Racing Roundup: Springsteen takes Pocono feature

The Saturday (Aug. 24) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, Saratoga Casino Hotel, Tioga Downs and Running Aces.

Springsteen takes Pocono feature

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Springsteen had his third straight win at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Saturday night (Aug. 24), grinding his way past Western Joe to take the $21,500 featured pace in 1:49.

Springsteen has won three straight after a win at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Saturday evening. Curtis Salonick photo.

Springsteen, a 4-year-old son of Rock N Roll Hanover, was away fourth as Rebellious cut a :27 quarter and the favored Western Joe brushed past him to hit the half in :54.3. Springsteen came first-up at the five-eighths and gained on Western Joe to and past the 1:21.4 three-quarters. He finally pressured his main foe into submission in deep stretch. Western Joe held on well to miss only a half-length, winning a photo from the inside-shooting Rebellious for second.

Springsteen has put together his current win streak for owners Allard Racing Inc., Bruce Soulsby, Alan Weisenberg, and Kapildeo Singh while boosting his earnings to $594,512. Springsteen was one of six winning drives on the night for Simon Allard, four of them for his brother Rene, the meet’s leading trainer, including this one with Springsteen.

In the $20,000 claiming handicap pace, the main question wasn’t whether Atta Boy Dan would win – he did again, on the front end for driver George Napolitano Jr. in 1:50.1, his third straight and eighth of his last nine – but where he would wind up after the race. It turns out it won’t be with trainer Vinnie Fusco Jr. and the P T Stable, for whom he won Saturday, but back with owner Clifford Grundy, who has now claimed him for $40,000 four times in his 11-race streak.

Atta Boy Dan is 15-11-2-1-$123,450 since coming to Pocono on May 11 and 14-for-25 in 2019 which is tied for second in wins among North American pacers. He is a 66-time winner in a career that has seen the 10-year-old accumulate $896,417.

— by PHHA/Pocono

Saratoga Casino Hotel

As the summer starts begins to wind down, Hudson Phil (Shanghai Phil) has emerged as the clear-cut front-runner for Horse of the Year at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Jackie Greene-trained pacer has been the track’s superstar in 2019 and on Saturday night, the 4-year-old won the Open Pace for the eighth time this season. Jay Randall has been the regular driver for Hudson Phil in his local starts this year and the veteran reinsman wasted no time powering the standout pacer out to the early lead in Saturday’s $15,000 Open. Hudson Phil sizzled through a first quarter of :26.2 before clicking off a half in :55.2 but didn’t face his first challenge until checking in at three-quarters in 1:23.3 when Major Crocker A (Billy Dobson) drew alongside to confront the big favorite. Hudson Phil rebuffed him around the final turn but Major Crocker A had one surge left in him and closed again in the stretch before coming up second-best in the 1:51.1 mile. Lockton Luck A (Mark Beckwith) finished third to extend his “on the board” streak to six. Hudson Phil’s 10 wins have led to over $100,000 in earnings in his monster 2019 campaign. Live racing resumes on Tuesday evening at Saratoga with a first post time set for 7:05 p.m.

— by Mike Sardella

Tioga Downs

Roundtown Rocker (Wally Hennessey) won the $9,000 featured trot at Tioga Downs on Saturday (August 24). BJ Loarado (Mike Merton) took the lead just before hitting the first quarter in :27.0. He continued to lead hitting the half in :56.1. Jack Rules (Andy Santeramo) started to put on the pressure as BJ Lorado hit three-quarters in 1:24.4. The two trotters went around the last turn shoulder to shoulder. Roundtown Rocker ($6.70), who is trained by Rick Dane for owners Rock&Roll Stable and Scott Dane, was locked in the box as they turned for home. He would squeeze through an opening on the inside and hold off a late charge by second place finisher Meadowbranch Ricky (Mike Simons) to win in a seasonal best 1:54.4. Jack Rules held on for third. Roundtown Rocker is a 6-year-old gelding by Hard Rock N Roll. It was his fourth win in 2019. He now owns 35 career victories. Wally Hennessey added three more wins on the night. His other wins came with P L McCracken ($5.20), No Reason At All ($13.00), and Blueberry Heaven ($10.40). Mike Simons and Andy Santeramo each drove two winners on the night. Simons finished first with Cayenne Victory ($3.80), and Eldorado Of Gold S ($15.60). Andy Santeramo got his victories with You Said It ($3.10), and Uncle Hanover ($5.50). Tioga Downs returns to live racing with an 11-race card featuring Reynolds Memorial races for freshmen trotters and pacers starting at 1 p.m.
For more information go to www.tiogadowns.com.

— by John Horne

Running Aces

Trainer Edwin Quevedo posted a big night at Running Aces on Saturday with three winners from five starters, catapulting him into the top 5 trainers’ standings with nine programs left to go in the 2019 Aces season. Quevedo teamed up with driver Nick Roland on Deweydiddonegood to score a 1:54.4 win, and two in a row, in a $9,500 claiming handicap pace. After securing the pocket early, and saving ground throughout, Roland surged up the inside lane with Deweydiddonegood ($5.80) to deliver a narrow victory over a game Johnny Gun (Darrell Wright) to get things started for Quevedo. Fredi Herrrera is the winning owner. Next, Quevedo teamed up with driver Steve Wiseman in the next race, on Western Devil who orchestrated a two-move trip and emerged from the pocket with big late pace to nail a three-quarter length tally in 1:54.1 over Musician (Tim Maier). The victory was a new lifetime mark for Western Devil ($28.40) for owner Santiago Quintana. Two races later, Quevedo sent out Peekaboo Tattoo in a $6,500 mares claiming handicap pace with the services of driver Rick Magee, who put together a beautiful second-over trip for Peekaboo Tattoo. They stormed home on the outside to sweep by the front runners and scored her fifth win of the season for owner (and wife) Fabiola Quevedo. Peekaboo Tattoo delivered as the favorite ($6.20) in a final time of 1:55.2. Nick Roland led the Saturday program with a driving double.

— by Darin Gagne

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