from Harness Publicists across North America

Thursday’s (January 22) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows, Dover Downs, Cal-Expo, and Monticello Raceway.

Jans Luck wins Meadows F&M Pace on DQ

Meadow Lands, PA — Jans Luck, whose bid to wire the $25,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Pace field fell a bit short on Thursday at The Meadows, got the victory nevertheless when the unofficial winner was disqualified.

Jans Luck and Dave Palone rolled to the half in :57, then faced a strong first-over challenge from Vysoke Tatry, who bothered the advancing Spring Break in moving from the pylons. Vysoke Tatry crossed the wire three-quarters of a length ahead of Jans Luck but was placed third behind Spring Break for interference. The corrected winning time was 1:54.2.

Ron Burke trains Jans Luck, a 5-year-old daughter of Camluck-Jans Scooter who won 15 races in 2008, for Sylvia Burke, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, JJK Stables and M1 Stable. It was one of five wins on the 13-race card for Palone.

— Evan Pattak

Allmar Surprise, Fountain Of Youth win at Dover

Dover, DE — Allmar Surprise scored her third straight win in the $15,000 featured trot and Fountain Of Youth won the $12,500 top pace on Thursday at Dover Downs. Vic Kirby and Corey Callahan had driving triples.

Fotowon photo

Allmar Surprise was one of three winners for Vic Kirby on the Thursday card at Dover.

For the second straight night, an Ontario expatriate won the featured trot. Just as Starcel on Wednesday, Allmar Surprise went right to the front for trainer-driver and co-owner Vic Kirby and led all the way virtually uncontested in a career fastest 1:55 mile. Spunky Vic (Tony Morgan) came from behind into second but could not contest the winner. Hay Big Tuna (Jim Morand) picked up third money.

Allmar Surprise was a modest purchase late last Fall after racing in Ontario 3-year-old stakes. Kirby and Matt Ivory own the Angus Hall-Benita Victory mare that has banked $21,250 already in 2009.

Kirby had a banner night by driving three trotters to victories. Earlier he steered Mist Stable’s chestnut Twilight Mist (CR Commando-Gracious Mist) to victory in a $7,500 conditioned trot. Before that, Kirby drove the Kathleen Hayes owned and trained Nikki’s Game, a 7-year-old daughter of Donerail-Pointofperfection, to a 1:58.2 win in a $15,000 claiming allowance.

Jim Neal’s Fountain Of Youth fought off a late challenge from Cullens Blue Jean (Tom Jackson) to notch a 1:53.3 triumph in a $12,500 male pace. Jim Morand drove the Cambest-Blue For You gelding for trainer Walt Birney. The win was the second in three starts this year. Art And Donna (Jon Roberts) finished third.

— Marv Bachrad

Don’t Tempt Me handles rise at Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — She was facing her toughest test ever, not to mention a change in tactics, but Don’t Tempt Me was still up to the task in the $5,400 Open II Filly & Mare Handicap Pace at Cal-Expo on Thursday night over a track listed as ‘good.’

In advance of starting from post position three in the field of seven, driver James Kennedy knew the competition was tougher.

“I really wasn’t sure what my chances were because it was a hike in class for her,” stated Kennedy. “I thought Amber Delight (Steve Wiseman) would leave and I would leave out of there to get the pocket trip behind her. But when Amber Delight didn’t leave and My Fanny (Luke Plano) did, which had me on the lead, I didn’t know if she was going to be able to hold on the front-end.”

Getting the lead just a sixteenth of a mile past the start, Kennedy would chase after his charge a bit in a first quarter, timed in :29.1. Getting an easy :30.2 second quarter, the 5-year-old would reach the half-mile juncture in :59.3.

“I knew we were going slow early and I was expecting someone to come in the second quarter — but nobody did. As a result, at the half, I felt real good because I knew going slow was good for my mare.”

Chasing after his mare throughout the third quarter, Don’t Tempt Me and Kennedy would trip the beam at the three-quarter pole in 1:28.2.

“I knew I was home free at the three-quarters because I felt that my mare had the fastest final quarter speed in the race.”

Now under urging in the stretch and drawing clear to the seven-eighths marker, there would be no catching Don’t Tempt Me as she stormed home in :26.4.

“She did everything I asked and kept on going forward through the stretch.”

Owned by Keith Ballard, Lester Hunsucker, and James Yates, the Tom Wine ll trained lass would win ($10.00) by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:55.1. Sintillating (Tim Maier) finished in second and My Fanny finished another length back in third.

“It was a great win for her,” concluded Kennedy.

— Scott Ehrlich