from Harness Publicists across North America
Tuesday’s (June 16) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows and Monticello Raceway.
Threepeat for Biletnikoff at The Meadows
Meadow Lands, PA — Biletnikoff continued his recent domination of The Meadows’ $27,500 Preferred Handicap Pace, as he triumphed easily Tuesday for his third consecutive victory.
Aaron Merriman urged Biletnikoff to the front in a demanding :26.3 but was able to give the 5-year-old gelded son of Keystone Raider-Strikadeeze a second quarter breather in :29.3. From there, Biletnikoff faced no serious challenges, winning wrapped up in 1:51.2. The pocket-sitting Amorts A was second by 1-1/2 lengths, with Pacey Deucey third.
Paul Kennedy, Jr. trains Biletnikoff, who has won seven of 13 starts this year, for Markus Ernst.
Dave Palone drove five winners on the 16-race card while Merriman fashioned a four-bagger.
— Evan Pattak
Doreen Dailey reins longshot to victory in Mildred Williams Series
Monticello, NY — On Tuesday afternoon, June 16, at Monticello Raceway eight top women drivers competed in a division of the Mildred Williams International Women’s Driving Series and when it had concluded longshot Amanda’s Knight, driven by Doreen Dailey, charged down the passing lane to score a head victory in a time of 2:00.2.
Geri Schwarz photo
Amanda’s Knight and driver Doreen Dailey rallied to victory in the Mildred Williams Series race at Monticello.
After starting from the eight hole, Dailey settled Amanda’s Knight down along the pylons in sixth position as the field rounded the first turn. Content to allow Stacy Chiodo to cut the even fractions with Financial Aid, Dailey kept her charge near the back of the pack, still in sixth position, as the field headed toward the half-mile stanza.
Up the backstretch when Anne Schlictlig moved Braeden’s Drive, who was coasting along in the cat-bird’s seat, out to challenge, Betsy Phillips, with Wired N, took their position behind the pacesetter. At that point Amanda’s Knight was still in sixth position, four lengths off the leader.
Around the final turn Dailey’s pacer still had to make up five lengths and moving like a freight train three deep on that bend was Wilson Jay N and driver Jennifer Lappe, who not only got away from the starting gate slowly but spotted the field some 15 lengths before the starting judge said “go.”
As Wilson Jay N rallied down the center of the track he appeared to be a winner, that is, until Dailey angled the 28-1 shot Amanda’s Jay to the passing lane and the 8-year-old Direct Scooter gelding charged home to spoil Wilson Jay N’s potential victory. Heads apart at the finish — one along the pylons and one in the center of the track — when the photo-finish camera clicked Amanda’s Jay was a head in front of Wilson Jay N. Third place went to Wired N and Phillips, who were just one length behind the first two finishers.
Dismissed by the betting public, Amanda’s Knight, trained by Luann Kroninger for owner Roger Raymand Van Horn, paid $56.00 for win.
The race on Tuesday marked the second time this year that Monticello Raceway offered an event for women drivers. On February 17, the track’s annual Lady Godiva Pace, for the first time since its inception in 2002, was affiliated with and became a part of the Mildred Williams Lady Drivers Series. And the winner of that event was none other than Doreen Dailey.
Now two-for-two at the Mighty M after her driving victory on June 16, Dailey, who races regularly at Freehold Raceway, chirped, “I like it here” and then added “Maybe I am racing at the wrong track.”
That reference was made because two of the five driving victories that she has this year came in just two starts right here at the Mighty M.
Dailey also won the Mildred Williams Series event at Yonkers Raceway on Monday, June 15, and she has opened a big lead on her competitors in the series.
The competitors in the Mildred Williams Series donate their driving percentages to charity. At Monticello the National Breast Cancer Foundation was the recipient of the donation.
— John Manzi