by harness racing publicists across North America

Friday night’s (Sept. 2) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows, Tioga Downs, Batavia Downs and Saratoga.

Techtor Hanover takes The Meadows feature in new lifetime mark

Chris Gooden photo

Techtor Hanover wins the featured event at The Meadows in a new personal best 1:50.1.

Washington, PA — Techtor Hanover worked out a comfortable pocket trip, then roared through the Lightning Lane to capture Friday’s (Sept. 2) $13,500 Winners Over $10,000 Life Pace at The Meadows.

Techtor Hanover had been performing well against top competition, but settling for checks rather than wins. The 4-year-old Well Said-Tempest Blue Chip gelding elevated his game Friday when he kicked past the venerable Sam Hill to down him by a neck in 1:50.1, which is the fastest mile of his career. The first-over Kingofthejungle earned show.

Aaron Merriman piloted Techtor Hanover, who extended his lifetime bankroll to $135,908, for trainer Jack Smith and owner Tommy Mucci. It was one of three wins on the 13-race program for Merriman.

Live racing at The Meadows resumes Monday (Sept. 5) with a Labor Day card that begins at the special post time of 5:00 p.m.

— by Evan Pattak

Tioga Downs

LRL Racing, LLC’s Cracker Coffee ($5.60) proved a gritty winner in Friday evening’s (Sept. 2) featured $13,000 Mares Open I Pace at Tioga Downs, giving driver Mike Merton one of his five wins on the 11-race card. Merton sent the 7-year-old Six of Diamonds mare to the front from the outset, using the entirety of the first turn to clear K J’s Caroline (Jim Taggart, Jr.) through a :26.3 first quarter before pulling back the pace. With three-eighths of the mile to go, Cracker Coffee faced stern first-over pressure from Shutthefrontdoor (Scott Coulter), and the two went on to duel through the far turn. Cracker Coffee not only outlasted her first-over foe, but also managed to stave off a late bid up the pegs from K J’s Caroline to prevail by a neck in 1:53. Shutthefrontdoor leveled off from her uncovered bid and finished third. Amber Buter trains Cracker Coffee, now an 18-time winner. Merton also teamed up with Patti Harmon trainees Braveheartedmillie ($10.80, 1:53.1) and Jailhouse Jessica ($3.10, 1:55.2), as well as Courtney Wright trainee Gliding Boy ($76.50, 1:57) and Edgar “Sparky” Clarke trainee Zoraze ($10.00, 1:57). Live racing returns to Tioga Downs on Saturday evening (Sept. 3). First post is slated for 6:30 p.m.

Batavia Downs

Drew Monti put on a driving clinic at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Sept. 2) winning five races on the card that included both top trots of the week. In the featured $10,000 Open for the diagonally gaited, Winky’s Pride ($14.20) went gate to wire in unfettered style. After leaving from post four, Winky’s Pride was perfectly rated through fractions of :28.2, :58.2 and 1:28.2 when J A T O (Mike Caprio) sidled her at three-quarters. Monti glanced back and popped the plugs right after and the chestnut mare knew to turn it up. After they circled the turn and headed down the lane, J A T O continued his assault from the outside and Studio City (Dave McNeight III) shot through the passing lane in pursuit as well. But Winky’s Pride would not relent and under mild urging, held off all challengers to the wire and won by a long neck in 1:57.4. Studio City was second and J A T O was third. It was the fifth win of the year for Winky’s Pride and the second consecutive week she beat the boys in the feature. With the winner’s share of the purse, her earnings rose to $46,039 in 2016 for owner-trainer Robert Hummel. In the co-featured $8,500 Open II trot, Monti scored with El Diablo Hall ($12.20) in his first local start after a private purchase. El Diablo Hall sat second behind BZ Glide (Mike Caprio) for the entire mile, before finding room in the passing lane. From there, he powered up the pylons to a half-length victory in 1:57.4. El Diablo Hall is owned by James Caradori and is trained by Darrin Monti. Rounding out Monti’s five winners were Chelsea’s Chance ($8.70), Tenor Duharas ($4.20) and Warhorse ($5.00). His UDR for the night was .593. There were other outstanding performances by several horsemen on Friday night as well. John Cummings Jr.’s Batavia homecoming saw him win three races during the night as did trainer Darrin Monti. And Kevin Cummings hit the winner’s circle twice along with trainer Mike Carrubba. Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Sept. 3) with two main events. The New York Sires Stakes for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings rolls into town along with the $7.4 million dollar horse, Foiled Again, who will compete in the overnight featured $10,000 Open pace. Post time for the first race is 6:15 p.m.

Saratoga

Artful Way (Artistic Fella) came up just shy of an Open win last weekend at Saratoga Casino Hotel when the Jackie Rousse-trained pacer got reeled in in the final strides of the $15,000 Open. On Friday night (Sept. 2) Artful Way would not be denied as he changed tactics a bit and sat the pocket behind the race’s even money favorite JK Panache (Wally Hennessey). JK Panache powered out to the lead in a :27.1 opening quarter and paced consecutive :28 second quarters in the race’s middle half before being confronted by the pocket-pulling Artful Way. Those two speedsters battled it out in the final eighth of a mile before Artful Way came on to win in 1:51.2. JK Panache was a strong second while longshot Respectable Dream (Stephane Bouchard) earned the show spot. Artful Way returned $8.00 to win and led an exacta completed by the favorite that came back $11.80. The win was one of three on the card for trainer Jackie Rousse and driver Frank Coppola Jr., who also teamed up for victories with claiming pacers Wayne The Lefty (Allamerican Ingot) and Jojo Jove (Village Jove). Live racing continues on Saturday night (Sept. 3) at Saratoga with a 7:05 p.m. first post.