by harness racing publicists across North America

Friday’s (Oct. 7) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Vernon Downs and Saratoga.

Waiting On A Woman Highlights Lems five-bagger

Vernon, NY — Michael Polansky’s Waiting On a Woman ($7.80) waited on no one in Friday evening’s (Oct. 7) featured $9,100 top-level trotting event at Vernon Downs, evading his five rivals and giving driver Chris Lems one of five wins on the 10-race program.

Fotowon photo

Waiting On A Woman prevails strongly in Friday’s featured event at Vernon Downs, giving Lems one of five victories on the night.

The 8-year-old Northern Bailey gelding, who had most recently been racing in upper-level events at the Meadowlands, Pocono, and Plainridge, worked to secure the pocket from his inside post before switching off the pegs and clearing 8-5 favorite Lucid Thoughts (John MacDonald) just after a :28 first quarter. Waiting On a Woman would maintain complete control of the terms from that point, rating a :58.1 middle half before accelerating away at head-stretch. The Kyle Spagnola trainee ultimately edged clear of Lucid Thoughts by 2-1/4 lengths for his 55th career win, while Kahoku (Truman Gale) held third off a ground-saving stalking trip.

Waiting On a Woman’s 1:54.1 mile earned him the fourth win of his 8-year-old campaign.

In addition to his victory in the feature, Lems teamed up with 13-year-old Grecale As ($9.60, 1:56.4), Engagedatlexington ($6.60, 1:57.1), Airman Batten ($3.10, 1:54.1), and and Hollywood Jess ($4.60, 1:57.2).

Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday evening (Oct. 8); the first of 11 races is due off at 6:45 p.m.

— by James Witherite

Saratoga

Truth And Liberty (Total Truth) prevailed in her first start in the local Open for Fillies and Mares on Friday night (Oct. 7) at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Bob Lounsbury-trained mare moved first over on the race’s 1-9 betting favorite Velocity Vespa (Jim Devaux) approaching the half-mile pole and ground the leader into submission before hitting the wire first in 1:53. Piloted in the $16,000 feature by Bruce Aldrich Jr, Truth And Liberty recorded her ninth win in 32 seasonal tries and did so at odds of 15-1. Velocity Vespa had to settle for second place after prevailing in five of her previous six tries in the local Open for distaffers while Bye Bye Michelle (Mark Beckwith) earned the show spot. Returning $33 to win in the upset score, Truth and Liberty led an exacta and triple that paid $90.50 and $491.50, respectively. Live racing continues on Saturday night (Oct. 8) at Saratoga with a first post time of 6:45 p.m.

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