from Harness Publicists across North America

Thursday’s (July 31) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Ocean Downs, The Red Mile, and Cal-Expo.

Boot’s Place sweeps Michelob Light Pacing Series

Berlin, MD — Boot’s Place, the classy 3-year-old filly by Park Place-Put The Boots-Cam Fella rolled to a one length victory in the third and final leg of the Michelob Light Pacing Series at Ocean Downs (1:55.1, $2.20).

The Mike Hall-trained filly has now won four straight and has 10 wins in 18 2008 starts, good for nearly $70,000 in purses this year. Eric Ledford had the reigns.

Ocean Downs also featured two divisions in the first leg of the Alan Myer Memorial late closer series. Fans welcomed the return to the winner’s circle of William Long, who was the track’s leading driver from 1988 through 1997. Long had broken a hip in December of 2006 when he fell through a barn roof. He was unable to drive in 2007, but remained busy training horses. Long returned to the bike Thursday at the ocean, guiding 3-year-old colt Concertino (Tejano-Concert Goer) to an exciting win (2:00.4, $4.80) in the second division of the series.

Long, who drove the colt to a Maryland Sire Stakes final win on June 28 at Rosecroft, is comfortable while driving his trainee Concertino.

“He’s a colt we bought at the Chesapeake sale as a yearling. He raced a little bit as a 2-year-old,” Long explained. “He’s come back better this year, grew up, matured and really started to race well.”

Thursday’s first division of the Alan Myer Memorial was won by 4-year-old mare My Elusive Dream (Lindy Lane-Dream Kosmos, 2:03, $3.20). My Elusive Dream has won three straight races with Charles Perry, Jr. as the pilot.

“She’s definitely a fast filly (but) I think she’s just learning how to trot,” Perry said.

— Jim Whittemore

Late closing events highlight Red Mile card

Lexington, KY — The Thursday night Red Mile action was highlighted by six late closing events on the 10-race card.

The first race of the night was a $6,000 late closing event for colt and gelding trotters and a host of breakers paved the way for the two longest shots on the board to hit the wire together in a photo finish. Stylish Lad, a 3-year-old Angus Hall colt, with Steve Waller at the controls, would prove to be victorious at odds of 53-1 for owner-trainer Buck Sprinkle. It was the colt’s first lifetime victory in his fourth career outing. John Duer steered Two Black Clouds, a 3-year-old Valley Victor gelding, to the second place finish at odds of 25-1. Duer also trains the gelding for his father, Carter Duer, and William Weaver III.

The two longshots lit up the toteboard like a Christmas tree, most notably keying off a ten cent superfecta that returned over $1,450.

The fastest mile of the night came in the second race when Dan Shetler won another one of the $6,000 late closing events aboard Im A Native Two, a 3-year-old Allamerican Native filly. Shetler used a perfectly rated mile to prepare his charge for a :27.1 final quarter and a new lifetime mark of 1:53.3. Im A Native Two is trained by Tom Brinkerhoff for owner Joe Criswell.

Im A Native Two scored a slight upset, being sent off at 3-1 odds, and completed the daily double which returned $1,912.80.

Live racing returns to the Red Mile on Sunday evening with a first post of 6:30 p.m. Nine divisions of Kentucky Sire Stakes action for freshman trotters and pacers highlight the 17-race card.

— Gabe Prewitt