Racing Roundup: Winbak Speed takes Finian Hanover at Harrah’s Chester
April 17, 2009,from Harness Publicists across North America
Thursday’s (April 16) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Harrah’s Chester, Saratoga Gaming and Raceway and Cal-Expo.
Winbak Speed takes Finian Hanover at Harrah’s Chester
Chester, PA — Winbak Speed ($3.40) proved much the best in Thursday night’s $30,000 Finian Hanover Open Handicap Pace at Harrah’s Chester, turning away Proper Respect at the head of the stretch and winning in 1:51.2.
The 6-year-old Village Jove gelding settled behind Domitian Hanover (Eric Goodell) and Proper Respect (Tony Morgan) on the first turn before quickly brushing to the front.
Driver Brandon Givens commented, “As soon as Tony cleared, I wanted to get to the front before anyone else made a move. That way, I could set my own pace.”
Despite pressure from Proper Respect up the backstretch and into the far turn, Givens remained confident.
“He’s a horse who never gets tired, and I knew I had another strong quarter. I was just on cruise control.”
Winbak Speed held Proper Respect at bay to win in 1:51.2. Domitian Hanover closed up the open stretch for second, and Proper Respect faded to third.
Sunday’s card features a pair eliminations for the second annual Betsy Ross Mares Pace. Four Starzz Meliss (Luc Ouellette) ships in from Woodbine to headline the first elimination alongside My Little Dragon (Brian Sears). The second elimination will pit Martha Maxine (Andy Miller), Darlin’s Delight (Yannick Gingras), and Southwind Tempo (Tim Tetrick). Post time for the Sunday card at Harrah’s Chester is 1:15 p.m. eastern.
— Harrah’s Chester publicity department
Cowboy Gold does it again at Saratoga
Saratoga Springs, NY — Cowboy Gold moved his 2009 record to three for three with his front running win on Thursday night at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway.
Dave Oxford photo
Cowboy Gold was a 1:57.4 winner in the $6,000 feature at Saratoga.
Trainer Jody Weidman is off to a huge start to the year and Cowboy Gold is part of the reason why. Jay Randall was the driver on Thursday night and served as the third driver for Cowboy Gold in three starts as Dan Cappello, Jr. and Brian Cross each piloted the Cowboy to a win.
Randall moved the favorite to the lead approaching the opening quarter and despite constant pressure, Cowboy Gold never let up and even seemed to find another gear late to register the 1:57.4 win in the night’s ninth race. The win time was the fastest of the evening’s 13 races.
Live racing resumes on Friday night with the $17,000 Open Trot serving as the feature. Prime Interest, the 2008 Horse of the Year at Saratoga, will make his second start of the season in the Open.
— Mike Sardella
Wooski shows her spunk at Cal-Expo
Sacramento, CA — Conditioned distaffers, racing for a purse of $4,000, were featured at Cal-Expo on Thursday night, in which Wooski was the best.
Coming away in third position from post two in the field of seven for driver Rich Wojcio, the pair would be more than happy to sit patiently through brisk first-half fractions of :28.2 and :56.4.
“I was happy they went fairly quick because she can be a handful off slow fractions,” stated Wojcio.
Moving first-over just past the five-eighths-mile pole, then moving nicely midway through the final turn, thus forcing Rick Plano to kick out the earplugs of the pacesetting Holme Fora Cuddle, Wojcio would push all his chips to the middle of the table.
“She has a very strong eighth of a mile kick, so I took my shot and used it when I came with her hard. I was just hoping that she’d clear or get ahead of Holme Fora Cuddle when she drew alongside of her because she tends to hang in deep stretch.”
Basically drawing even at the three-quarter marker, timed in 1:25.1, Wojcio had to face the fact that his charge wasn’t clearing.
“When I didn’t clear Holme Fora Cuddle, I knew it was going to be a long, long stretch drive,” laughed Wojcio.
Taking a slim parked-out lead to the top of the stretch, Wooski would get her mettle tested the length of the stretch.
“They were coming at her from both sides, but she put in a good effort down the stretch to hold them off.”
Gamely maintaining a short lead through the stretch, the 4-year-old would prevail by a half-length. Owned by the partnership of Billie Schwartz, JW Standardbreds, Jay Rosenberg and Hans Karge, the Jim Wilkinson, Jr. trained lass would win ($8.80) in 1:54.1, a lifetime best. The pocket sitting Blue Note (Jim Lackey) would just get up for second, and a hard trying and improved Holme Fora Cuddle would be just a nose farther back in third.
“It was an all-round good effort,” concluded Wojcio.
— Scott Ehrlich