the two headed into the final turn. And when the two leaders straightened for home Southbound Trucker, whose closing kick was always his strong suit, began to wear down Real Mystical and at the wire Southbound Trucker was a head winner. Speaking Greek and Cory Stratton took home the show dough.

It was only the second time that Mike Forte sat behind Southbound Trucker but the pacer responded well for him.

“Even though they were going along at a good clip I pulled him heading for the half and let him grind his way forward,” Forte said referring to Southbound Trucker. “Up the backside we kept picking up horses and when we reached the leader on the final turn I ducked back in along the pylons and waited for the straightaway. And when I pulled him in the lane I knew he was going to wear down Real Mystical and win it.”

The victory was the fifth of the year for Southbound Trucker who is owned by George Stamatien. He paid $9.30 for win.

Southbound Trucker’s win was one of four on the card for Forte who now has 130 for the meeting. He won both parts of the early double with Game Jocko (1:55.3) in the first and Jo Pa’s Wild Card (1:56) in the second. He also won the ninth with Mizuno (1:56.4).

— John Manzi

THE MEADOWS
With the help of live cover, Tunearrific zipped the back half in a snappy 54.4 en route to victory in Tuesday’s Preferred Handicap Pace at The Meadows. When Jojo N Goliath took the field through a comfortable 57 half, it appeared that Tunearrific might be hard pressed to erase his five-length deficit. But he picked up the first-over cover of Windsong Gorgeous, tipped wide into the turn and scored for J.D. Wengerd in 1:51.4. Jojo N Goliath saved place, 3/4 lengths back, with Windsong Gorgeous third. Johnny Yoder trains and owns Tunearrific, a 7-year-old Tune Town-Dulcinea Esprit gelding with nine victories in 18 starts this year following a winless 2010.

PLAINRIDGE RACECOURSE
Hi Speed Delivery has delivered again for his owner-driver-trainer John Hogan. The 6-year-old pacer by Sealed N Delivered, made it look easy in the Plainridge nighcap Tuesday with a four-length win over his rivals. He went the mile in 1:55.3. The victory was his fourth straight and 12th win of the season in 25 starts. He now has been in the money 18 times. Hogan, a Marlborough, Mass., native, now lives in Argyle, N.Y. Yesterday’s two wins gave him four trips to the winner’s circle in the past two days. He also scored in the fourth race with Party To A Crime in 1:55.4.

DOVER DOWNS
Higher And Higher duplicated her winning performance of last week to win the $23,000 Mares Open Handicap pace on Tuesday at Dover Downs. In similar fashion to her win last week, Daryl Bier moved Higher And Higher to the outside heading to the clubhouse turn and then followed cover before making her decisive move on the final turn on the way to another impressive victory in 1:51.2 victory, two-fifths on a second faster than last Tuesday. Bier owns the Western Terror-Pro Bowl Best 4-year-old with longtime partners Glenn Del Russo and Charley Dombeck. The victory was the eighth of the campaign for Higher And Higher, who now has won $299,865 this year and $739,838 lifetime. Lorrie Please (Jon Roberts) closed fast for second with Perfect M Forever (Corey Callahan) taking third. The win was the second of the week for Bier, DelRusso and Dombeck whose Fools Gold won Monday’s $30,000 Preferred/Open pace.