from harness publicists across North America

Friday’s (July 1) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, Saratoga Casino and Raceway, Vernon Downs and Scioto Downs.

Winning Mister keeps rolling at Pocono in Open Trot

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Winning Mister led every step of the way for a comfortable victory in Friday night’s featured $60,000 Open Trot at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

Leaving from post position three in a field of nine as the 1-5 favorite, Winning Mister, who was coming off an Open win at Chester and set a track record at Pocono earlier this season, was sent right to the front end by driver George Napolitano, Jr. a few steps into the race.

That’s where he stayed for the duration, setting imposing fractions that kept all of his challengers at bay. He coasted home 2-1/4 lengths in front of Waldorf Hall, while Lolique came on for the show. The winning time for the 5-year-old stallion from the Walter Carroll barn was 1:52.2.

Winning Mister, sired by Angus Hall and owned by Robert Key, won for the 11th time in 20 races this season. It was his 24th career victory, pushing his lifetime earnings to $766,644.

— Jim Beviglia

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
Friday evening’s Open Trot went for an increased purse of $18,000 at Saratoga Casino and Raceway and went the way of a horse who won the first Open of his career. Doully (CR Excalibur) trotted quickest of all down the lane and got by the race’s odds-on favorite Russ N Us (Like A Prayer) to score his first feature win. Trained by Dave Corlew, Doully is in the midst of a strong sophomore season after recording five wins in just 11 tries last season. The Friday victory was the fourth in the 4-year-old campaign of Doully who is only a month removed from setting his 1:57 lifetime mark. In just his second ever start in Open company, Doully and reinsman Dan Cappello, Jr. stopped the timer in 1:58.2, scoring the upset at 12-1. The favorite Russ N Us (Mark Beckwith) held second while Princess Lindsay (Chris Long) ran third. The evening also featured the first leg of the Battle of Saratoga #8 Trotting Series which saw upsets from Rose Run Hot Rod (Brian Cross) at 9-1 and Ray J (Cappello) at 10-1.

Vernon Downs
The pacers Pickmeamerigold and Rock Man, as well as drivers Jimmy Whittemore and Howard Okusko, Jr., all bathed in the limelight during Friday night’s program at Vernon Downs. Pickmeamerigold posted a front-striding, 1:55 victory in Friday’s $6,000 featured ninth race, the week’s top test for female side-wheelers. Whittemore did the teaming for trainer Joe Cordisco and owner Holly Cordisco as the 5-year-old daughter of American Gigolo-Whip City Gal garnered her second score of the season and 13th all-time. Rock Man, a promising son of Art Major-Gone Dancing owned by Linda Manzi and trained by Howard Okusko, Sr., motored to a 1:56.2 maiden victory for Howard Okusko, Jr. in Friday’s $3,000 third event, the first pari-mutuel contest for 2-year-old Standardbreds at the Downs this season. Two-time defending champ and current leader Whittemore also won with the pacers Townie Guy, Dandy Do Right and Kissing Camels to record his fifth four-win performance in 31 current local programs. Okusko, a 10-time Vernon driving champion, also finished first with the trotter Tip The Tide and pacer I’madeadhead to chalk up his second triple of the 2011 campaign at the Downs. Former training champ Jessica Okusko also visited Vernon’s winner’s circle twice during the 10-event card.

Scioto Downs
Driver Kyle Ater sent favored C R Hope three wide around the final turn, then steered her to the inside passing lane in her 1:53.1 victory in the Fillies and Mares Open Pace at Scioto Downs on Friday night. It was the fourth win in 22 starts for the 6-year-old mare who is trained by Harley Jolliff, who owns C R Hope in partnership with Willie Hale. She defeated No Sugar Needed by 2-3/4 lengths. As the seven mares left the gate, Dan Noble shot Dappers Flash away from post one, protecting her position through an opening panel in :26.3. Noble then yielded to No Sugar Needed and Kayne Kauffman who took the field through moderate middle fractions. Ater had C R Hope well off the early pace, but moved her to the outside in the second quarter. When driver J.D. Wengerd, driving 5-2 choice Shell I Attack, saw C R Hope coming on the outside, he eased his mare out of the hole, giving Ater the cover he wanted. C R Hope followed Shell I Attack who was pacing in pursuit of pacesetting No Sugar Needed. When Shell I Attack seemed to be stalling in front of him, Ater moved C R Hope three wide and went after No Sugar Needed. No Sugar Needed seemed to have a comfortable lead of three lengths entering the stretch but she was powerless to withstand the late inside rush of C R Hope. What’s The Hurry finished third at odds of 10-1.