Racing Roundup: Tuesday, December 23, 2008
December 24, 2008,from Harness Publicists across North America
Tuesday’s (December 23) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows, Pompano Park, Balmoral Park, and Monticello Raceway.
Meadows Horse of the Year Primo Spur does it again
Meadow Lands, PA — Primo Spur, the Horse of the Year at The Meadows, demonstrated again Tuesday why he deserved the honor by capturing the $25,000 Preferred Handicap Trot.
Primo Spur and trainer/driver Dick Stillings worked out a pocket trip behind 4-5 favorite Prism K, then charged past in the lane to score in 1:55.1. Prism K, who finished second, was off stride late and placed back to third while Michaelrowyourboat was promoted from third to second.
It was the ninth 2008 win for Primo Spur, who earned his award in voting by the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association. Roy Davis owns the 4-year-old gelded son of Pegasus Spur-T Tars Shadowmio, who now has banked $245,946 in his career.
Following a holiday break, The Meadows will offer three live cards next week on Dec. 29, Dec. 30 and Jan. 2. Beginning Monday, Jan. 5, the track will stage live racing five days each week, Monday through Friday, post time 12:15 p.m.
— Evan Pattak
Lucy Lucy captures $16,000 Filly & Mares Open
Pompano Beach, FL — Lucy Lucy ($4.00) and driver Anthony Napolitano won their second straight $16,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace at the Isle Pompano Park on Tuesday in 1:53.2.
Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith
Lucy Lucy captured the $16,000 Fillies and Mares Open in 1:53.2 at Pompano Park.
As the field of five swung by the first quarter in :27.4, Hypnotize and Dan Clements muscled their way to the top only to have Lucy Lucy take command at the half-mile marker in :55.1. Lucy Lucy paced strong down the backside as she sat four lengths over the field of mares to take them by the three-quarters in 1:23.1.
As they turned for home Lucy Lucy was showing fatigue but was able to hang on for the win by three-quarters of a length. Velvet Eileen (Wally Hennessey) finished second with Party At Joyces (David Ingraham) finishing third.
This is the fifth win of the season for the 4-year-old Florida-bred Tough Sir mare, trained by Kim Sears and owned by Jay C. Sears.
— Debbie Schaut
Wolf Creek Cupid prevails in Incredible Finale Series
Crete, IL — State-bred pacing fillies grabbed the spotlight on a wintery Tuesday night as Balmoral Park returned to live racing after a pair of weather-related cancellations knocked out both the Saturday and Sunday cards. This time it was both 2- and 3-year-old ladies in action as a field of seven went postward in the $8,000 final of the Incredible Finale Series.
When the smoke cleared from this heated battle it was Rose and George Bonomo’s Wolf Creek Cupid who emerged with a nose decision in 1:58.4 on a track rated ‘good.’
Balmoral Park photo
Wolf Creek Cupid snuck up the inside to nose out stablemate Stohli Dohli in Tuesday’s $8,000 Incredible Finale Series Final.
Sent right to the top by driver Marcus Miller, the daughter of Art’s Conquest-Run N Gun was able to get away with an easy opening split of :30. The slow early pace prompted a move from entrymate Stohli Dohli (Trace Tetrick) who was sitting in third and that filly moved up quickly to grab command as the field raced past the half-mile mark in :57.4.
Moving around the final turn Stohli Dohli continued to show the way. A first over Kissmeallover (Mike Oosting), who was looking for a clean sweep of the series, had pulled right alongside in second while Wolf Creek Cupid remained in the pocket as the field hit the three-quarter-mile station in 1:27.
Through the lane these three fillies continued their battle with Stohli Dohli continuing to fend off a stubborn Kissmeallover. Miller, who was spying all the action from third, just over a length behind the top two, then maneuvered his filly down into the passing lane where she rallied gamely to get a nose in front in the final strides. Stablemate Stohli Dohli held on for second while Kissmeallover was a tough luck third.
The top two finishers were both trained by Jim Meade.
Balmoral Park will be dark on Wednesday, Dec. 24. Live racing will resume at the Crete plant on Saturday, Dec. 27. Post time will be 7:20 p.m. (CST).
— Tom Kelley
Top Flight goes from worst to first in Monticello feature
Monticello, NY — Whenever a horse draws the eight hole he is usually dismissed by the average bettor, that is, unless he sticks out in the field. Case in point: Top Flight in Monticello Raceway’s pacing feature on Tuesday afternoon.
The John Sherota trained/Greg Merton driven pacer was tabbed at odds of 3-1 on the morning line but when post time arrived the pacer was sent off at odds of over 15-1.
After the race began Top Flight languished in last position, some 11 lengths behind the leader Ideal Shuttle at the quarter pole. Still last at the half those who bet on Top Flight probably thought they were doomed. But alas, driver Merton angled the pacer to the outside and they made a rally up the backstretch and were three-deep in fifth position when the field passed the third stanza.
From there Top Fight just kept rambling and was neck and neck with Bolero Talia, who had the lead at the top of the lane. But there were none who could keep up with Merton’s horse and Top Flight coasted home an easy two length winner in 1:57.2 over a track hampered somewhat by frigid cold and a wet racing surface.
“It’s not often I go from worst to first,” Merton said after his victory. “He (Top Flight) went a monster mile and lit up the tote board.”
Second choice on the morning line, the pacer paid $33.40 for win and raised his seasonal earnings to nearly $65,000. Top Flight is owned by Robert Magan.
— John Manzi