from Harness Publicists across North America

Thursday’s (October 9) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Vernon Downs, Cal-Expo, Monticello Raceway and the Billings Series.

Scorpion Moon, Paquet in Vernon spotlight

Vernon, NY — Scorpion Moon returned to his home track and captured the featured trot, while Fern Paquet, Jr. achieved his 2,000th career driving victory at Vernon Downs on Thursday night.

Wearing the favorite’s mantle in Thursday’s $8,000 eighth event, the week’s top division of the Miracle Mile class for diagonally gaited performers, Scorpion Moon idled in fifth as Magic cut the initial three-quarters in 1:28.4. Rallying from fifth at the half and fourth deep into the final turn, the rugged 7-year-old gelding powered through the stretch to defeat Magic by a half-length in 1:57.

Josh Marks, the track’s leading driver, did the teaming for trainer Tracy Brainard, the meet’s top trainer, as Scorpion Moon secured his second local tally, his fifth victory in his last six outings and his 15th season’s score. Brainard and Andrew Herzog share ownership of the lifetime winner of $436,742, who earned his 1:52.4 record at Pocono Downs earlier in the campaign.

Fern Paquet, Jr. reached the 2,000-win milestone after teaming the trotter Ginsigna to a 2:00.2 tally in Thursday’s first event. The pocket-sitting journey gave the 4-year-old gelding his third season’s score for owner-trainer Peter Krawec.

Marks, who completed the nine-race card with 95 victories; dash-winning runner-up Jimmy Whittemore, who has achieved 88 tallies after 77 programs; defending champ Howard Okusko, Jr.; and trainer Jessica Okusko were each credited with two Thursday triumphs.

— Jim Moran

Gia Hall won’t be denied at Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — By fighting off her main foe in the stretch, Gia Hall would earn a nice victory. Conditioned trotters, racing for a purse of $4,500, were featured at Cal-Expo on a windy Thursday night.

Leaving from post four in the field of seven and racing three-wide for driver Rich Wojcio until the field entered the first turn, the 5-year-old mare Gia Hall would tuck in third an eighth of a mile past the start into a snappy :28.2 opening quarter.

With the field just past the quarter-mile pole, Wojcio would waste no time in pulling his mare as he gradually moved her up for the lead, which they’d obtain past the three-eighths-mile marker. Their lead, however, would be short-lived, as a friendly face was now in quest for the top.

“I looked over and saw that it was my entrymate (Southwind Sierra/John McKeon, Jr.), so I was happy to let her go and follow her,” said Wojcio. “Plus with that big headwind on the backside, it probably helped me because it gave her a little breather versus fighting the wind.”

Yielding the lead at the half-mile marker, timed in :59.2, Gia Hall would remain in the pocket until pretty much being flushed to the outside midway through the final turn. Quickly moving up for a parked out lead at the three-quarter pole, timed in 1:30.4, Gia Hall would now have to deal with K D Shenanigans, who was tracking her every move while second-over.

Under a drive in the lane with K D Shenanigans breathing down her neck, Gia Hall, while drifting out late, would never let K D Shenanigans get that close while on her way to a half-length win ($5.20). Owned by trainer John McKeon Jr., Gia Hall would stop the timer at 2:00. K D Shenanigans went down fighting to clearly be second-best, while Cherry Tree Rojo (Jason Maier), who lost several lengths after a break just to the half-mile pole, recovered nicely to be third, another 6-3/4 lengths farther back.

“She raced very well and is very, very nice to drive. John (McKeon) has definitely done a good job with her,” concluded Wojcio.

— Scott Ehrlich

Artomatic Pilot wins Monticello feature

Monticello, NY — Since the installation of the video gaming machines in New York State, horsemen from the Midwest have come east to avail themselves of the bigger purse schedules at the state’s seven race tracks.

Joe Anderson — who is no stranger to the winner’s circle with 3,803 trips there — has found the confines of Monticello Raceway to his liking and on Thursday he reined Artomatic Pilot to a 1:56.4 victory, which marked his eighth victory in just 14 starts here.

The victory was the second in a row for the 4-year-old Western Hanover gelding and a decisive one at that. Anderson sent Artomatic Pilot to the lead and put the pacer on automatic pilot through fractions of :28.2, :59.1, and 1:28.2 before kicking in a :28.2 final stanza en route to an easy seven length victory over Spinx K and driver Mark Beckwith. Third in the mile was Gilt Edge for Billy Parker, Jr.

Artomatic Pilot, sent off at odds of 3-10, returned a paltry $2.60 for win. The pacer is owned by the Anderson Racing Stable and Bohemian Enterprises, Inc.

— John Manzi

Oldford and Raber win Billings races in Lancaster

Monticello, NY — On Thursday afternoon, the Fairfield County Fair in Lancaster, Ohio hosted two midwest region divisions of the C.K.G. Billings Amateur Driving Series and when the dust had settled Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford and “Marvelous Marvin” Raber each emerged victorious.

Oldford, who has developed into the star of the Billings this year, notched his ninth triumph in the series when he guided his Eng-Amer Bobby to a gate-to-wire, four length triumph in a 2:06.2 clocking over a track rated “good.” Bob “I Wanna Sell You A Car” Chapman gave Littlebitofhoney a real good trip behind the leader, but Chappie’s trotter flattened out in the lane and they had to settle for second money. Third place went to SJ’s Chuck, who was handled by Dean “What Am I Bid” Beachy.

In the other contest that day Marvin Raber put the pedal to the metal and sent Yankee Summit to the lead after the half and when the trotter kicked in a :29.1 final stanza Raber found himself 10 lengths ahead of Zorgwijk Fatal and driver Dale “the Big Boss” Zahn when he crossed the finish line. Kipling Avenue took home the show dough for driver “Jolly Roger” Bartley.

As the Billings Series heads into the homestretch, Steve Oldford has built an almost insurmountable point lead over Todd “the Downeaster” Whitney, 135-95 in the Midwest region. However, Whitney has command in the Eastern Region, although his 124 points there are just five better than the vastly improved Tony “the Capo” Verruso.

— John Manzi