The Saturday (Aug. 3) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows, Batavia Downs, Vernon Downs, Tioga Downs and Saratoga Casino Hotel.

Windsong Leo earns 1:49.3 life mark in Meadows feature

Washington, PA — Windsong Leo had to battle for the lead through a demanding :26.2 opening panel, but he faced nary a serious challenge thereafter, rolling home in a career-best 1:49.3 in Saturday’s $18,000 Open Handicap Pace at The Meadows.

After Windsong Leo wrestled early supremacy from Carolina Beach, Dave Palone gave him a :29 second-quarter breather. That was all the 7-year-old Jereme’s Jet-Windsong Goldie gelding needed, as he downed Carolina Beach by 1-3/4 lengths, with Summer Travel third.

Ron Burke trains Windsong Leo, who lifted his career bankroll to $486,500, for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Phil Collura.

Burke collected four wins on the 13-race program while Mike Wilder and Palone each fashioned a triple.

Live racing at The Meadows resumes Monday, when the card features a $5,000 total-pool guarantee for the Pick-4 (races 3-6) and a $792.70 carryover in the Pick-5 (races 2-6). First post is 1:05 p.m.

— Evan Pattak

Batavia Downs

Saratoga Raceway regular Hudson Phil traveled four hours west on the 90 for his first-ever start at Batavia Downs and the trip was worth his while. He won the $12,500 Open Handicap Pace in gate-to-wire fashion at the Downs on Saturday night. Hudson Phil (Jim Morrill Jr.) flew off the wings and took command with Lucan Hanover (Billy Davis Jr.) drafting close behind. After going to the quarter in :27.2, Morrill grabbed leather and backed the second panel off to a meager :29 as the rest of the field finally caught up. As they started on the second circuit Upfront Countryboy (Drew Monti) pulled first up on the outside to pass the gapped Adonis Bay (John Cummings Jr.) and then dropped back into third to save ground. The race moved into the last turn and Monti pulled Upfront Countryboy out again and aggressively started driving him as they headed into the stretch. Hudson Phil was still in command but Upfront Countryboy was closing with every step. Lucan Hanover, who had been following the leader the entire mile, was now full of pace but had nowhere to go and was locked on the pylons. Hudson Phil stayed strong on the point and held off all challenges to win by a neck in 1:53.3. Hudson Phil ($2.30) has now earned $86,832 for owner Kellogg Racing Stables on the strength of his eight 2019 wins. Jackie Greene trains the 4-year-old son of Shanghai Phil-Hazel.

The $11,000 Open II was a very entertaining race. Cultural Paradise (Kyle Cummings) was cruising along smartly on the lead at the half in a moderate split of :56.1, before taking the race to the head of the stretch looking like a winner. But Iammbrightside N (Dave McNeight Jr.), who had been drafting on the outside for a half-mile, pulled three-wide at the three-quarters and was under a full head of steam. Cultural Paradise and Iammbrightside N battled side by side all the way to the wire where Iammbrightside N got the advantage by a neck in 1:53.3. It was the 33rd lifetime win for Iammbrightside N ($12.20) who is owned by Mirussa Russo and trained by Dave Russo.

Several horsemen had multiple winners on Saturday night. Jim Morrill Jr., Dave McNeight III and Billy Davis Jr. all had three winners on the evening while trainer Dave Russo also sent two horses to the Purple Haze winner’s circle.

— Tim Bojarski

Vernon Downs

Howard Parker had five driving wins during the 10-race card at Vernon Downs on Saturday. One of Parker’s wins came with Tempster Hanover ($4.80) in the $5,000 co-featured pace. Tempster Hanover took the lead just before hitting the first quarter in :27. He controlled the pace hitting the half in :56.1 and three-quarters in 1:24.3. Owned by Riley Asher-Stalbaum and trained by Misty Carey, he would get minor pressure by second place finisher Electrofire (Jennifer Lappe) at the top of the stretch. Tempster Hanover had plenty in the tank to win in 1:52.2. Burkentine Hanover (Jimmy Whittemore finished third. Tempster Hanover is a 9-year-old gelding by Somebeachsomewhere. It was win three of 2019. He now owns 30 career victories. Parker’s other wins came with Box Of Gifts ($2.90), Wind Damage Blues ($4.40), Hands Off Frank ($3.70), and Fox Valley Photog ($6.50).

Heavens Storm (Claude Huckabone Jr.) captured the other $5,000 feature. Heavens Storm ($4.20) went to the front and led to a first quarter of :29.3. Marvalous One (Jimmy Whittemore) then took control and led to the half in :59.2 and three-quarters in 1:27.1. Heavens Storm, who is owned by Gordon Swift and trained by Jeff Sorenson, went first over and went by second place finisher Marvalous One to win in 1:56.1. Northern Rein (Claude Huckabone III) was third best. Heavens Storm is a 5-year-old horse by Rock N Roll Heaven. It was his third win this season. He now owns seven career victories.

— John Horne

Tioga Downs

Tag Up And Go (Mike Merton) captured the $10,000 featured trot at Tioga Downs on Saturday. Campbellini (Jim Taggart Jr.) led to the first quarter in :27.4. Tag Up And Go ($4.80) then took the lead as they went by the stands for the first time. He led to the half in :57 and to three-quarters in 1:25.1. Tag Up And Go, who is trained by Patti Harmon for owners Lester Gelardi Jr. and Anthony Passafaro, led to the stretch. Dragin The Wagon (Aaron Byron) came first over and tried to challenge for the the lead. Tag Up And Go was too strong and would get the victory in 1:54.3. Dragin The Wagon settled for second. Miss Flora (Corey Braden) came charging late to finish third. Tag Up And Go is a 9-year-old gelding by Angus Hall. It was his ninth win this season. He now has 48 career victories.

Leading driver Wally Hennessey drove four winners on the night. He got his wins with Geronimo Fame ($18.00), Sweet Royalty ($8.60), Beguin Dugoutier F ($6.90), and Cinnabar Hall ($2.70).

— John Horne

Saratoga Casino Hotel

For the second consecutive Saturday night, Beach Boogie (Somebeachsomewhere) won the Open Pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

The Rene Allard trainee was assigned the outside post in the $15,000 five-horse feature, and leading driver Billy Dobson sat behind the 1-5 favorite who cruised out to an easy lead. After carving out fractions of :27.3 and :56.1, Beach Boogie didn’t face a challenge until pocket-sitter Century Endeavor (Gerry Mattison) charged up the passing lane in the stretch. The chase proved futile and Beach Boogie stopped the timer in 1:51.3 to record his second straight Saratoga score and the sixth consecutive Open win at Saratoga for the Allard stable.

Century Endeavor came up second, while invader Summer Side (Phil Fluet) earned the show spot.

Beach Boogie has now won five times in eleven starts in 2019.

— Mike Sardella