from harness publicists around North America

Thursday’s (Oct. 17) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows and Vernon Downs.

Victory Is Coming cruises in Meadows F&M Trot

Washington, PA — Undeterred by the sloppy surface, Victory Is Coming took advantage of soft fractions and coasted to victory in Thursday’s $22,500 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Trot at The Meadows.

Although they were parked from post 7 before assuming the lead, Victory Is Coming and Mike Wilder worked out a comfortable first half in 59.1. There was no catching the 7-5 favorite after that, as she cruised home in 1:56.3, 2-1/4 lengths better than the pocket-sitting Greathallofchina. Jesse’s Messenger raced third and finished third.

Ammon Hershberger trains the 6-year-old daughter of Victory Sam-Norse Comer, who soared over $400,000 in career earnings, for Betty Shaw and John Red Shaw. Dave Palone drove four winners and Wilder three on the 15-race card.

— Evan Pattak

Vernon Downs
Let’s Go Higher increased her winning streak to five with a dominating 1:50.4 performance in Thursday night’s $12,000 Open for female pacers at Vernon Downs. With Shawn T. Gray doing the steering for trainer Heidi Rohr in Thursday’s second session, the favorite Let’s Go Higher was on the iron from the start, stomping out fractions of :26, :54.2 and 1:22.2 en route to a six length score over last week’s winner in this class, Don’t Blame Her. It was the fourth local score, the 12th season’s tally and the 21st all-time victory for the steady-striding 5-year-old daughter of Cole Muffler-Ten Speed, who earned her 1:50.3 record here on Aug. 8. The Jesse J. De Long-owned mare is currently a career-winner of more than $265,000. Ten-time track driving champ Howard Okusko, Jr. charted his fourth triple of the 78-program meeting, winning with the trotters Oldmanandthesea (1:59), Oaklea Tyson (1:58) and pacer Winbak Your Kash (1:55). His wife, former Downs conditioning champ Jessica Okusko, is the trainer of Oldmanandthesea and Winbak Your Kash. Veteran horseman Angus MacDonald (66) enjoyed a driving win, My Future Ex (2:00.3), and two training tallies during Thursday’s 12-race card.