Racing Roundup: Tuesday, January 27, 2009
January 28, 2009,from Harness Publicists across North America
Tuesday’s (January 27) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Dover Downs, The Meadows, and Pompano Park.
Sportsfancy back in winner’s circle at Dover
Dover, DE — Sportsfancy, a winner of her last three races in 2008, made her second start this year a winning one with a 1:52.2 victory in the $27,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace on Tuesday at Dover Downs.
Fotowon photo
Sportsfancy scored in 1:52.2 in the Mares Open Handicap Pace at Dover.
Eric Goodell waited patiently on the outside as Apache Dame, with Ross Wolfenden, and front pacing Pacific Philly, driven by Eddie Davis, Jr., battled it out until the top of the lane where Sportsfancy, after leaving from the outside post eight, gradually moved up into striking position. She quickly rushed past the dueling pair and streaked to victory for trainer Josh Green and owner Larry Baron. Corey Callahan came on to take second place with Lockes Of Love, while Apache Dame was a brave third.
Sportsfancy, a 5-year-old daughter of Sportsmaster-Finish Firstfancy, won for the 31st time in a 59-race career and now has banked $637,398 in her career.
Delightful Diva dropped down from the Open, started in the second tier, and went on to score a 1:53.3 victory in the $23,500 Mares Jr. Open Pace with the sport’s leading driver, Tony Morgan, holding the reins. The 4-year-old Bettor’s Delight-Mellowood Abby mare is trained by Tim Crissman for owner Lloyd Arnold. Badlands Iron Lady (Davis Jr.) was second in front of Flirtwithedealer (Ron Pierce) third.
Lorna Cohen’s Shady Sabrina dropped down a notch to the $18,000 mares level and showed her class by romping to a 1:54.2 score with Tim Tetrick at the controls. Tetrick got away third and moved into the lead at the quarter, as Shady Sabrina said goodbye to her six rivals. It was the first win of the new year for the Cam’s Dignity-Mymymysharona 7-year-old trained by Doug Lewis. Dill And Grace A (Jon Roberts) was runner-up. Madges Lil Fortune (Pierce) took the show position.
— Marv Bachrad
Whotookwhat takes it to the boys at the Meadows
Meadow Lands, PA — Seemingly miscast in a tough field of horses and geldings, Whotookwhat showed the boys something about trotting on Tuesday at The Meadows, as the redoubtable mare scored an upset victory in the $25,000 Preferred Handicap.
Following her fifth-place finish in a similar event last week, Whotookwhat was dismissed in the wagering at 7-1. On Tuesday, however, the 7-year-old daughter of Inquirer-Overtookthem used the cover of Pembroke Prayer to grab the lead in the stretch, then held off the late challenge of Hoopie to defeat that rival by a nose in 1:57. Pembroke Prayer saved show.
Ray Paver drove and trains Whotookwhat, who has won 46 races and $553,539 in her career, for William and Barbara Paull.
— Evan Pattak
If it’s Tuesday it must be Esmeralda Semalu at Pompano
Pompano Beach, FL — If it’s Tuesday then it must be Esmeralda Semalu Night at the Isle Pompano Park as the top mare of the 2009 season made it three straight wins in the $16,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace.
The fifth race feature started off with Golden Falcon N and driver David Ingraham speeding to the early lead by the opening quarter in :26.4 with Catalina Morgan (Denis St. Pierre) sitting on their back.
Heading towards the half-mile pole, Chapsboots N Spurs (Wally Hennessey) came first-over to challenge in :56.2 with Crystal Chris (Bruce Ranger) following the outside flow second-over. Meanwhile, the 6-5 race favorite, Esmeralda Semalu and trainer/driver Joe Pavia, Jr., were stalking the leaders ten lengths back in last place.
As the field reached the three-quarter marker in 1:24.3, Pavia and Esmeralda Semalu used the same tactics as last week, sweeping three-wide on the final turn and moving up to second place by the top of the stretch. It was all a blur for the rest of the field as Esmeralda Semalu kicked in a :27.3 last quarter to pull away from the field and win by 2-3/4 lengths. Shytown Lightning (Andy Santeramo) was second with Golden Falcon N third.
Owned by the BJR Stables and the AGC Stables, Esmeralda Semalu paid $4.40 to win. She is a 5-year-old mare by Electric Stena.
— Steve Wolf