from Harness Publicists across North America

Tuesday’s (December 30) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Dover Downs, The Meadows, and Pompano Park.

Apache Dame on the warpath in $27,000 distaff Open

Dover, DE — Unheralded Apache Dame stunned eight rivals at 14-1 to win the $27,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace on Tuesday at Dover Downs.

Fotowon photo

Apache Dame lit up the tote board in the Dover feature.

Idle since last January, and in only her second start since returning, Apache Dame ($31.40) swept to a 1:52.4 victory in the top female pace of the week. When Badlands Iron Lady (Eddie Davis, Jr.) overtook front pacing favorite Perfect M Forever (Ron Pierce) at the three-quarters, Ross Wolfenden was out and going with Apache Dame. The Apaches Fame-Amerissa mare sailed past the leader on the final turn and was a confident winner in celebrating her final 7-year-old start. Owned by WJ McDougall Inc. and Paul McDougall, the veteran won for the 20th time in her career. Ladyfield (Tony Morgan) closed strongly to take second money. Badlands Iron Lady held on for third.

In the first of two $18,000 female paces, Ireneonthemove showed her class in deep stretch, winning a four-horse cavalry charge to the finish line in 1:54 after racing outside for Corey Callahan for much of the last half-mile. Jason Skinner conditions the Powerful Toy-Lindaonthemove 5-year-old for Rodney and Rodney K. Wyatt. It was her ninth victory of the season, lifting her seasonal earnings to $180,220. Mymylookatherfly (Morgan) lived up to her name, scooting from far back to finish second. Hopefull N (Givens) cut out most of the mile and finished a close-up third. For Callahan, the win was one of three during the card.

Jim Morand took Joe Barbera’s Erma La Em three wide at the three-quarters and rolled into the lead on the final turn en route to a 1:54 victory in a second $18,000 Filly and Mare pace. The Cam’s Card Shark-I’m Prime Time filly posted her sixth success this year. Rafaella Seelster (Davis Jr.) sailed down the lane for second. Seaswift Princess (Mike Cole) took show money.

There will be no racing on Wednesday at Dover Downs. Post time on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009 is 4:30 p.m.

— Marv Bachard

Jans Luck notches 15th ’08 victory

Meadow Lands, PA — Dave Palone and Jans Luck finished the year in customary fine fashion on Tuesday at The Meadows as Palone guided the redoubtable mare to her 15th 2008 victory in the $25,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Pace, one of his seven wins on the 15-race card.

Though parked to the quarter in :27.1 while attaining the lead, Jans Luck was able to slow the pace to :58.1 for the next two panels. She was strong enough to repel the Lightning Lane challenge of Vysoke Tatry, defeating that rival by a half-length in 1:54.1. An unlucky Spring Break, who had pace but no room, was third.

Ron Burke trains Jans Luck, a 4-year-old daughter of Camluck-Jans Scooter, for Sylvia Burke, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, JJK Stables and M1 Stable.

Following a brief holiday break, The Meadows resumes live racing on Friday, Jan. 2, and will offer five live cards Monday through Friday each week beginning Monday, Jan. 5.

— Evan Pattak

Last to first for Esmeralda Semalu at Pompano

Pompano Beach, FL — Esmeralda Semalu ($2.80) not only won her debut race at the Isle Pompano Park Tuesday, but the mare did it in style for trainer/driver Joe Pavia, Jr. with a last to first move on the final turn to win the $16,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace in 1:53.2.

Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith

Esmeralda Semalu won her Pompano Park debut with a 1:53.2 triumph in the $16,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace.

The third race feature started off with Biggest Big Bertha (Bruce Ranger) going to the early lead and parking out Hypnotize (Dan Clements) to the opening quarter in :27. Hypnotize then led the field to the half in :56.1 as Golden Falcon N (David Ingraham) came first-over in the backstretch and pushed the pace to the three-quarters in 1:25.1.

Meanwhile, Esmeralda Semalu and Pavia waited to make their move on the outside until the final turn and with a :27.1 final quarter, were able to zoom on by the field to win going away by 2-1/2 lengths. Golden Falcon N was second with Hypnotize fading to third place.

It was just the second win this year for Esmeralda Semalu, a 4-year-old mare by Electric Stena. The BJR and AGC Stables own Esmeralda Semalu.

The Isle Pompano Park will be open for live racing New Year’s Eve with 12 races scheduled to start at 7:25 p.m., but for the first time since 1999 there will be no Midnight Mile race.

— Steve Wolf