from harness publicists across North America

Monday’s (June 3) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Northfield Park, Grand River Raceway and Plainridge Racecourse.

Victory Is Coming breaks track record at Northfield Park

Northfield, OH — Victory Is Coming broke Northfield Park’s track record for 5-year-old and up trotting mares on Monday by winning the $6,000 Open Trot in 1:55.1. The previous record of 1:56 was shared by Tom’s OK Lady (2009 and 2010) and Norma’s Rose (2013).

Northfield Park photo

Victory Is Coming set a track record of 1:55.1 in winning the Open Trot.

Betty and John Shaw own Victory Is Coming. Ammon Hershberger trains and drove the 6-year-old.

Victory Is Coming (Victory Sam-Norse Comer) started from post six and sat fourth through an opening quarter of :28. She was third through a half in :56.3, then made her move to the lead in the third quarter. She tripped the three-quarters in 1:25.3 and maintained a 2-3/4 length win in 1:55.1. Finishing behind Victory Is Coming were Lady Rev, South Jersey Honey, Diamond Hunter, Norma’s Rose and Lima Legend. BV’s Sister was scratched.

Monday’s triumph increased Victory Is Coming’s lifetime wins tally to 30 and her career earnings to $362,283. She was the favorite and returned $4.80 to win.

Lite Me Up took the $6,000 Open Pace for owner/trainer Michael Epler in the evening’s second race.

Epler called upon Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. to drive. Lite Me Up (Stand Forever-Hills War Feather) started from post five and sat the pocket through fractional times of :27.1, :56.2 and 1:24.2. Wrenn pulled him in the stretch and won by 1-1/4 lengths, stopping clock in 1:53.3. Completing the race were Beans And Weenies, Sharp Shuttle, Cruise On Osborne, Forever Happy and Mcstraight.

The 10-year-old Lite Me Up now has a whopping 51 career wins and earnings of $371,899. He paid $5.40 to win.

Easy Strength trotted home for her fourth straight win in Northfield Park’s 11th race. The 4-year-old is owned by Karen Travis. Trainer Gilbert Travis, Jr. has called upon Sam Schillaci to pilot the mare in all four of her most recent victories.

At the wire, Easy Strength was a quarter-length in front of her closest competitor, Deck The Halls (Chris Page), and stopped the clock in 1:56.1. The time represents a new lifetime mark for Easy Strength and is one-fifth of a second off Northfield Park’s track record for 4-year-old trotting mares.

Monday’s triumph increased Easy Strength’s (Royal Strength-Easy Lover) lifetime wins tally to 13 and her career earnings to $33,322. She returned $5.40 to win.

Sunburned Vern was an upset winner in Northfield Park’s 12th race on Monday. Robin Miller piloted the gelding for owner/trainer Rosy Weaver.

Sunburned Vern (Stand Forever-Sunset Melody) started from post seven and was rallied from the back to win by 1-3/4 lengths. He stopped the timer at 1:55.2. Monday’s triumph increased Sunburned Vern’s lifetime wins tally to 40 and his career earnings to $133,448.

The favorite finished off the ticket as Sunburned Vern (50-1) was followed across the wire by Blagojevich (12-1) and Epes (3-1). Sunburned Vern returned $103.40 to win, the 7-4 exacta paid $1,447.00 and the 7-4-1 trifecta returned $3,929.00.

— Ayers Ratliff

Grand River Raceway
Grand River Raceway kicked off its 2013 season on June 3 and the night was highlighted by Battle River Storm in the fourth annual Local Biz Night Race. The popular event saw more than 120 people from 19 local businesses paired with a horse in race six. Horizon Furniture and Home Smart were the winning local enterprises paired with Battle River Storm. Rod Boyd trains the pacer for Battle River Stables and Tim McCoy. The race favorite, he circled past pacesetter Emerging Grin at the first quarter and cruised the rest of the mile with Brad Forward to finish four lengths the best in 1:55.4. The mark matched the 5-year-old’s career best and bumped his lifetime earnings to $70,000. Horizon Furniture and Home Smart received a trophy to display in their workplace and an equal share of a staff party for 20 at Grand River Raceway. Local Biz Night is a joint-effort between the raceway, the OLG Slots at Grand River Raceway and the Centre Wellington Chamber Of Commerce. In other opening night news, 2012 driving title-holder Trevor Henry began the season with five winners. Henry will be honored on Wednesday at the track as he prepares to represent Canada in the World Driving Championship next week in France. Drivers Bobby McClure and Robert Shepherd scored driving doubles in the season opener.

Plainridge Racecourse
Driver/trainer Jim Hardy had three wins on Monday’s Plainridge racing program to regain the lead among the drivers. He holds a two win edge over Steven Nason in the early stages of the Plainridge meet. Don Guidette, Jr. hit the winner’s circle in the opening race, driving his trotter A Megabuck to his fourth win in a row with a 1:56.2 clocking. John Nason pulled the upset of the day, driving 15-1 Al”s Beach Boy across the wire in the afternoon’s seventh race.