from Harness Publicists across North America

Thursday’s (September 25) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows, Monticello Raceway, Vernon Downs, Cal-Expo, and the Billings Series.

Charged Freight wins $25,000 Meadows F&M Trot

Meadow Lands, PA — Charged Freight, the lone 3-year-old in an accomplished field of nine, charged through the lane and survived an inquiry to capture the $25,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Trot on Thursday at The Meadows.

Using a second-over trip, trainer/driver Ray Paver swung Charged Freight wide in the stretch to pursue the leader, I’m Justa Lady. That brought Charged Freight into close quarters with Tom’s OK Lady, who also was brushing wide. Charged Freight prevailed by a head over Tom’s OK Lady in a career-best 1:55.4, a victory confirmed by judges’ review. I’m Justa Lady saved show.

Samuel Raneri III owns Charged Freight, a daughter of S J’s Photo-Charged Powder who was unraced at 2. She has won nine of 18 starts this year and banked $124,666.

Tony Hall produced five driving victories on the 15-race card.

— Evan Pattak

Trio of NYSS Late Closers contested at Monticello

Monticello, NY — A trio of good looking freshman trotting colts, Never Missed, Share The Credit and Monaghan Man, were each victorious in their respective $10,600 divisions of the New York Sire Stakes Late Closer trots at Monticello Raceway on Thursday.

The fastest of the three splits was turned in by Never Missed when Billy Parker, Jr. guided the CR Excalibur-Phyllis Doll gelding to a 2:02.3 clocking.

Parker sent Never Missed to the front as the gate sprung and they never looked back, despite much of their competition going off-stride. Only Raddichio with Jimmy Marohn, Jr. aboard stayed on gait and they finished second, some 17 lengths behind the winner. The odds-on favorite Rambling Chaos was among the colts that broke in the mile, but the John Cross-driven gelding rebounded to take home third money.

It was the third victory for Never Missed and a new lifetime mark. The trotter is owned by Ray Allen and Brent Schlossberg.

The other two splits were raced off the card with the fastest of the two turned in by Monaghan Man and driver Corey Braden, who stopped the timer in 2:04.1.

Despite making a break before the start the Malabar Man-Corfad Dream gelding recovered, but was still nine lengths behind the leader Kash N Credit, driven by Clint Galbraith. At the three-quarters Monaghan Man had the lead and then coasted home an impressive seven length winner over Kash N Credit. Third place went to Marion Manawar, driven by Kyle DiBenedetto. Alan and Gus Johnston are the proud owners on Monaghan Man.

The other non-betting division was a cake-walk for Share The Credit. With Billy Parker, Jr. in the sulky the Credit Winner-Makinyen lad went to the front and never was challenged as they cruised to an easy three length triumph in a time of 2:06. Rookie Mistake (Kyle DiBenedetto) and Constant Contest (Dan Daley) were second and third the entire way. The winner is owned by Diane Gilligan.

— John Manzi

Magic repeats in top Vernon Trot

Vernon, NY — Magic recorded a repeat victory in the top Miracle Mile trotting class at Vernon Downs on Thursday night.

Following a career-best 1:55.4 triumph in this same category last Thursday, Magic closed with authority in the stretch to secure a 1:56.3 score in the evening’s $9,000 featured eighth event.

Trainer Tony Mondi was back in the sulky as Magic idled in last place as newcomer Crushproof led his five foes through splits of :26.4 to the quarter, :56.3 at the half and 1:27 at the third station. Rallying from fifth at the top of the stretch, the 4-year-old son of Credit Winner flew through the lane and defeated the pocket-sitting Walden by a neck. Crushproof held on for third.

After posting his fifth season’s tally and increasing his lifetime earnings to more than $158,000 for owner Lon Frocione, Magic returned $12.40, $7.60 and $5.90 across the board.

Trainer-driver Dan Daley chalked up a double during Thursday’s nine-race card, winning with the trotters New Revenue, in 2:02 for his wife, Ann-Mari Daley, and her partners Jared Daley and Richard Lombardo, and L F Topaz, in 1:57.2 for owner Joseph Pennacchio.

Rick Plano piloted Andover Victory to a personal best 2:00.1 trotting triumph for D&E Racing, Inc. in Thursday’s third race and earned his 4,994th career driving victory.

— Jim Moran

Meringue lets them eat cake at Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — Conditioned trotters, racing for a $4,500 purse, were featured at Cal-Expo on Thursday night, in which Meringue won nicely.

Before starting from post one in the field of eight, driver Luke Plano had good reason to be positive.

“I thought the horse raced well last week and he certainly fit well this week,” said Plano. “I just needed to work out the right trip.”

Proudly owned by Dawn Evango and trained by Hans Rynningen, Meringue wouldn’t be caught in the lane while winning ($3.00) by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:58, thus equaling a lifetime best. Cherry Tree Rojo (Jason Maier) came on to the wire to be second, and Gia Hall (John McKeon, Jr.) finished another three-quarters of a length farther back in third.

“I thought he raced very good off of one qualifier and one start and is rounding back into his early season form,” Plano concluded.

— Scott Ehrlich

Jason Sgrignuoli wins Billings Contest at Sulky Quebec

Monticello, NY — Maybe it was an advantage for “Racin’ Jason” Sgrignuoli to be at the familiar surroundings provided by Sulky Quebec but for whatever reason the Dorval, PQ native took no prisoners when he guided Wildridge Cathie to a romping 12-1/2 length victory in the C.K.G. Billings Amateur Trot over the half-mile oval in Quebec City onThursday night.

Sgrignuoli, an electrician by trade, took command from pacesetter Jaycee M Tempest and driver Tony “the Capo” Verruso after the quarter and once on top the 8-year-old Carry The Message mare began to open daylight between herself and the rest of the field.

At the three-quarters her lead was two lengths, which was increased to five at the top of the stretch. In the lane Sgrignuoli and Wildridge Cathie kept pouring it on and at the wire they were a dozen lengths ahead of Jaycee M Tempest and Tony Verruso in a 2:03.2 clocking. Third place went to Pine Hill Meister who was driven by Vladimir “Butch” Melnichenko.

Wildridge Cathie is owned by Sebastian and Eric Duguay.

— John Manzi