from Harness Publicists across North America

Wednesday’s (May 13) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows, Harrington Raceway, Pompano Park, Scioto Downs and Monticello Raceway.

Tom’s OK Lady scores with ‘Lightning Lane’ bolt

Meadow Lands, PA — Shuffled to fourth at the top of the stretch, Tom’s OK Lady found salvation in the Lightning Lane as she drew off to capture the $25,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Trot on Wednesday at The Meadows.

Flashing uncharacteristic gate speed, Tom’s OK Lady found the pocket behind I’m Justa Lady, a trip that began to look like a nightmare when I’m Justa Lady was challenged by several rivals around the final turn. But when I’m Justa Lady dug in and fended off those bids, Dave Palone guided Tom’s OK Lady to the Lightning Lane, where the 6-year-old daughter of Inquirer-This Gal’s OK prevailed in 1:56.2. The game I’m Justa Lady was 2-1/2 lengths back in second, with Go Get Blanche third.

Ron Burke trains Tom’s OK Lady, who pushed her career bankroll to $348,397 for Burke Racing Stable, Bethann Palone, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and M1 Stable.

— Evan Pattak

Fivedollarsforsox wins Harrington Junior Open

Harrington, DE — George and Tina Dennis and Ask W Stables’ Fivedollarsforsox ($7.60) earned his second straight win Wednesday (May 13) in the $18,700 Junior Open Trot at Harrington Raceway in 1:56.4.

George Dennis also trained and drove the 6-year-old SJ’s Caviar gelding, who received a perfect two-hole trip behind pacesetting Go Nano Go. At the top of the stretch Fivedollarsforsox found room and surged by the leader for a one-length win. It was his second straight win and fourth of the year.

Drivers George Dennis, Ross Wolfenden, Roger Plante and Tony Morgan each had three winners on the program.

–Matt Sparacino

Earlivic lights up Pompano toteboard

Pompano, FL — Earlivic, a 46-1 longshot, was able to grind out an impressive first-over victory in capturing the $11,000 co-feature trot at the Isle Pompano Park Wednesday (May 13), paying $94.40 to win.

Lap Time Photo

Earlivic (6) pulled off the 46-1 upset in the Pompano feature Wednesday night.

El Hombre Dan and driver Tom Sells cut the mile with Keystone Empire (Richard Simard) enjoying a pocket-trip behind the race leader through the opening quarter mile in 28.2 and the half mile in 58.

But the pace picked up as trainer-driver Marc Major started first-over with Earlivic in the backstretch from sixth place and kept grinding it out until he was able to collar the race leaders after the three-quarter mile marker in 1:27.2.

Then in a dramatic stretch drive, Major was able to wear down El Hombre Dan and then keep Earlivic game to the finish, holding off Keystone Empire to win by a long neck in 1:56.3. Budlightning (Stephen Oliwa) was third.

It was the second win in 14 starts this year for Earlivic, a 6-year-old gelding by Valley Victor. The Mirage Stable of Pompano Beach owns Earlivic.

In the sixth race $11,000 co-feature mares pace, Always and driver Richard Simard ($23.20) led from start to finish to win by a neck in 1:54.1 over the pocket-sitting Rosannette Stena (Anthony Napolitano) and Gordy’s Pan (Tom Sells).

It was the fourth win this year for Always, an 8-year-old mare by Cambest who is owned and trained by Fred Cohen of Coconut Creek, Fla.

In the battle for the driving title, Anthony Napolitano, who flew down to drive Wednesday from Pocono Downs, had three winners and with just one night to go has all but wrapped up his first driving title, leading all-time driving leader Bruce Ranger, 231-223 wins. Ranger had two winners Wednesday. The training title will go to Tom Harmer, who edged out Joe Pavia Jr., 50-47. Leading driver and trainer awards will be made next season.

— Steve Wolf

Scioto series begin on sloppy track

Columbus, OH — The Killbuck Mary series for trotters and the Floating Dream series for pacers got underway on a sloppy track at Scioto Downs on Wednesday night.

The first leg of the Killbuck Mary series was taken by Master’s Sweetie for driver Jeff Nisonger and owner-trainer Edward Birmele. The daughter of Master Lavec scored by two lengths in 2:05.2.

The second leg was taken by Curly Top, trained, driven, and owned by Jerry Lighthill. The sophomore daughter of Emile Angus made a determined rush to the front in the opening quarter and was never headed in her 2:02.4 win.

Randy’s Girl paced overland the second half-mile and then pulled away in the stretch to win the first Floating Dream leg. Trainer-driver Dan Venier steered her to a comfortable 2:00.3 victory. The daughter of Yankee Cruiser is owned by Kenneth and John Saunders.

Any Place’s Dream was an impressive five length winner in the second Floating Dream series division as she scored in 1:58.3 over the rain-soaked racing strip for driver Trent Tharps and trainer-owner Johnson Hill, Jr.

— Dean A. Hoffman

Getthemoney cops top Monticello trot again

Monticello, NY — Although less than five months of the 2009 racing season are in the books at Monticello Raceway, Getthemoney is making a serious bid for Trotter of the Year honors at the Catskill Mountains oval.

On Wednesday, for the fifth time in 13 seasonal starts, the 7-year-old Credit Winner gelding copped another of the track’s top trots.

With Jimmy Marohn at the controls, Getthemoney scored in a seasonal best of 1:59.4 when he defeated the best trotters that Director of Racing Eric Warner could field.

After starting from post position six, Marohn sent his charge to the lead and they had command on the first turn. From there they raced by the quarter in :29.3 and as they approached the halfway point in 1:00, “Zeke” Parker moved Caviar Kid out to challenge.

From there the two trotters raced head-to-head by the three-quarters in 1:30 and into the final turn before Caviar Kid tired. At that point Marohn had to contend with Brent Holland, who had Witch And Famous tucked in comfortably in the two hole behind the leader the entire way.

However, when Holland moved Witch And Famous to the passing lane they began to close in on Getthemoney, but unfortunately for them they ran out of racetrack and had to settle for second place as Getthemoney held on gamely. Lively Moment, handled by Kyle DiBenedetto, took home the show dough.

Besides his five wins in 13 starts, Getthemoney also has four seconds and two thirds and raised his seasonal bankroll to more than $27,000 for owner Sea Horse Farms of Montgomery, N.Y. Trained by Betsy Phillips the winner paid $5.60 for win.

— John Manzi