from Harness Publicists across North America

Tuesday’s (November 25) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Dover Downs and Monticello Raceway.

Sportsfancy wins $26,000 distaff feature at Dover

Dover, DE — Sportsfancy made her first Dover Downs start of the meet a winning one with a front pacing 1:53.1 score in the $26,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace on Tuesday. Brandon Givens led the driver win parade with a triple.

Fotowon photo

Sportsfancy was a 1:53.1 winner in the Filly and Mare Open Handicap for Brandon Givens.

After Ball Gown A and Blissfull Lil were scratched, Sportsfancy had little trouble forging into the lead in the feature. With Eric Goodell in the bike, the odds-on favored Sportsmaster-Finish Firstfancy 4-year-old disposed of her four rivals for her seventh victory of the season, lifting her 2008 earnings to $128,420. Ladyfield (Tony Morgan) finished second, ending a two-race win streak. Shady Sabrina (Ron Pierce) was third.

In the first of two $18,000 Filly and Mare paces, recent New Zealand import Lady Bess N, now owned by Sherrie and Blake Baker, notched her first North American win in her second local start, one of three wins for driver Brandon Givens. The 6-year-old Dream Away-Roydon Royce mare scored the win in 1:53.1. Roxie Lee N (Ross Wolfenden) rolled home second with Magic Maverick (Tom Jackson) the show horse.

Roger Plante piloted Ken Wood’s Final Renee to a 1:53.3 win in the other $18,000 distaff pace. Nidya A (Mike Cole) closed strongly to finish second in front of Seaswift Princess (Pierce).

Monday through Thursday racing begins at 4:30 p.m. No live racing this Thursday, Thanksgiving day, and as usual on Friday. Saturday and Sunday post time is 5:30 p.m.

— Marv Bachrad

Southbound Trucker scores second consecutive win at Monticello

Monticello, NY — On Tuesday neither rain, nor snow, nor gloom in the afternoon could stop Southbound Trucker from scoring his second consecutive victory against the best pacers on the grounds at Monticello Raceway.

In a day that was inundated with snow, wind, and sometimes driving rain, Greg Merton sent Southbound Trucker to the lead from post position two but didn’t take command over the sloppy racetrack until he passed the quarter pole in :28.4. It was at that piont that Jordan Stratton yielded command with the pole horse, P H Tornado.

However, once on the front-end Southbound Trucker cruised along, rebuffing any and all challenges and at the top of the lane the 5-year-old Sharky Spur gelding had a two length lead which was expanded to three lengths at the wire. Second place went to the veteran The Grand Poopa, handled by Jimmy Marohn, and P H Tornado hung on for the show dough.

“It was a tough day to be racing horses but old Southbound (Trucker) is as good now as he was all year,” said driver Greg Merton. “He now has won three of his last four and he’ll continue to be a force to be reckoned with.”

It marked the eighth seasonal victory for Southbound Trucker, who is trained by Art Stamatien for his brother, George Stamatien.

Now with seasonal earnings in excess of $53,000, Southbound Trucker paid $4.40 for win.

The victory with Southbound Trucker was one of two on the card for Greg Merton. He also won the first race with Gene and Deborah Willis’ Works For Me in 1:59.3.

— John Manzi