from harness publicists across North America

Sunday’s (Dec. 4) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Scarborough Downs and Saratoga Casino and Raceway.

Sweet performance nets sweet reward for Soul Chaser

Scarborough, ME — Class came through in the eighth race at Scarborough Downs on Sunday as the venerable Soul Chaser graced the winner’s circle for the 53rd time in his illustrious career.

Derek Davis photo

Classy Soul Chaser wins with driver Drew Campbell on Sunday at Scarborough Downs.

The son of Kentucky Spur and a career winner of more than $680,000 ground out the hard earned victory in overland fashion as driver Drew Campbell pulled the aged campaigner first-over prior to reaching the three-eighths marker. Toiling on the rim through a legitimate back half of :58.3, the 10-year-old veteran refused to go away, seemingly willing himself to pass the wire on top in an ultra-gritty performance.

“He’s perfect to work with, a perfect gentleman in the barn,” said trainer Bo Sowers. “I hardly get to jog him because he’s so easy to get along with. If anyone comes to the barn and wants to try jogging a horse for the first time, they jog Soul Chaser.”

Accomplished performers like Soul Chaser invariably possess an uncanny awareness that they really are something special and develop certain habits in and around the stables that become unique to themselves.

“David MacDonald bought him in an online auction a month and a half ago and it didn’t take us long to figure out he was a ham,” Sowers continued. “He makes faces at everyone trying to get attention but what he really wants are Tim Horton’s doughnuts. He’s got a certified sweet tooth and he makes sure everybody knows it.”

It’s a pretty safe bet that Soul Chaser will be insisting on a pit stop at the doughnut shop on the trailer ride home. That’s the sweet price for success and a reward well earned.

— Mike Sweeney

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
Larry Stalbaum notched four driving wins on the Sunday card at Saratoga Casino & Raceway, three of which came with horses trained by his wife Kim Asher. The husband/wife duo connected with Martoddi in the sixth, Quicksilvercandy A in the Fillies & Mares Open Pace in the ninth and MeMeMe in the 11th. Stalbaum also drove Shortest Distance in the tenth, posting the fastest mile of the day in 1:54 for trainer Jose Godinez and owner Marissa L. Godinez. Live racing enters its final week of the 2011 season, beginning on Wednesday evening with a post time of 7:05 p.m.