from Harness Publicists across North America

Sunday’s (August 3) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Tioga Downs, Ocean Downs and the Billings Series.

Silver Flash captures Open at Tioga

Nichols, NY — Howard Parker and Silver Flash used a three wide sweep down the backside to take down the featured $14,000 Open Handicap Pace in 1:53 on Sunday afternoon at Tioga Downs.

Fred Brown Photography

Silver Flash held off Winbak Dimensions in the $14,000 Tioga Open.

Silver Flash is trained by Paul Szalay, Jr. for owners Frank and Lisa Matassa. It was the third win of the season for the 7-year-old son of Hi Ho Silverheel’s, out of the Dragon’s Lair mare Dragon Temper. The $7,000 winner’s share of the purse increased his seasonal earnings to more than $35,000 and more than $378,000 lifetime.

Winbak Dimensions and Jimmy Marohn, Jr. finished second, Arcade Hall and Bruce Clarke finished third, while heavy favorite Chewy Gross and Mike Simons could do no better than fourth.

In the $10,000 Winner’s Over Pace it was the lone lady in the field that the men could not catch as Double Dream N and William Parker, Jr. established a seasonal mark of 1:53.4.

The 7-year-old Dream Away mare fired out of the gate, crossed over, and had a three length advantage as the field entered the first turn. From there the classy mare sat through fractions of :28.2, :57, and 1:25.2 before sprinting home in :28.2. Eleven A M and Howard Parker sat the two hole and gave pressure late in the stretch, but could not overtake Double Dream N.

William Parker, Jr. also trains the mare for Redmak Enterprises LLC.

Corey Braden and Howard Parker each posted driving doubles on the afternoon’s nine-race card.

— Dustin Ross

Seboomook Mao wins third of Ocean Series

Berlin, MD — The 3-year-old filly Seboomook Mao has had a very successful past three weeks. The Badlands Hanover-Stonebridge Bliss lass started her streak of four wins in five starts with consecutive victories in the opening two legs of the Budweiser Pace late closer series at Ocean Downs on July 13 and 20.

“Coming up with those two wins did a lot for her,” said driver Wayne Long. “She then went to the fair (July 24, Governor’s Day at the Delaware State Fair in Harrington) and had a big win for $20,000 (in 1:56.3).”

The Garnet O’Marrow-trained filly came right back to the ocean and finished second in third leg action on July 27. She was rested until Sunday, when she won the $9,400 series final.

“She’s really come around this summer. Yeah, she’s been sharp,” Long said.

The favorite Wesmokempeacepipe battled Pedo Doc in a torrid first three-quarters of 1:25.2.

“They were kind of torturing each other. It worked out good for me,” Long explained as his horse showed patience and finished strong to win in 1:56.3 ($13.60). Wesmokempeacepipe (two series wins) finished second and Valid Expectation came in third.

— Jim Whittemore

Hatfield wins Billings race at Hawthorne

Monticello, NY — It was only a matter of time before “Trader Bud” Hatfield won a Billings race this season. The former Amateur Driver of the Year, who co-holds the Billings record of 12 driving victories in a season, notched his first triumph of the 2008 campaign when he guided his veteran trotting mare Absolute Resolve to a 1:59.4 victory at Hawthorne Racecourse on Sunday.

After leaving the gate from the five hole Absolute Resolve made the front near the quarter pole and from there she was challenged relentlessly throughout the mile.

When Hatfield and Absolute Resolve put away ABS Super Hall and driver Kelly “Sky” Walker at the three-quarter pole after being challenged head-to-head from the halfway point, Absolute Resolve scooted away to a two length lead at the top of the stretch and then had to brace for a furious rally from Easy Chaser and driver “Buckboard Bob” Miller.

However, Hatfield’s mare was up to the test and rebuffed her challenger and held on for a 1-1/4 length victory over Miller’s trotter. ABS Super Hall faded but did hang on for the show dough.

Due to some late scratches in the race, the father–daughter duel between “Chicago George” Bonomo and daughter Michelle Ruvola didn’t materialize but the husband-wife duel did and second place finisher “Buckboard Bob” Miller won that one when Patricia “the Write Stuff” Miller finished sixth with Trotting Houdini.

Next action in Billings midwest region competition is slated for August 5 at the Cuyahoga County Fair in Berea, Ohio while a Billings eastern region event will be contested at the Cobleskill (NY) Sunshine Fair on August 6.

— John Manzi