Racing Roundup: Trotting mare beats the boys in Tioga feature
June 5, 2009,from Harness Publicists across North America
Friday’s (June 5) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs, Harrah’s Chester, WEG Media, Scarborough Downs, Cal-Expo, Scioto Downs, Saratoga Harness, Buffalo Raceway and Plainridge Racecourse.
Trotting mare beats the boys in Tioga feature
Nichols, NY — Jimmy Marohn Jr. and Yankee Nola captured the featured $14,000 Open Handicap trot on Friday night at Tioga Downs. Yankee Nola was the lone mare in the field of eight, was assigned post position number eight, and the boys could still not beat the talented trotting mare.
The duo floated from behind the gate and captured the lead of the race just past the opening quarter timed in 28. The field raced in straight alignment through a half in 58, and as the field tripped the three quarter mile mark in 1:27.1 Yankee Nola received her first true test from Keystone Empire who was first over. Keystone Empire looked the mare in the eye, but could not get by as Yankee Nola and Marohn rebuffed the challenge to win by a length in 1:57. Tyler Raymer owns and trains the 7-year old SJ’s Photo-Nila Domarr mare who has won five of fourteen seasonal starts, and with the win increased her seasonal earnings to more than $65,000. Levitys Pride and Kyle Di Benedetto used a two hole trip to take home the place money, while Keystone Empire and Richard Simard hung on for third.
— Dustin Ross
Chantal Hall takes Vernon feature
Fotowon
Chantal Hall posted a three-length score, her second in a row, in 1:54.1.
Vernon, NY — Pacer Chantal Hall turned a textbook trip into a 1:54.1 triumph in Friday night’s $9,000 featured ninth race at Vernon Downs.
Leaving from post one in the week’s Open test for female practitioners of the lateral gait, Chantal Hall drafted along in second place behind the pacesetting Bet The Ranch until the top of the stretch before taking charge and posting a three-length score, her second in a row, third at the meet and seventh of 2009.
The featured race first-place finish gave driver Jimmy Whittemore and his dad, owner-trainer Dennis Whittemore, a double during the 10-race program. They also combined for a 1:54.3 victory by the pacing distaffer My Girl Lora in Friday’s $5,000 third event.
— Jim Moran
Three in a row for Southwestern Dream
Chester, PA — Coming off back-to-back wins at the Meadowlands, Southwestern Dream ($2.40) took the open stretch to a third straight victory, capturing the $30,000 Nero for 4-year-olds on Friday (June 5) evening at Harrah’s Chester Casino and Racetrack.
The 4-year-old Cambest gelding cleared the lead on the first turn before yielding to One False Move (George Napolitano, Jr.) with a circuit to go, tracking his every step throughout. With One False Move tiring under pressure from Mystery Chase (Donnie Russell) and McCedes (Corey Callahan) making a three-wide bid at head-stretch, Dave Palone moved Southwestern Dream to the open stretch, closing beautifully with plenty of pace and winning by three-parts of a length over McCedes in 1:52.4 over sloppy going. One False Move was an all-out third.
Bruce Saunders trains Southwestern Dream for owner Frank Bellino.
— from Harrah’s Chester Publicity Department
Windsong Soprano strong winner in seasonal debut
Campbellville, OH — Windsong Soprano made her 2009 debut a successful one with a solid 1:55.2 victory in a conditioned trot for 3-year-old fillies on Friday night at Mohawk Racetrack.
With regular pilot Steve Condren at the controls, the daughter of Windsongs Legacy – Muscling In sat patiently in third spot for much of the mile before moving first-over as the field approached the three-quarter marker.
She worked her way up to the pacesetting Kandor Hanover at the third panel in 1:27.4 before outsprinting that rival in the :27.3 final frame.
Kandor Hanover was game and gave up the lead in the last few strides with Yursa Hanover closing well to finish a lapped-on third.
All three fillies are eligible to the upcoming Casual Breeze Stake with divisions scheduled for next Friday, June 12 at Mohawk.
Last season, Windsong Soprano won three of nine starts including a 1:53.4 score in a division of the Bluegrass Stakes at Lexington’s Red Mile. She ended her rookie campaign with just over $345,000 earned for trainer Bob McIntosh and owner Lothorien of Cheltenham, Ontario.
— Greg Blanchard
Campbell drives 5 to victory at Scarborough
Michael Newman photo
Drew Campbell appeared only second best with Veeba’s Rose on Friday before being placed first by the judges over Classic Andy and driver Kim Ireland.
Scarborough, ME — Not even a three win performance from driver Kevin Switzer could wrestle the headlines away from Drew Campbell on Friday (June 5) as the man in the orange and black colors continued to ride roughshod over the state of Maine driving colony en route to scoring an impressive five win spectacular at Scarborough Downs.
Campbell finished in the runner-up position three additional times on the 10-race program, cementing his spot as the current leading U.D.R.S. driver in North America.
Campbell’s 82 seasonal trips down victory lane now extend his lead over Rob Dinning in the Scarborough Downs driver’s standings by 35 wins.
– Michael Sweeney
Youbetterbelieveit stands tall and alone at Cal-Expo
Sacramento, CA — Open Handicap Pacers, racing for a $6,800 purse, were featured at Cal-Expo on Friday night (June 5), on which Youbetterbelieveit got the hat-trick.
Owned and trained by Drew Anderson, Youbetterbelieveit won by 4-3/4 lengths, in 1:52.2, a lifetime best and his 20th career victory. Axelrod (Jim Lackey) finished in second, and D Jokerman (Jim Marin) finished another 2-lengths farther back, in third.
On the Friday night card, trainer Larry Alterman had a training triple, and driver Rick Plano recorded six driving wins, thus giving him 5,199 career wins.
— Scott Ehrlich
Mj’s Victory takes Scioto’s feature trot
Columbus, OH — Mj’s Victory overtook pacesetting Durgin Hanover and cruised to a 3-1/2 length victory in the $8,000 Open Handicap Trot at Scioto Downs on Friday night.
Trainer-driver Steve Carter steered the son of Big Victory in 1:56.3. Durgin Hanover held off She’s Not Red to save second place.
In the co-featured Open Handicap Pace for fillies and mares, Gadjet came from last place to first place in the final half-mile to claim victory in 1:55.4 for driver J.D. Wengerd. The daughter of Jet Laag overtook Misty Monday and Tu Tu Twain to earn first money for owner Dominick Staffrey and trainer James Criss, Jr.
Two divisions of the Dream Of Glory series were contested for trotters on Friday with the fastest going to Rose Run Keepsake, trained by Tom Blankenship and driven by Russell Swartz. She was an easy winner in 1:57.3 over New Riegel Star and Lancer Springs. Ronald Bates owns the top filly.
The second division went to Haven’s Buddy, driven to victory by Chris Beaver in 1:58.3 for his parents Johanna and Charles Beaver. Detective and Master In Charge picked up second and third-place checks, respectively.
— Dean A. Hoffman
Bubba gets it ‘Dunn’
Saratoga, NY — The veteran Bubba Dunn recorded his second open win in his last three starts on Friday night as he parlayed the pocket trip to the victory in the night’s $17,000 feature at Saratoga Harness.
Driver Mark Beckwith was aggressive early with the 10-year-old trotter and smartly positioned him just behind front-runner
Pablo Angus (Dan Cappello Jr). Bubba Dunn overtook Pablo Angus in the lane to record the 1:57.3 win.
Melissa Beckwith trains the classy trotter for owner Ira Kristel of Manhasset, NY. Riverofglory (Kim Crawford), last week’s open winner, came flying in the stretch to edge out Pablo Angus for second. The race favorite, Prime Interest, never got involved and wound up finishing fifth trying to overcome post eight.
— Mike Sardella
Cade Callihan and Jezzabell Hotspur win Opens wire to wire
Hamburg, NY— In the co-featured $9,000 Open Trot, reinsman Ray Fisher, Jr. made it to the winner’s circle for the second time on a beautiful spring night with a fast track, steering Cade Callihan, a 7-year-old chestnut gelding by Ilooklikemymom, to his second win of the season in 1:59.3, a new season’s best, for the Cadesway Stables at Buffalo Raceway on Friday night (June 5).
Leaving from post four in the field of seven, Cade Callihan ($5.60) made every pole a winning one setting all the fractions in the race, :29.2, :59.3, and 1:29.4. A :29.4 last quarter-mile put the winner 3-1/2 lengths ahead of second place finisher, and last week’s Open winner, Speed Pilot (Tom Agosti). Craiger (Rich Mays) came in third.
Trained by Jim Graham, the $4,500 share of the winning purse put Cade Callihan’s 2009 bankroll at $21,680, and $141,482 lifetime.
In the $9,000 Filly and Mares Open Pace, Jezzabell Hotspur, a 7-year-old Anthony P bay mare, won for the eighth time this year, with regular driver Ken Holliday in the sulky. Owned by Betty Tauber, Jezzabell Hotspur ($3.20), covered the mile in 1:57.4
Setting all the fractions in the race, :29.3, :59.2, and 1:29.2, Jezzabell Hotspur and Holliday cruised to a two-length victory over second place finisher Pembroke Primo and driver Kevin Cummings. Spacie Jessie (Jim Dunn) came in the show spot.
Trained by Ken’s wife Sherri, the $4,500 share of the winning purse put Jezzabell Hotspur’s 2009 bankroll at $49,095, and $240,704 lifetime.
— Sam Pendolino
Plainridge`s Watson closes out meet with a triple
Norwood, MA — Plainridge Racecourse closed it`s Spring meet under a dark and dreary rainy afternoon with no hope of any sun in the forecast.
The good news was that even though there was no sunshine, it didn`t darken Wally Watson`s spirits, because Mr. Watson garnered a three-bagger under adverse weather conditions.
Mr. Watson has had a fairly successful Spring meet, standing in second place with training wins and in fifth place in driving wins at Plainridge.
The action now shifts to Rockingham Park in Salem, N.H. where there meet runs until the end of August. Plainridge Racecourse starts up again on August 31, 2009, and races until November 28, 2009.
— Bob Lieberman