from harness publicists across North America

Thursday’s (Sept. 26) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Harrington Raceway, Colonial Downs and Vernon Downs.

Stirling Charisma breaks divisional track record at Harrington

Harrington, DE — Eric Foster’s Stirling Charisma (Eddie Davis Jr., $21.60) broke the 2-year-old trotting filly track record Thursday at Harrington Raceway.

Trained by her owner, the Majestic Son-Magic Charm filly received a pocket trip behind pacesetter Irish Sport throughout and edged clear in deep stretch for a win in 2:00.2.

The previous mark was held by Wonderous Hanover (2:01), set in 2011. It was the second career win in seven starts for Stirling Charisma.

Jim Morand had the hot hand with four driving wins to close out the week.

— Matt Sparacino

Colonial Downs
Mary Dawson’s Bettorseeitmyway passed six pacers in the final quarter mile to capture a tight win over betting favorite Diamond Star in the $5,000 Delmarva Handicap’s 7/8ths mile second leg Thursday afternoon at Colonial Downs. Eleven pacers started the race including first leg winner Omaha Survivor who left as a trailer from post eleven in the seven-eighths mile event. Dean Eckley’s pacer did a fine job of getting into the mix early but was parked through the half and faltered in the stretch. Lee A Bryant meanwhile left from post six, got to the front and cut panels of :26.3, :54.2 and 1:22.3 before encountering several closers. Corey Braden gave Diamond Star, one of those closers, a perfect pocket trip in the crowded field while Chris Page shook free from the pack with Bettorseeitmyway and engaged Diamond Star in a thrilling stretch drive. Page edged Braden by one half-length in 1:36.3. Jojo In The Sky took third. Marion Good To Go earned his second consecutive series win in the $4,000 Parkers Memorial second leg. Ten trotters competed and Corey Braden, who had four wins on the card, guided the winner from deep in the field to a 2-1/2 length triumph in 1:58.4. The 4-year-old Conway Hall gelding is trained by Stacy McLenaghan, who celebrated her 29th birthday Thursday with three wins. She also connected with Man’s Treasure and Beyond Perfection.

Vernon Downs
The quick-striding pacer Don’t Blame Her and driver Fern Paquet, Jr. shared the spotlight during Thursday night’s 11-race program at Vernon Downs. Don’t Blame Her became a two-time winner at Vernon’s 69-program meeting with a 1:51.2 victory in the evening’s $10,000 Open for female pacers, while Paquet produced five wins during the card. For the second week in a row, co-owner Joe Bongiorno handled the lines behind Don’t Blame Her as the 10-year-old mare wired four fast-footed distaff rivals in Thursday’s second race, stopping the timer in 1:51.2, a mile that equaled her lifetime speed record and came within two-fifths of a second of Intimidate’s season’s standard for representatives of the diagonal gait at the Downs. The impressive mile resulted in the second straight score, fifth this season and 56th all-time for the bay daughter of Village Connection-Never My Fault, who is also registered to Barbara Bongiorno and trained by Brad Irvine. It was the 210th start for the career-earner of $780,982. She had obtained her win-mark at the Meadowlands last season. Paquet captured the first, third, fourth, fifth and 10th events to tie Rick Plano, Roman Lopez and Chris Lems at one for most wins by any driver during a single program at the track’s 60th anniversary meeting. Three of Paquet’s victories (Mc Thunderstruck, Salome Marvel and Want More) were for owner/trainer John McNeil III, who chalked up his initial training triple at the Downs this year. Jimmy Whittemore charted his 13th double at the Downs in 2013 to take an 83-81 lead over Roman Lopez in their battle for second place on this season’s dash-winning driving chart.