by harness racing publicists across North America

Sunday’s (June 18) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Tioga Downs, Buffalo Raceway, Dresden Raceway and Saratoga.

Winding Hill takes Tioga feature

Nichols, NY — Winding Hill (Mike Merton) would win the featured trot ($9,000) at Tioga Downs Sunday (June 18) afternoon.

Fred Brown photo

Winding Hill collects his third win of the season on Sunday at Tioga Downs.

The 6-year-old gelding by Here Comes Herbie found himself fifth and four lengths back after the three-quarters mark. Noble Anthony (Mike Simons) would lead almost the whole way but he battled Another Breath (Mickey Mc Nichol) all the way to the stretch.

Winding Hill ($9.00) would take advantage of the speed duel by charging late in the stretch to beat Another Breath (second) with his last step. Winding Hill, who is owned by Diane Whittemore and trained by Dennis Whittemore, won for the third time this season in 1:55.0. Another Breath would hang on for third.

Merton is having a great start to 2017 with 18 wins. Mike Simons would capture another driving double to give him 34 wins on the season. David McGinnis had a training double winning with Angel Cindy ($5.70 and Eyes Only For You ($7.00).

The large Father’s Day crowd also enjoyed the Ostrich and Camel races. Along with the beer mug giveaway, the crowd all walked away with a smile on their face.

Racing returns to Tioga Downs on Monday night at 6:50 p.m. with an eight-race card.

For more information go to www.tiogadowns.com.

— by John Horne

Buffalo Raceway

It was a hunch player’s dream come true in Buffalo Raceway’s fourth race on Sunday afternoon (June 18) as A F F Bigdaddy won on the Father’s Day program by rolling to an easy five-length victory and returned $3.80 in the popular win. It was just one of four wins on the 12-race card for Ray Fisher Jr. He also registered victories aboard Santana Beach ($12.80), If You Want Fire ($4.20) and Im So Handsome ($3.00). Fisher Jr. currently sits in second place in the Buffalo Raceway driver’s standings with 113 wins. Larry Stalbaum leads the way with 163 after notching a double on Sunday. Kevin Cummings and Drew Monti also had a pair of wins while trainer John Mungillo posted a triple. Racing will continue on Wednesday night at Buffalo Raceway with a 13-race program slated for 5 p.m. The New York Sire Stakes returns with a pair of races worth over $60,000 scheduled for the 3-year-old filly pacers along with action in the Excelsior A and B Series. There’s also a $1154 carryover in the Pick-5 which begins in the second race. For more information including the latest news, results, race replays and upcoming promotions, go to www.buffaloraceway.com.

Dresden Raceway

Former trainer Mark Austin was honored today at Dresden Raceway and enshrined into Dresden Raceway’s Hall of Fame. Austin started his career in Dresden in the 1980’s and that is where he broke one of the best trotters of all time in Canada, A Worthy Lad for Joe Johnston. Austin then moved to Windsor where he worked with Jack Darling and had a hand with champions such as Gothic Dream and Northern Luck. He then moved his stable to Fergus where he was the conditioner for many top horses in Canada such as Go Get Her, Part Shark, XLB Patrick, Sparky Mark and Fool Me Once. Austin was more than just a trainer as friendships he kindled at Dresden lasted with him his entire life. His widow, Julie, was in attendance today to receive the plaque and say a few words about the honor of being inducted into Dresden Raceway’s Hall of Fame. Austin’s parents, family and daughters Paige and Paula were also on hand for the awards ceremony. On the track Garrett Rooney was the big gun on the day as he scored four winners. Rooney visited the winner’s circle with Burning Memories, Campassion, Beer And A Haircut and Singhampton Kenny. Rooney now has 10 wins on the year and is the leading dash winner. GD Cruise For Gold stayed hot at Dresden winning his fourth in a row for owner/trainer/driver Donnie Rankin. The 3-year-old Althatgltrsisgold gelding went wire to wire in 2:01.1. About 700 people bet a total handle of C$23,591 which included the first week of having off track wagering which accounted for almost C$2,000 into the live pool.

Saratoga Raceway

Lucid Thoughts (Cash Hall) has been a picture of consistency this season. The 9-year-old trotter hit the board in 12 of his 15 starts this season heading into his try in the $14,500 Open Trot on Sunday (June 18) afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Shawn Gray piloted the John Macdonald trainee and got away in the two-hole behind Cincinnati Miss (Frank Coppola Jr.) who won the Open just two weeks ago. Cincinnati Miss carved out the fractions and after checking in at three-quarters in 1:26 extended her lead around the final turn. Longshot Lucid Thoughts then gathered a head of steam and came charging hard in the stretch. The veteran high-stepper reeled in Cincinnati Miss in the final strides before stopping the timer in 1:55.1, a time that matched the effort from trotting mare Charmed Life on April 23 as the fastest of the season for a trotter at Saratoga. Cincinnati Miss was the runner-up while the favored Boli (Wally Hennessey) was late on the scene to earn the show spot. Lucid Thoughts paid a hefty $33.40 to win in the upset while the exacta and triple came back $178 and $310, respectively. Live racing resumes on Thursday afternoon at Saratoga with a matinee beginning at 12:15 p.m.