from harness publicists across North America

Wednesday night’s (Aug. 10) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Batavia Downs, Vernon Downs and Saratoga.

Who Says That collars foes in Batavia Downs feature

Batavia, NY — After getting away fifth and chasing a stiff pace to the half, Who Says That ($11.00) followed live cover in a wily drive by Drew Monti to capture the $9,500 Mares Open pacing feature at Batavia Downs on Wednesday night.

Paul White photo

Who Says That was a 1:54 winner in the Mares Open at Batavia.

My Tallia Ideal (Mike Caprio) left and got the lead in a speedy :27.1 first panel. But as soon as she settled in, Yes You Can (Todd Cummings) pulled and went right after her and in doing so, rang up a :55.2 half.

Out of the third turn, My Tallia Ideal had pulled a full length ahead, but V’la Faire (Wade Tomaszewski) tipped three-deep around the now back-peddling Yes You Can and Who Says That pulled from fifth to follow that move. The three mares paced side-by-side around the far turn and into the stretch when Who Says That inflicted her will on the opponents and pulled away to a three length victory in 1:54.

It was the tenth win in 27 starts this year for Who Says That and it pushed her earnings total for 2016 to $44,162. The time of 1:54 was a new lifetime mark for the 5-year-old Badlands Hanover mare that is trained by Maria Rice for owners Vogel and Wags Nags Stable, Christopher Shambo and Jack Rice.

Todd Cummings and Ray Fisher Jr. both scored driving triples and Drew Monti had a double. Trainers Tony Cummings and Maria Rice both sent two winners postward.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Thursday (Aug. 12) at 6:15 p.m.

— Tim Bojarski

Vernon
The J P Stables’ All Charged Up ($3.10) swung wide off a second-over trip to collar Bettorhaveanother in Wednesday evening’s featured $9,000 distaff pace at Vernon Downs. Trainer-driver John MacDonald settled off the pace with the 5-year-old Ponder mare, sliding second-over to follow cover provided by Keene Olivia (Claude Huckabone III) with seven-sixteenths of the one-mile journey to go. All Charged Up swung three-wide off the far turn, sustaining her bid after pacesetter Bettorhaveanother (Chris Lems) repelled a stiff challenge from Keene Olivia. All Charged Up would claim her 19th career win just outside the sixteenth pole, reeling in Bettorhaveanother and drawing away to prevail by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:51.4 over fast going. Asset Management (Fern Paquet Jr.) mounted strong belated gains to just miss the runner-up spot. For leading driver John MacDonald, the featured win was one of five on the nine-race card. Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Thursday (Aug. 11) evening, with first post set for 6:45 p.m. (EDT).

Saratoga
EJ’s Last Dance (Conway Hall) went coast-to-coast on Wednesday night at Saratoga Casino Hotel to prevail in her half of the co-features. Wally Hennessey piloted the Norm Dessureault-trained trotter and moved her out to the early lead in the $9,300 event for New York sired trotters. The 4-year-old mare never faced an anxious moment before trotting away to win in a career best 1:56.4. The race’s morning line favorite returned a fairly generous $7.90 to win while besting the favored Elusive Action (Bruce Aldrich Jr.) and Kinda Naughty (Frank Coppola Jr.) who finished second and third, respectively. For EJ’s Last Dance, it was the fourth win in seven starts since joining the Dessureault stable back in June. The other division of the $9,300 co-feature was won in upset fashion by DW’s Sparticus (Dilbert Hanover). The Gary Levine trainee moved first over on his race’s favorite at the half and ground that one into submission late in the mile before stopping the timer in 1:59.2. DW’s Sparticus, who set a new career mark with the win, was dismissed at odds of 17-1. DW’s Sparticus was piloted to the win by Billy Dobson. Live racing continues on Thursday night at Saratoga with a first post time of 7:05 p.m.