from Harness Publicists across North America

Wednesday’s (September 24) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Colonial Downs, Monticello Raceway, and the Bloomsburg, Pa. Fair.

Dunavant sweeps Massie divisions at Colonial

New Kent, VA — Trainer Roland C. Dunavant, Jr. swept the two divisions of the second leg of the Roy Massie Memorial late closing series on Wednesday night at Colonial Downs to set up a powerful four-horse entry for the October 1 final.

Dunavant’s Olivia’s Filly and Royal Photo were bet down to 1-9 in the first division and did not disappoint on the track, finishing 1-2 in the faster of the two divisions.

Olivia’s Filly raced in midpack for driver Wayne Long throughout the first three-quarters and unleashed a powerful stretch burst to sweep by the frontsteppers in the final eighth of a mile to win in 1:57.2. Royal Photo languished in ninth early but finished fastest of all once driver Dave Ingraham found room at the rail to get into second in the final strides.

Olivia’s Filly was third in the opening leg. The 7-year-old Tacoma Kid mare was making just her second start of the season Wednesday. Royal Photo picked up his second straight runner-up finish in the Massie. Banker’s Lane edged Tidy Ellen for third.

Dusty Winner completed Dunavant’s sweep with his second straight Massie leg win in race six Wednesday night. The 5-year-old Credit Winner horse tracked pacesetter Black Dog throughout the first three-quarters and gamely prevailed by a neck over Sonofafrica after a tight stretch duel. Black Dog held on well to finish just a half-length back in third.

Dusty Winner covered the mile in 1:58.3 under Ingraham’s direction to score his second win from just two 2008 starts.

Katherine Ann Smith’s Tom Bruce completes Dunavant’s potential four-horse final entry. The 10-year-old Overcomer gelding finished fourth behind Dusty Winner after a rough trip Wednesday. Tom Bruce launched a powerful stretch rally on the outside in the upper stretch that was derailed by a breaking Really Perfect ducking into his path nearing the eighth pole. Tom Bruce still trotted the field’s fastest final quarter-mile to save fourth.

The Roy Massie Memorial final will be contested at 1-1/4 miles on Wednesday, October 1.

— Kyle Fitzgerald

Lemon Pepper wins Monticello feature

Monticello, NY — In his Mighty M debut on Wednesday, the veteran trotter Lemon Pepper took command from post position three and then held off a late rally by Donnegal to score a one length victory in a time of 1:58.4.

Jordan Stratton was at the controls behind the 6-year-old Cumin gelding and sent his trotter to the front at the quarter in :29.3 with Getthemoney (Jimmy Marohn) on the limb. At that point Donnegal, driven by Mike Forte, was some 11 lengths behind in last place after having to start from the eight hole.

With Getthemoney still taking air, Stratton got Lemon Pepper by the half in :59.1 at which point Donnegal was moved up four lengths but was still seven lengths behind in seventh place.

When Getthemoney tired Lemon Pepper opened up a three length lead as he and Stratton passed the three-quarters in 1:29.1. Donnegal, who was now in high gear on the outside, was still six lengths behind the leader and the margin was reduced to four at the top of the lane.

Despite a late charge by Donnegal, Lemon Pepper had plenty in the tank and went on to a one length triumph over Bill Mulligan’s pride and joy. Third place went to Match That, the only mare in the contest.

It was the fourth seasonal victory for Lemon Pepper, who is owned by John Kiwczak and trained by Jordan’s dad, Dave Stratton.

— John Manzi

PA Fair program concludes 2008 season

Bloomsburg, PA — The Columbia County Fairgrounds in Bloomsburg was the site of the final day of fair racing in Pennsylvania for the season. The season ended with a bang, as 19 sire stake races were contested.

Two splits of the PASS 2-year-old colt pace opened the day, with victories going to Stately Art (Dave Brickell) and A K (Steve Schoeffel). Stately Art, fresh off a win in the Bloomsburg Stake, picked up his second win of the week, pacing in 2:00 for owners Bob and Barbara Krenitsky. Bob Krenitsky trains the Arturo-Stately colt. A K, a homebred son of Audie K-Aly’s Shocker, is owned by Terry Schoeffel and trained by Steve Schoeffel.

In the first division of the 2-year-old filly pace, RT Atta picked up her first career win, scoring in 2:05 for trainer/driver Robert Rougeaux. Owned by the Harold Brocious estate, RT Atta is an Arturo-RT Attagirl filly who won for the first time in 14 lifetime starts. The other two divisions belonged to Roger Hammer who guided Real Espresso and Bell On Wheels to victories. Real Espresso, a Real Artist-Cafeuccino filly, won in 2:02, while the Western Hanover-Bellys Up filly Bell On Wheels scored in 2:01.2. Hammer owns and trains both fillies.

Hammer kept his hot streak going in the first division of the 2-year-old colt trot, as Political Desire was a 2:04 winner. Owned by the Dunn Stable and trained by Boots Dunn, Political Desire, a daughter of Tom Ridge-Your Hearts Desire set a new lifetime mark with the effort. In the second group, Columbia County recorded his 10th win of the season by scoring for driver Bryce Truitt. Owned by John and Michelle McMullen, Columbia County (Sierra Kosmos-Keystone Delicacy) was a winner in his namesake county in the time of 2:03.1. The final division was won by Naughty Pajamas, an SJ’s Caviar-Armbro Pajamas colt. Owned and trained by Joe Offutt, the colt won in 2:05.1 for driver Timmy Offutt. The fourth and final division was won by HRS Major Windfall, a Donerail-Elana Hanover gelding owned by Jack and Sharon Claypoole. Trained and driven to victory by Dave Brickell, HRS Major Windfall trotted the mile in 2:07.

In 2-year-old filly trotting action, Tourderail was a come-from-behind winner for Randy Neal in 2:04.4. Owned by Randy and Cliff Neal and trained by Cliff, Tourderail won for the fourth time this season, and the mile was a new lifetime mark for the Donerail-My Oh Moi filly. Lady B Pearl recorded the upset win in the second division, holding off BS Genny for a 2:06.2 victory. Kim Good owns, trains and reined the Topgun Hall-Lady B Worthy filly. The final freshman filly trot for PA-breds was won by Annie’s Wonder, a Wonder Dancer-Sanstone’s Annie filly. Bryce Truitt recorded the winning drive, and co-owns the filly with his wife, trainer Cindy Truitt. The final time was 2:04.1.

Sophomore filly trotters were up next, and owner/trainer Kim Good picked up her second win of the day as Coyote Lara won in 2:02.2, a life best. Terry Altmeyer was in the bike behind the Malabar Millennium-Dusky Road filly. Petiti won the second division with ease for Roger Hammer, who was driving for trainer Todd Schadel. A Lindy Lane-Miss Titi Mor filly, Petiti is owned by Todd and Christine Schadel. The final division was captured by Ithoughtyouknew, driven by Terry Altmeyer. Owned by trainer Dan Altmeyer in partnership with Heather Wilder, Richard Kelson and Jack Piatt, the S J’s Photo-Better Together filly trotted the mile in 2:03.

Two $5,151 groups of sophomore filly pacers were next onto the track, and Hammer wasted no time circling the oval with Ty’s Artist, who was a 1:58.1 winner in the first split. It was win number 10 on the season for Ty’s Artist, a daughter of Real Artist-Ty Wish that is owned and trained by Hammer. In the second division, it was all Hammer once again, as he catch-drove Soiree to a 1:58 victory on the engine for trainer Todd Schadel. Owned by the Horse Around Stable, Soiree is a daughter of Real Artist-Matternity.

In the first 3-year-old pacing colt division, Sfumato was a wire-to-wire winner for driver Winston Lineweaver, pacing in 1:58.1. Trainer Bill Kreutzer co-owns the Real Artist-Silky Satin gelding with William Wood. The day’s most impressive performance came in the last race, when Special Character was a winner for Steve Schoeffel. After cutting the opening quarter in :30 seconds, Special Character broke a hobble and broke stride coming to the half, yielding the lead to Native American (George Heit), who cut the half in 1:00.3. Schoeffel guided the Shady Character-Sweet Tahoma gelding back into contention with a three-wide move by the three-quarter pole (1:30.3), and Special Character went on to win in 2:00. Virginia and Kathy Schoeffel own the winner along with Marian Schilling. Special Character has now won 17 times in 22 starts on the year, and leads all sophomore pacing colts in points.

He and the other top point-earners in all eight divisions will head to Harrah’s Chester beginning October 6 for the Pennsylvania Fair Finals.

— Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission