from Harness Publicists across North America

Wednesday’s (September 10) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Harrington Raceway, Monticello Raceway, Batavia Downs, Northfield Park, and the Montpelier, Ohio Fair.

Vicki Gram beats the boys at Harrington

Harrington, DE — Art Stafford’s Vicki Gram ($8.60, Art Stafford, Jr.) surpassed the $100,000 mark in seasonal earnings with a 1:57.4 triumph on Wednesday in the $18,000 Junior Open Trot at Harrington Raceway.

She was the only mare in the field against five male rivals.

The 7-year-old Valley Victor mare set all the fractions in her hard fought win over Self Professed and Broke As Usual. It was her seventh win of the year.

Driver Tony Morgan had five wins on the card.

— Matt Sparacino

Nevada T is fastest in NYSS Late Closers

Monticello, NY — When 25 sophomore trotting colts entered the NYSS Late Closer for Wednesday at Monticello Raceway, Director of Racing Eric Warner had no other choice — at least in NY State — than to go with three six-horse fields and one seven-horse field.

Geri Schwarz photo

Nevada T’s wire-to-wire, 2:00.2 clocking was the fastest of the four late closer splits.

One of the six-horse fields was off the betting card and that one resulted in the fastest clocking of the four. Nevada T, in rein to Brian Allen, won that one in gate-to-wire fashion in 2:00.2 over Austin’s Jon Jon (Kyle DiBenedetto). Third place went to Neptune T and driver Eddie Dunnigan. Owned by Alan Hainsworth it marked the second seasonal triumph in 11 starts for the altered son of Master Of Style-Lively Lindy T.

However, Hainsworth’s afternoon wasn’t finished because in the second $10,600 NYSS Late Closer, Montanajamesbond, a CR Excaliber-Shooting Star gelding in which he is part-owner, was victorious for driver Keith Ball in a 2:01.1 clocking. Betting favorite Manfromnantucket, driven by Stephane Bouchard, finished second with the pacesetter Paradise Magoo third for Jimmy Devaux. Hainsworth shares ownership with Ken Ball and driver Keith Ball.

A third $10,700 NYSS Late Closer lined up seven behind the starting gate and the winner was Four Starz Conway, in rein to Billy Parker, Jr. Parker didn’t have to challenge until the backstretch the second time around and when he asked Four Starz Conway for some trot the Conway Hall-Ladyinfocus colt ranged up alongside leader Ackbro Crazylegs at the three-quarters. Parker then waved goodbye when his colt opened daylight between himself and the rest of the field and the margin was increased to five lengths at the finish line in a time of 2:00.4. Ackbro Crazylegs held on for second money with Fasterthanabullet (Stephane Bouchard) bringing home the show dough. The winner is owned by the Four Starzzzz Stable LLC.

Hunch players cashed in the final $10,600 NYSS late closer split when John Paul’s Legacy rallied up the passing lane for driver Angus MacDonald to collar pacesetter I’m Max (Billy Parker, Jr.) at the wire and eek out a nose victory in a time of 2:02.2, the last half in 1:00. Ten Yard Penalty finished third for Todd Ratchford in that contest.

— John Manzi

Parker scores high at Batavia

Batavia, NY — The $10,000 All-Star Drivers Challenge began Wednesday night at Batavia Downs Gaming with veteran reinsman Howard Parker in town to drive for charity and for the winner take all top prize. He finished with a very respectable 34 points and his drives earned over $400 for the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester.

For the next seven Wednesday nights a different driver will race at the Downs to compete in the Challenge. Next week, perennial leading Vernon Downs reinsman Howard Okusko, Jr. will be in Batavia to take his turn in the eight-race competition. The driver with the highest point total at the end of the competition will take home the $10,000 prize.

This event is co-sponsored by the Purple Haze Stables, the Western New York Harness Horsemen Association and Batavia Downs Gaming.

For the second week in a row the razor sharp 5-year-old mare by Space Shuttle, Spacie Jessie, won the featured $9,000 Filly and Mares Open at the Downs. With owner James Dunn in the sulky, Spacie Jessie was able to wear down pacesetting Rakalees N coming off the final turn en route to a 1-1/4 length victory in 1:56.1.

The victory was her sixth of the season and it raised her 2008 bankroll to over $35,000. She is trained by the Downs’ leading conditioner, Ron Beback, Jr. Going off a prohibitive favorite, she returned $3.10 to win.

— Todd Haight

Team USA sweeps Kiwis in opening challenge leg

Northfield, OH — Tim Miller and Powerful Cam ($7.40) went by pacesetter Gun-it and Marvin Raber in the final stride as the American team took a 28-14 lead over Team New Zealand in the first leg of the USA-New Zealand Amateur Driver Challenge at Northfield Wednesday.

With Gregg Keidel filling in for Dean Beachy behind 42-1 Edition J B to finish the trifecta, the Americans dominated.

The New Zealand team had a rough go as Wart and Tim Vince were stuck on the pylons throughout, while Steve Phillips and favored Moovin N Groovin, Phil Clabby and Black Oliver, and Roy Day, driving Corrigal N, were all parked out in the mile.

The series moves on to The Red Mile on Thursday, Scioto Downs on Friday, The Meadows on Tuesday, September 16, Hazel Park on Wednesday, September 16, and then concludes on Little Brown Jug Day at the Delaware Fair on September 18.

— Keith Gisser

Racing wraps up in Williams County Ohio

Montpelier, OH — A 10-race program on Wednesday night at Montpelier, Ohio wrapped up the racing for the 2008 Williams County Fair and also for the Northwestern Ohio Colt Racing Association. All four colt and filly races had only one division.

Bavarian Rose (Precious Bunny-Jentina Ken Win) took the 3-year-old filly pace in 2:02. Mike Wolfe drove the filly for owners Jeff Miller and Mike White. Miller is also the trainer of Bavarian Rose.

Emil Konesky’s Sand Fanci (Chip Chip Hooray-Sand Dream) captured the 3-year-old filly trot in 2:06.3 for trainer-driver Mark Headworth.

Rock’n Sam (Nobleland Sam-Classical Rock) came home first in the 2-year-old colt pace in 2:07.3. Jay Cross drove the gelding with Bruce Farquhar doing the training for owner Sandi Parrish.

Windy Dawn (Emile Angus-Sunrise Drive) toured the Montpelier oval in 2:07.2 to take the 3-year-old colt trot. Charles and Kermit Peter own the colt with Charles being the trainer-driver.

— Bill Peters