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Sunday, May 17, 2015
Bee A Magician Does It Again, Showdown With
Father Patrick is Next
By Bill Finley
She is definitely back. Is she ever.
Bee A Magician did it again last night, winning the Arthur
Cutler Memorial at the Meadowlands. In the process, she
kept her 2015 record perfect at 3 for 3 and became the first
mare ever to win this race.
Next up for the super mare and 2013 Horse of the Year
will be Sunday's Maxie Lee at Harrah's Chester, which will
be a battle of the sexes between her and Father Patrick.
The latter is pointing
for that race after a
winning qualifier
yesterday morning at
the Meadowlands.
"I don't ever want
to take on any of
Jimmy Takter's
horses," said Bee A
Bee A Magician is back at her very,
Magician's co-owner
very best
David McDuffee.
"He's obviously a great trainer and Father Patrick is a
tremendous horse. I rather suspect he'll have some
adjustments to make between three and four. It will be a
very interesting race."
Though Bee A Magician was undefeated in 2013 and
named Horse of the Year that year, no one saw this
coming. She was just 4 for 17 last year and never seemed
like the same horse that was so dominant at three. But she
began 2015 with a win against males in an Open at
Yonkers and followed that with a win last week in a prep for
the Cutler at the Meadowlands, winning from post 10.
Last night, she was even better.
With Brian Sears back in the bike after Scott Zeron
subbed for him last week, the 5-year-old daughter of
Kadabra made a huge move on the backstretch to grab the
lead. She was 1 1/4 lengths in front after a half in 55.2 and
1 ½ length clear after three-quarters in 1:23.4. Down the
lane, it was a one-horse race as she was not seriously
challenged by any of her nine male rivals.
"She's a pleasure and it's great to still have her around
and for me to have the opportunity to win races with her,"
Sears said. "Last year was just a tough year. There was a
lot of traveling and she was just a little tired. Right now
she's fresh and sharp and really on her game."
She won by two lengths over Wind Of the North and went
the mile in 1:51.2. With Melady's Monet finishing third and
Appomattox fourth, the first four finishers last night crossed
the wire in the exact same order they did a week ago in the
prep.
Trainer Nifty Norman has said that Bee A Magician looks
like a completely different horse this year, a sentiment
echoed by McDuffee.
"I was talking to one of my partners tonight and I said she
actually seems stronger against this older group than she
did even at three against the group she was racing that
year," McDuffee said. "It accents the difference between 4
and 5, I guess. I think we hoped she would get bigger and
stronger. I stopped a week ago at Nifty's barn and looked
her over and said to him this is a completely different horse
than the one I looked at last year . She was so much
stronger through the shoulder and all the way through. She
is just a very powerful looking animal right now."
Artspeak Romps in Return
The other highlight on
last night's card at the
Meadowlands was the
successful 3-year-old
debut of Dan Patch
Award winner Artspeak.
The Brittany-bred son of
Western Ideal had a bit
Artspeak could not have looked of a bumpy road getting
better in his 3-year-old debut
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• 5/17/15 PAGE 2 of 19
to last night's race, breaking in his first qualifier and then
finishing fifth in his next. But trainer Tony Alagna had him
ready to go last night in New Jersey sire stakes action.
Sent off at 3-2, a sign that the bettors weren't totally
convinced that he was back to his top form, Artspeak won
by 3 ½ lengths in a career best 1:49. Driven by Scott
Zeron, he blasted to the lead on the backstretch after sitting
fourth early and then had no problems holding off second
choice Gokudo Hanover.
"Artspeak was super in his debut," Alagna said. "I couldn't
be more pleased with his race tonight. Never better."
Alagna said he wasn't sure what was next for Artspeak,
but said it's most likely he will bypass the next leg of the
New Jersey Sire Stakes series.
Favorites dominated in the first two sire stakes races as
Lindys Old Lady kicked things off with a win for trainer
Frank Antonacci and driver Tim Tetrick, paying $3.20. She
is 2 for 2 in her young career. Happiness won the next
event, besting Stacia Hanover to win the race for 3-year-old
New Jersey bred fillies by 1 1/4 lengths. She paid $2.20.
Still another chalk won the final sire stakes on the night as
Hurrikane Ali visited the winner's circle in race nine, paying
$3.40.
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Maxie Lee Bound, Father Patrick Among
Winners at Big M Qualifiers
Meadowlands Media Relations Dept
EAST RUTHERFORD,
NJ - In what was an
abbreviated program of six
qualifiers this morning, the
highlights were few but
solid. The skies were
overcast and temperatures
in the 60's with little to no
wind.
Last year's PASS champ
Father Patrick was looking
freshman trotting colt Billy
good yesterday morning at
Flynn snuck onto the sheet
the Meadowlands (Chris Tully late and went a nice 1:55.4
photo)
trip with a 27.3 final panel
for Brett Miller driving for
trainer Staffan Lind. Billy Flynn won eight of eleven and a
third of a million dollars last season for owners Bender, Inc.
and Roy Holth.
The hotly anticipated (for a morning qualifier) Father
Patrick vs JL Cruze match up did not materialize with the
latter a no show, which was disappointing, but Father
Patrick took it upon himself to brighten the day. He coasted
along through moderate fractions of 27.4, 56.3, 124.3 with
Lauderdale in close attendance before sprinting home in
27.2 to complete the mile in 1:52 completely on his own for
Yannick Gingras. He looked fantastic. Jimmy Takter has
him honed to a razor's edge to begin his 2015 campaign,
reportedly in the Maxie Lee next Sunday for listed lessee
Brixton Medical, Inc.
The show continued with 2014 Horse of the Year JK
She'salady adding to her legacy by tracking down and
going by last season's Mistletoe Shalee winner
Sandbetweenurtoes in 1:51.2 with a 26.2 close on the
timer. Sandbetweenurtoes led through the 1:25.1 three
quarters when JK She'salady rolled up outside her then
edged away with minimal encouragement from Tim Tetrick.
Trainer Nancy Johansson has indicated that the pride of
the 3 Brothers Stable will make her debut in a NYSS event
at Tioga Downs on Memorial Day. She certainly appears
ready to defend her title.
Rockeyed Optimist wowed the crowd in the finale by
searing through a 52.4 final half of a mile in 1:49.4 for
Tetrick and he looked great, too. He's also scheduled to
make the trip to Tioga Downs for the first leg of the newly
resurrected Graduate Series also on Memorial Day, May
25.
HarnessRacingUpdate.com
• 5/17/15 PAGE 3 of 19
JL Cruze Suffers Minor Injury But Ell Still
Pointing For Graduate
Battling a foot problem, JL Cruze was scratched out of a
qualifier race yesterday
morning at the
Meadowlands, but trainer
Eric Ell hopes to get his star
trotter qualified Tuesday at
Chester.
"He was just too sore to try
JL Cruze has suffered a
to qualify him," Ell said. "I'm
setback
shooting to try to qualify him
at Chester on Tuesday,
which will give me a few more days to get it healed up. He
really laid her open and he's really sore. But I need to get
him qualified on Tuesday so I can go in the first leg of the
Graduate Series (May 25 at Tioga). That's what I'm
shooting for. Each day I jog him and he's jogging much
sounder. I got a guy coming tomorrow who can cut the
quarter out a little bit so I can get more air in to it which will
help it heal."
Though Ell believes he'll make the May 25 race he
admitted it's going to be hard for him to have JL Cruze, who
is by Crazed, at his best that day.
"I think he'll be a little soft," he said. "I won't lie to you. I
did everything by the book. I gave him rest, gave him the
days off he needed and then I jogged him back. But I'm
trying to get him there."
JL Cruze is 11 for 13 on the year but has not raced since
a win in the Bobby Weiss Series on April 21 at Pocono.
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At Age 81, No Stopping Marc Aubin
By Perry Lefko
At the age of 81, Marc Aubin is
still going strong, still training
horses and still driving them with
no intention of stopping.
Aubin is believed to be the oldest
active driver in North America,
having just piloted a horse called
No Bad Dreams to a third-place
finish in a condition race April 4 at
the Isle Casino Racing Pompano
Park in Florida. He guided the
four-year-old gelding by Dream
Away to victory in the horse's
Age is just a number. season-opening race, March 25 at
Marc Aubin is still
Pompano, at 11-1 odds. The horse
winning at 81 (Skip
has won four of seven starts this
Smith photo)
year, including three tallies in the
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• 5/17/15 PAGE 4 of 19
last four races, posting a speed mark of 1:50 3/5 last time
out with W ally Hennessey handling the lines. The horse is
keeping Aubin feeling spry and young.
Born on July 31, 1933 in Quebec, Aubin is a
great-grandfather who has 10 children, including two sets
of twins, and 14 grandchildren. He has been married twice,
the current one, Paula for 25 years. He met her when he
was based in Chicago in the mid-80s. He subsequently
moved back to California, where he drove for many years,
then relocated to Florida in the early 90s.
At one point in his career, he trained 35 horses. He's now
down to about nine, but they are the reason he gets up
every morning, keen to get to work.
"It's because I want to do it," he says. "W hat else am I
going to do, start a new career? Let me tell you something:
almost every night I dream about racing - a race or training
a colt or something - and I wake up in the morning and
wake up my wife and say, 'Come on, let's go.' Going to
work is my life. I don't remember taking any holidays, no
lengthy vacation.' It's my life. It's a way of life. If I interrupt
this, I don't know what the hell is going to happen - and I
don't want to know.
"My kids have been grown up for a long time. They're
married and on their own. They're in Canada and I'm here
and it's very difficult to have a close relationship. They
come to see me once in awhile and I enjoy when they
come. W e have gone over to see them a couple of times,
but that's about it.
"I like it," he says matter-of-factly when asked why he
continues to drive. "Sometimes my horses are in a position
where they can get hurt or abused a little bit and I don't like
it, and when I feel they need to be taken care of, I'm the
guy that takes care of them. I go out there and I'll drive
them. When I get a horse that has qualified and I know he
has a lot of ability, I like to drive them for their first races,
just give them a good foundation before I send them on
their way.
"I've slowed down after getting hurt two or three times in
a row. It seemed like I'd get back after being off for four of
five months and I'd get into another accident. It was a
series of events that more or less forced me to semi-retire
from driving. Before I get on the bike I have concerns about
getting hurt, but once I'm on the bike and on the track it's
like second nature. It's like you're at home.
"Every driver is the same way. They get a little upset
when they look at things and figure out things, and they
think about what can happen - especially at my age. If I fall
now, I'll leave a big hole in the track. You kind of think
about it a little bit, but once you get on the bike you forget
about it."
On Saturday morning, he qualified a horse at Pompano.
His wife says she has tried to get him to stop driving
several times because of the fear he might hurt himself.
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• 5/17/15 PAGE 5 of 19
"He says he's still right at home doing it, but he's going to
be 82, it's enough," she says with a laugh. "This is definitely
what keeps him going. Every three months he goes to the
doctor for a complete workup and the doctor says 'I can't
see any reason for you to slow down. You're the youngest
81-year-old I know and you have my blessing. Just go out
and be safe. I see no reason why you shouldn't be able to
do what you want to do. God bless.' If he has the doctor's
clearance and he feels good…this is where he wants to be.
He's one of the lucky few who have been able to follow
their dreams and get paid for it. He's found his dream and
made a good living at it."
Aubin is listed as having driven 19,771 times in his
career, winning 3,366 and posting earnings of almost $16
million. Since 2012, he has driven less than 10 times per
year, and he last drove 100 times in a season back in
2007. From 1986-90, he annually drove 1,000 or more
times per season. Twice during that span, he eclipsed the
$1 million mark in earnings. He has a record of having
trained 3,612 starters, winning 551 and earning more than
$2.5 million. So far this season, he has 69 starters, winning
19 and posting more than $80,000 in earnings. He has a
solid UDRS of .375. Since 2012, his UDRS of almost .365.
Aubin has had an interesting life, one that had him riding
in some amateur thoroughbred races in Quebec at age 14.
"My folks had to sign a release, so I could ride," he says.
"I didn't know anything about harness racing (growing up). I
was into riding horses when I was nine years old. My aim in
life was to be a cowboy. I've always loved horses and had
a relationship with horses. It's my life."
He later became an officer in the Royal Canadian Air
Force working in communications. He also worked in
various other jobs, including private detective work, singing
in night clubs, selling aluminum ware and as an agent for a
steamship company - anything to feed his family.
"I jumped around," he says.
His harness racing career started at age 25 when he and
a friend were driving back from a fair on a rainy night and
saw the lights of Connaught Park Raceway in Aylmer,
Quebec.
"It was a very sloppy track and we met an old guy there
and he had a mare he wanted to sell," Aubin recalls. "He
really pushed her on us. We ended up buying her and
started messing with harness horses."
W hen racing was in a downward spiral in Quebec and his
horses tested positive for an equine virus, he was forced to
leave for the U.S. He began in Florida, working for Bruce
Nickells, and then moved to California, becoming the
leading driver by percentage at Los Alamitos four times
between 1977-81. He was nicknamed Cowboy because he
wore a cowboy hat and cowboy boots.
"That's the way I dressed, that's who I was," he says.
He was training privately at the time with a barn of some
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• 5/17/15 PAGE 6 of 19
35 horses, and Aubin got behind each of them in the
morning for training.
"I had a second trainer, but he took care of the barn more
than anything else," Aubin says.
Because of the uncertainty of harness racing in
California, Aubin moved to Chicago, training and driving a
top-end horse called La Valaise, who won about $120,000
in seven or so months that season in the W indy City.
Overall, the horse won 21 of 68 starts and more than
$200,000.
Aubin drove once at the Meadowlands, called on by a
friend to steer Maple Fritz, who won 37 of 223 starts and
more than $460,000.
"I never went on the Grand Circuit," Aubin says. "For
some reason I was happy where I was at and I wouldn't
move. I was invited to take my horses and race full-time at
the Meadowlands in the peak of my career when it opened.
"As a matter-of-fact, our horses were picked up by
mistake one morning and I had to call the driver to turn
around and come back. And I was invited to go to Yonkers
when everyone went to the Meadowlands and I never went.
I just stayed. I was doing well where I was at. I was just
content.
"If I'd have known what I know now, I would have gone,"
he says with a laugh.
His best horse has been Hearty Fellow, a pacer who
banked more than $380,000 in a nine-year career, all of it
at Pompano. Aubin trained the Hearty W elcome gelding for
most of its 254 starts and drove in about half of them.
"That's the toughest horse I had and the one I made the
most money with while I've been here in the U.S," he says.
"He won almost all of his money in non-stakes races."
The horse won the $50,000 Red Bow Tie Invitational at
Pompano twice and was a close second another time.
Hennessey was the driver in both wins - Hearty Fellow was
the odds-on favorite each time - while Aubin was behind
the horse in the second-place finish, won by the race
favorite. Hearty Fellow had a speed mark of 1:51 3/5 as a
nine-year-old.
"W hen he started winning, they says 'there's a sheriff in
town and it's Hearty Fellow,'" Aubin proudly recalls.
He is enjoying the success of No Bad Dreams, whom he
says may be one of the best horses he's ever trained. And
he'll drive the gelding and other horses as long as he feels
he's capable of giving them the best chance to win.
Last night, No Bad Dreams took the feature at Pompano
in a lifetime equalling best 1:50.3. The horse is owned by
Jacalyn and Dan Boddie, W ally Hennessey was in the bike
for the win, his fifth in seven starts this year, but Aubin
won’t rule out returning as the horse’s driver.
"As long as I can I will," he says defiantly. "I'm still
walking fine, standing straight and I've got all my faculties at least most of them. People plan retirement, I don't know
what that is. I just enjoy what I do and will keep doing it as
long as I can. I didn't know I was the oldest one driving. I
thought there was a 90-year-old somewhere.
"I'm going to still be the oldest one next year if I'm still
around. I think I'm very fortunate. I've got a good wife, good
people around me. I've got a guy here, Anthony Amante,
that supplies me with horses, and he has for the last
20-some years. Every year he supplies me with a colt or a
young horse that has as chance to be the best. If we're not
the best, we're always second- or third-best. It helps you
stay and to keep going. Before that I had another man
supplying me with horses for 20 years. My relationship with
owners has been good. They've sustained me throughout
my career."
"He's really amazing," his wife Paula says. "I just wish
he'd give up driving all together, but once in a blue moon
he has to hop on one and I don't care for it. You can't keep
an old man down. The sport's changed and they go so fast.
It's crazy. He definitely has the talent, but I want to keep
him all intact."
In 2013, Aubin was inducted into the Florida Harness
Racing Hall of Fame, given to horsemen who have been
outstanding leaders within the industry for more than ten
years and who have contributed to the betterment of the
standardbred industry. The following year, Hearty Fellow
and Amante joined Aubin in the Hall of Fame.
"It was well deserved (Hearty Fellow going into the Hall of
Fame), it should have been done before," he says. "For
myself, it was something I cherished. It meant a lot to me. I
skipped around and jumped the chance of being in the Hall
of Fame in Chicago or California and finally I stayed still
long enough to be in the Hall of Fame here. It meant a lot.
Did it come as a surprise? Yes and no. I was kind of
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• 5/17/15 PAGE 7 of 19
advised before they were considering me. I figured I had a
good chance, but it was still a surprise."
"To be a Hall of Famer and to be recognized amongst his
peers for a career well done is just the absolute best,"
Paula says. "Life is good for Marc Aubin and seems to be
getting better for him. He has a very nice racing and
training stable and some wonderful owners supporting him
all the way."
Vickie Desomer, whose husband Steve is nearing the
age of 79 and still driving in California, knows Aubin from
his time racing on the W est Coast and is not surprised he is
still active and occasionally piloting in pari-mutuel races.
"Nothing Marc does would surprise me," she says. "He
was and is a terrific horseman. He used to get his horses
via the claiming ranks and when you lost one to him, you
could be sure he would get a new life mark. Happily, we
have a lot of win pictures with Marc driving when Steve had
two in the same race. He and Steve left quite an
impression on racing back then. Many happy memories.
We saw Marc and his wife a few years ago when we were
leaving out of Ft. Lauderdale on a cruise and they very
kindly met us for a drink and a visit."
Aubin laughs when asked who would win if he and
Desomer were racing against one another.
"I think he's got enough experience and I've got enough
experience that whoever had the best horse would win," he
says with a laugh.
More than 55 since he began in the sport, Aubin is
proving that age is only relative. In a sport measured by
time, he and his horses are still ticking.
Harness Racing Has Some Good Triggers
Back in 1997, executives were pleasantly surprised to
see that the worldwide sales of Mars candy bars had
spiked rapidly. The bar, which was named after chocolatier
Franklin Mars had been produced since 1932, had usually
stable sales, and this jump was a head-scratcher. There
was no new marketing; no reason at all for the increase.
What the executives were missing was a key part of
marketing and sales: Triggers.
On July 4th 1997 the spacecraft Pathfinder - after millions
of dollars, years of preparation and much publicity - landed
on Mars. The public was consumed with the beautiful
pictures and the story. That simple trigger resulted in
people, somewhere, at sometime, standing in line at a
convenience store and deciding to buy a Mars bar. The
Mars landing trigger resulted in more sales.
Kentucky Derby Day has turned into an event rather than
a race. NBC and Churchill Downs Inc. no longer treat the
race as a two-minute piece of Americana. Movie stars
(B-List and otherwise) cram the red carpet. Tom Brady,
Wes Welker and other athletes join in the festivities. This is
not by accident. Thoroughbred racing - for that one day - is
triggered as blue-blooded, for the rich and not at all
inclusive.
The comments below this tweet were pretty much what
you'd expect. "That one picture sums up Thoroughbred
racing" said one. Others were the same. Thoroughbred
racing, on Derby Day, conjures up these feelings and NBC
Sports is fine with forwarding them. It helps brand the event
as they want to brand it, and more and more people watch.
Derby viewership (absent a Triple Crown try) is tops in all of
racing, and is one of the most watched days for any sport
each year.
Triggers, and delivering on the triggers, are important.
If I had a dollar every time I've heard that harness racing
needs to have telecasts like the Kentucky Derby pre-game
show I'd have enough for a pretty huge pick 4 ticket.
Harness racing is not Thoroughbred racing, however, and
for it, the most successful way to market it comes from its
triggers.
Why do harness fans flock to the Jug in big numbers
each year? Is it because central Ohio has the world's best
restaurants? Is it because TV stars go? Does Tom Brady
hop a jet, land in Ohio for the Thursday event, and fly back
in time for Patriots practice to deflate a few footballs?
Clearly not. The Little Brown Jug works and continues to
work because it is 100% pure, driven, harness racing.
What in heaven's name drives horsemen to truck all the
way to Charlottetown, PEI for the Gold Cup and Saucer,
anyway? Why do fans look forward to it each year? It can't
be the purse or the quality of the race, it's only $60,000. It
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• 5/17/15 PAGE 8 of 19
can't be for the museums or Broadway plays. Why is it
such a huge event? Again, it's harness racing.
Harness racing is small town. It's Midwestern-type
values. It's a wake at dawn, kick back at lunch with a
sandwich crowd. It rewards and respects a day's hard work
for a day's pay. The biggest celebrity we'll see at the Jug or
on Gold Cup and Saucer day (minus Heather Vitale, of
course) is a lady who won the homemade jam contest and
4H Club category winners. Harness racing and the Jug or
the Gold Cup and Saucer is not like, nor will it ever be like
the Kentucky Derby.
Harness racing needs to be cognizant of its triggers.
When selling to potential sponsors there's no use calling
Netjets, Grey Goose vodka or Godiva chocolates. Fazoli's,
Budweiser and Ford are more than fine. When showing the
races there's little need to find celebrities and hoodwink
anyone. Interviewing a lady from suburban Harrisburg and
asking her who she likes in the fourth is probably the way
to go. While after the Kentucky Derby a former Governor
or captain of industry gets interviewed about their winning
charge, in harness you're probably asking Phil or Susan, a
couple of people who took a shot at a $14,000 yearling with
friends, the questions.
All of those are positive harness racing triggers. It's who
the sport is. It's an asset to run to it and a mistake to run
away from it.
Triggers cannot only be used by marketing departments
to brand the sport correctly, they can also be used to help a
track get noticed in other ways.
Western Fair in London, Ontario has been growing their
handle and brand a little bit of late. We've mentioned in this
column how $700,000 handles have been reached this
year. For a small track half-mile track which rarely broke
$200,000 in handle five years ago, it's pretty impressive.
Greg Blanchard and the team have done things a little
differently and an example of that is the Super High Five.
Last week, after a small carryover, the (15% takeout; much
lower than their other bets) Super High Five pool in race
seven was $55,000. The win pool the same race was
$2,637. The Super High Five at Western Fair has been,
and is being branded. The regular pools are some of the
highest on the card, and if there's a carryover - no matter
how small - fans and bettors flock to get a piece. This little
track in London is getting known throughout harness racing
in North America as the place to play 20 cent Super High
Five tickets. That's beginning to look like their trigger.
Balmoral Park is another example of a positive trigger.
Years ago the Chicago area oval cut takeout on their pick 4
bet to 15% from 25% and began a long journey of
promoting this "Pick 4-Balmoral-harness racing" link. After
starting very slowly the pick 4 pools grew from $5,000 or
$6,000, to $8,000, then a few years later to over $20,000
per night. We've seen a 400% increase in a bet, and it
comes from, me, you or anyone else seeing a Balmoral
pick 4 upcoming on a simo screen, and getting a positive
trigger. We know we'll probably get value and pool size for
that bet so we bet. In 2015 it's something to play, while in
2010 it was something we ignored.
Does your track have a quality or bet that offers wagering
value? Do you own something that others do not to make it
stand out? Are you in marketing in harness racing and have
to create a new plan to entice people to come to the track?
Remember to ask yourself about its trigger. If it fits with the
overall harness racing brand, you're probably already half
way there.
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ACCEPTING SUPPLEMENTS
Preferred Equine is now accepting entries for the
supplemental catalog for the Meadowlands Spring
Mixed Sale. Racehorses & 2YOs. (914) 773-7777
P.O. Box 2200 • Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510 • www.preferredequine.com
Back and Forth Between Gural on a Fan on Bob
Bongiorno Situation
With all due respect, please explain who you let Bob
Bongiorno train a horse race at you track given his recent
positive test and 30 day suspension? You cannot have it
both ways. When you ban some which I agree with you but
now you select to allow one to race and it undermines you.
You will not see another penny from me until your explain
to my satisfaction.
Regards,
Jack Johnston
Boston, MA
I met with Bob Bongiorno and my investigator also met
with him. His explanation is that the horse was sick and
had a fever and that is why the horse had a small overage
in the black box. He told us he was going to appeal the
decision. It has been our policy in situations like this to wait
for the appeal process to be complete before we take any
action. We have done that as it relates to several other
trainers and Mr. Bongiorno is not receiving any special
treatment. I assure you that we will take appropriate action
once the appeal process is complete.
Jeff Gural
Dear Jeff,
I sincerely appreciate your response and to be honest I
knew you would respond. You always step out and respond
like respectable gentleman do. Thank you. I would however
say that I believe in your fight against what is quickly killing
our sport, but believe you are being a bit inconsistent here.
Mr. B has been banished in the past for cheating. You
should have zero tolerance for him as he stains the sport
we both love. Does a leopard change his spots? I suspect
not. I will however go back to my favorite track simply due
HarnessRacingUpdate.com
• 5/17/15 PAGE 9 of 19
to your response. Now let’s both for once enjoy Mission
Brief this weekend and cherish the sport for what it should
be.
Wishing increased handle !
Jack Johnston
Thanks let's see what happens with the appeal. We
expect him to lose but you never know. If you are at the
track this weekend stop by to say hello.
Jeff Gural
Still Wondering Why Palone is Allowed to Kick?
In my April 5th letter to HRU, various items were detailed
concerning the favoritism shown to Mr Palone which
included his kicking activities.
In Jan. 2014, Scott Egger (Presiding Judge at the
Meadows) provided to all drivers and trainers a new set of
guidelines that were to be strictly enforced. One of those
items were kicking and feet out of the stirrup penalties and
fines. During 2014, numerous kicking violations were noted
and sent by email to the Meadows judges asking for
clarification. In Nov. 2014, George Crawford (Executive
Director of Racing in Pa) also came out with another set of
guidelines pertaining to kicking and feet out of the stirrup
penalties and fines. The kicking activities for Mr. Palone did
not change in 2014 nor have they in 2015. Numerous
phone calls have been made to Mr Crawford. In each
instance he was unavailable or busy, for whatever reason.
Posters and placards were posted in the race paddock at
the Meadows (early 2015) with clear and distinct wording
by the Pa. Race Commission concerning kicking and feet
out of the stirrups.
Again, Mr Palone had no regard for the rules or
guidelines, or should we say "for the integrity of the game".
The same can now be said of the judges at the Meadows,
and Jonathan Newman. Why ?
At this time, my concern is this: If judges cannot perform
their sworn duties as the Pa. Code of Rules states how can
a judge be transferred. I quote from Chapter 183.55, "any
official may be fined, suspended or his license may be
denied or revoked at any time for incompetency, failure to
follow or enforce the provisions of this part, or any conduct
detrimental to the sport". It is then continued in Chapter
183.60, "the presiding judge shall enforce the rules and
regulations of the Commission and shall render daily
reports of the activities and conduct of such race meetings
to the Commission. The presiding judge shall have
supervision over all other licensed race officials".
Since that time I have come to learn that Mr Egger is
being transferred to Chester (to fill an open position there)
and the Meadows Presiding Judge position will soon be
filled.
Jonathan Newman (Pa Harness Racing Commission
Chairman) has not provided any responses to my emails
that he has been copied on during 2014 and 2015.
On Derby Day, I was sitting with two prominent drivers
concerning performance enhancing activities. One of those
would be PEDs (performance enhancing drugs), the other
would be PEF (performance enhancing feet) as we called
it. In my opinion, when the feet are used, the horse, trainer
and driver along with the owner are to be placed
accordingly in the race.
I did not write the guidelines, nor hang the posters in the
race paddock at the Meadows. All I am asking is that all
judges perform their just duties. So again I ask, why cannot
judges perform those duties at the Meadows?
When speaking with other race commissions, it was very
clear that Mr. Palone's feet activities would not be tolerated.
Those commissions entertained my concerns and we
always had a pleasant conversation.
Should be quite interesting to see how Mr. Egger
performs his duties at Chester, along with how the new
Presiding Judge at the Meadows handles Mr. Palone's
kicking.
The game will never be perfect, but major improvement is
needed. Harness racing’s woes are caused and created
from within. Harness racing, and its powers that be, must
be held accountable for their lack of leadership and their
inability to enforce the rules as written.
Moving judges to new locations does not help anyone. It
only prolongs the pain and agony.
Thank you - Daniel Wilson
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and fill out the free subscription form.
HarnessRacingUpdate.com
• 5/17/15 PAGE 10 of 19
Why Brandywine, Liberty Bell, Garden State Bit The
Dust
Re. your article on the defunct Brandywine, Liberty Bell
and Garden State: very interesting article and pictures. Re.
Brandywine, the upscale homes you wrote of and
photographed were, in fact, where the east end of the
parking lot, used mostly on big days, and a training track
sat. Where the grandstand and racetrack sat is now a mall,
one of the mall parking lots and a few administrative
buildings. As for the lake (water retention pool) in your
photo, that is, in fact, 300-500 feet or more east/north east
of where the Big B's beautiful infield lake sat. Supposedly,
the fountains which operate on the Naamans Road
entrance to the property (south border) are powered by the
same two pumps that were in the track's infield lake.
Pertaining to why the tracks closed, the advent of the
state lotteries and the opening of the Atlantic City casinos
pulled away the low end and high end bettors, respectively.
One big cause of the demise of both Brandywine and
Liberty Bell was the opening of the Meadowlands in
September, 1976. That skimmed off much of the best
equine talent and some of the driving talent. Lastly,
Brandywine and Liberty Bell no longer formed a circuit
based on compromised dates; this was due to the
Philadelphia and PA state politicians requiring that Liberty
Bell race some insane number of dates to qualify for lower
taxes--thus keep at work the many Liberty Bell employees,
quite a few of whom were very rude, who often had political
connections. Does the glut of racing dates sound familiar to
the situation today in the Northeast
Billy Waters
People Misunderstood Skolnick
Unless I am wrong, and I often have been, the
understanding of Mitchel Skolnick's article was almost
entirely missed by those responding. I am close to certain
that Mitchel's intent was satirical.
I haven't discussed this with him, but knowing the
individual that he I believe that I understand where he is
coming from. I cannot help but think that he was speaking
entirely with tongue in cheek.
Murray Brown
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Sunday at Flamboro Downs
10th Race, Pace. $226,575 Confederation Cup
Post Horse
1 Ideal Cowboy
2 Big Boy Dreams
3 National Debt
4 Nirvana Seelster
5 All Bets Off
6 Limelight Beach
7 Bettorever
8 Lets Drink On It
9 Somewhere Fancy
Sire
American Ideal
If I Can Dream
Allamerican Native
Camluck
Bettor’s Delight
Somebeachs’where
Bettor’s Delight
Art Official
Somebeachs’where
Trainer/Driver
Bamond/Tetrick
Allard/Filion
Fellows/Christoforou
Budd/Jamieson
Burke/Kakaley
Burke/Gingras
Bamond/Callahan
Seekmna/Davis
Mehlenbacher/McNair
For TrackMaster pps for the Confederation Cup click here.
For all other pps go to www.trackmaster.com
A Turn of Good Luck Could Give Billy Davis Jr.
the Biggest Win of His Career
Billy Davis Jr. never expected to be driving in the
Confederation Cup at
Flamboro Downs, let alone
driving one of the top horses in
the race. Sometimes it pays to
be in the right place at the
right time.
On the afternoon of the
Confederation Cup elims
Billy Davis Jr.
Davis was sitting at home,
thinking he would be watching
the stakes elims on TV in the driver's room. And then the
phone rang. Tyler Smith, the regular driver of Lets Drink On
It, was not able to get to Flamboro and trainer Tina
Seekman was suddenly without a driver.
"I was just sitting at home and got a phone call, probably
around 2:30 from them and they said there problem with
Tyler coming across the border," Davis said. "I still don't
know what the problem was. I just got lucky to get the
drive. I don't know why they thought of me. I'm just happy
that they did."
Davis is second in the standings at Flamboro but hasn't
gotten many chances to drive top horses or in major races.
In terms of both purse money and prestige, the
Confederation Cup would be the biggest win of the 28
year-old's career. And it very well could happen. The son of
Art Official could not have been more impressive in his
elimination race. Sixth early, he blasted by his rivals
approaching the final turn and drew off to win by five
lengths in 1:51.4. With Davis steering the horse to victory
Seekman decided to let him keep the mount for the final.
"It's safe to say that he's easily the best horse I've ever
driven," Davis said. "He was absolutely incredible and he
(continued on next page)
HarnessRacingUpdate.com
• 5/17/15 PAGE 11 of 19
gave me goose bumps when I moved him. I didn't want to
move him as early as I did but he swelled up on Corey
Callahan's helmet and felt absolutely incredible and as
soon as I showed him any air at all he took right off on me.
Those are two very good horses that he passed and he
was three deep on the turn doing it."
The problem tonight is that he drew the eight post on a
half-mile track. But Davis said he believes the horse has
the ability to sit early and win it again with an off-the-pace
trip.
"We're probably going to get away further back, but he's
a nice horses and there's a lot of speed in the race and I
think it could set up for him," Davis said. "That would be the
way I hope it works out, I get away sixth or seventh and
have some cover. He acts like he can leave but looking
back at his lines it doesn't look like he can get away that
well. I don't want to put myself in a bad spot and gun out of
there and end up getting parked or stung in the first quarter.
I want to get away in a half decent spot and grab some
cover."
The Confederation Cup has returned after a two-year
absence and is for 4-year-olds only. Considering the draw,
All Bets Off might be the horse to beat. He won the other
elim (in 1:50.4) and drew post five for tonight. Matt Kakaley
will drive the son of Bettor's Delight for Ron Burke. Burke
also has Limelight Beach in the race, but he finished a
distant fourth behind Lets Drink On It last week as the 3-5
favorite. Gingras, who also drove All Bets Off last week, is
sticking with Limelight Beach.
10, HoP, $21,000, P, Invitational (N/W $16,000 in last 5
starts (n/w last 3 allow $5,000) draw inside), 26.2, 55.0,
1:23.2, 1:51.2, GD
1-Nitro (g, 5, Charley Barley--Deferred Comp, by
Towner's Big Guy), $5,500 2011 HOOSIER O-Burke
Racing Stable LLC & Weaver Bruscemi LLC & Frank D
Baldachino & Christine S Hecht. B-Faron D Parr. T-Ron
Burke. D-Peter Wrenn, $10,500, Lifetime Record:
74-16-11-12, $240,816
To watch the race replay click here
Tune in to the Bob Heyden Report for the best in
harness racing talk, every Saturday at 10:15 a.m.
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DOWN THE STRETCH
every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eastern
1, M, $20,000, P, NEW JERSEY SIRE STAKES 3 Year Old
Fillies 1st Leg, M, 27.2, 56.1, 1:23.3, 1:51.0, FT
1-Lindys Old Lady (f, 3, Rocknroll Hanover--Lindy's
Bandita, by Bettor's Delight) O-Lindy Farms Of Conn.
B-Lindy Farms Of Conn. T-Frank Antonacci. D-Tim Tetrick,
$10,000, Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $9,200
2-Cheyenne Robin (f, 3, Rocknroll Hanover--Cheyenne
Margie, by Western Hanover), $30,000 2013 SHS-HBG
O-The Cheyenne Gang LLC. B-G.R.J. Partners LLC & Eli
Oxenhorn. T-Robert Siegelman. D-Scott Zeron, $5,000
3-Wicked Little Minx (f, 3, Rocknroll Hanover--Beachy
Lady, by Jenna's Beach Boy), $50,000 2013 SHS-HBG
O-Courant A B, SD. B-Perretti Farms. T-Nancy Johansson.
D-Brett Miller, $2,400
Calls: 1H, 1T, 1T, 3Q, 2H - Finish Order: Crescent City,
The Show Returns, Smart Zone, Fashion Rocker
To watch the race replay click here
2, M, $20,000, P, NEW JERSEY SIRE STAKES 3 Year Old
Fillies 1st Leg, M, 27.4, 56.1, 1:23.4, 1:50.4, FT
1-Happiness (f, 3, Rocknroll Hanover--Panevolence, by
Artsplace), $12,000 2013 SHS-HBG O-Burke Racing
Stable LLC & Weaver Bruscemi LLC. B-Vieux Carre Farms.
T-Ron Burke. D-Yannick Gingras, $10,000, Lifetime
Record: 8-4-0-1, $57,765
2-Stacia Hanover (f, 3, Western Ideal--Stolly Up Bluechip,
by Art Major), $35,000 2013 SHS-HBG O-David L Van
Dusen & Michael J Cimaglio. B-Hanover Shoe Farms Inc.
T-Steve Elliott. D-Scott Zeron, $5,000
3-Hollyrocker (f, 3, Rocknroll Hanover--Classic Star, by
Cam's Card Shark), $32,000 2013 SHS-HBG O-Robert L
Hamather, CA. B-Perretti Farms. T-Larry Remmen. D-Brett
Miller, $2,400
Calls: 1H, 1H, 1H, 2H, 1Q - Finish Order: Quick Aint Fair,
Lissan, New Joez, Strut My Stuff
To watch the race replay click here
4, M, $20,000, P, NEW JERSEY SIRE STAKES 3 Year Old
Colts & Geldings 1st Leg, M, 27.3, 55.0, 1:22.1, 1:49.0, FT
1-Artspeak (c, 3, Western Ideal--The Art Museum, by
Artsplace), $100,000 2013 LEX-SEL O-Brittany Farms &
Marvin Katz, CA & Joe Sbrocco & In The Gym Partners.
B-Brittany Farms & Melvin Hartman, CA. T-Tony Alagna.
D-Scott Zeron, $10,000, Lifetime Record: 10-8-0-2, $742,185
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Hosted by Dave Johnson and Bill Finley
Call in with your questions to 866-900-6451
For SIRIUS/XM radio go to www.siriusxm.com
2-Gokudo Hanover (g, 3, Cam's Card Shark--Gifted
Yankee, by Western Hanover), $17,000 2013 SHS-HBG
O-Sandbur Farms & Valarie E Sutton & Joseph A
Hemingway. B-Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. T-Douglas
Hamilton. D-John Campbell, $5,000
HarnessRacingUpdate.com
• 5/17/15 PAGE 12 of 19
3-Dealt A Winner (g, 3, Cam's Card Shark--Lazan
Hanover, by Matt's Scooter), $35,000 2013 SHS-HBG
O-Jeffrey S Snyder. B-Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. T-Edward
Hart. D-David Miller, $2,400
Calls: 4H, 1, 1H, 1H, 3H - Finish Order: Mohawk Warrior,
Western Pioneer, Badix Hanover, Mitt Jagger, Too Darn Hot
To watch the race replay click here
6, M, $25,000, P, N/W $20,000 in Last 5 Starts AE: 4 Year
Olds AE: N/W $22,750 in Last 5 Starts or in 2015 Drawn
Outside, M, 27.2, 55.1, 1:22.4, 1:49.1, FT
1-Great Vintage (h, 7, American Ideal--Art's Vintage, by
Artsplace), $65,000 2009 LEX-SEL O-Christina Takter &
John D Fielding, CA & Goran N Anderberg, SD & Goran C
Falk. B-Brittany Farms & Brian P Monieson Revtrust.
T-Jimmy Takter. D-David Miller, $12,500, Lifetime Record:
93-26-18-9, $705,608
To watch the race replay click here
7, M, $183,650, T, ARTHUR J. CUTLER MEMORIAL TVG
FINAL, M, 26.4, 55.2, 1:23.4, 1:51.2, FT
1-Bee A Magician (m, 5, Kadabra--Beehive, by Balanced
Image), $90,000 2011 SHS-HBG O-Melvin Hartman, CA &
Herb A Liverman & David H Mc Duffee. B-White Birch
Farm. T-R. Nifty Norman. D-Brian Sears, $87,235, Lifetime
Record: 49-33-7-3, $2,781,270
2-Wind Of The North (g, 5, Cantab Hall--Talk To The
Wind, by Pine Chip), $5,000 2011 SHS-HBG O-Daryl Scott
Bier & Joann Dombeck. B-Quantum Farms Corp. T-Daryl
Bier. D-David Miller, $43,617
3-Melady's Monet (g, 6, Revenue S--Keystone Melady, by
Keystone Smothers) O-Melady Enterprises LLC. B-Luca &
Ester Balenzano. T-Kevin Mc Dermott. D-John Campbell,
$20,936
Calls: 4Q, 1Q, 1H, 2H, 2 - Finish Order: Appomattox,
Opening Night, Dw's Ny Yank, Lindy's Tru Grit, Master Of
Law, Expressive Action, Market Share
To watch the race replay click here
HRU Race Criteria
The race results contained in Harness Racing Update:
North American races with a purse value of $20,000 and over
and American-bred and sired winners of significant races
abroad. Stakes races with a purse value of $60,000 and over
are previewed in HRU.
9, M, $20,000, P, NEW JERSEY SIRE STAKES 3 Year Old
Colts & Geldings 1st Leg, M, 27.1, 55.3, 1:23.2, 1:50.0, GD
1-Hurrikane Ali (c, 3, Rocknroll Hanover--She's The
Greatest, by Dexter Nukes), $63,000 2013 LEX-SEL
O-Kuhen Racing LLC & Jonathan Klee Racing & Dr
Kenneth M Rucker MD & Robert P Pucila. B-Emerald
Highlands Farm. T-John McDermott Jr.. D-Yannick
Gingras, $10,000, Lifetime Record: 6-1-3-0, $45,575
2-Rock N' Roll World (c, 3, Rocknroll Hanover--Worldly
Beauty, by Artsplace), $125,000 2013 SHS-HBG
O-Jeffrey S Snyder & Three Decades Ra LLC. B-Mjg
Racing Stables Inc & Hill View Enterprises. T-Mark Silva.
D-Brian Sears, $5,000
3-Rock Of The Ages (g, 3, Rocknroll Hanover--Galleria, by
Artsplace) O-J L Benson Stables Inc. B-Fashion Farms
LLC. T-Nick Surick. D-Brett Miller, $2,400
Calls: 1Q, 1H, 1Q, 2H, 2 - Finish Order: Edward Teach,
Gratian Hanover, Rollin Ring Afire, Touch Of Luck, Rooster
Rabbit, Revenge Shark
To watch the race replay click here
11, M, $50,000, P, TVG PACE Free For All, M, 27.3, 54.4,
1:21.2, 1:48.4, SY
1-Jk Endofanera (h, 4, Art Major--Presidential Lady, by
Presidential Ball) O-3 Brothers Stables. B-3 Brothers
Stables. T-Ron Burke. D-Yannick Gingras, $25,000,
Lifetime Record: 27-14-8-2, $1,475,885
2-Modern Legend (g, 7, Modern Art--Ruby Cam, by
Camluck) O-Dave Drew Associates Inc, CA. B-Dave Drew
Associates Inc, CA. T-David Drew. D-James Macdonald,
$12,500
3-Doo Wop Hanover (h, 4, Rocknroll Hanover--Deer
Valley Miss, by Artsplace), $52,000 2012 SHS-HBG
O-Peter R Blood & Rick Berks. B-Hanover Shoe Farms Inc.
T-Steve Elliott. D-John Campbell, $6,000
Calls: 1H, Q, 4Q, 3, NS - Finish Order: Dovuto Hanover,
Wake Up Peter, Warrawee Needy
To watch the race replay click here
7, Moh, $34,000, P, PREFERRED. 26.4, 55, 1:22.4, 1:49.4
1-State Treasurer (br,h,6 - Real Desire-Ideal Treasure Western Ideal) O-Sally A Macdonald, Paul G Macdonald
B-Brittany Farms T-Dr. Ian Moore D-Chris Christoforou
$17,000 Lifetime Record: 74-22-12-7 $982,420
To watch the race replay click here
HarnessRacingUpdate.com
• 5/17/15 PAGE 13 of 19
3, ScD, $20,000, P, OPEN II POST POSITIONS DRAWN,
26.4, 56.4, 1:24.4, 1:52.2, SY
1-Bettor's Choice (g, 6, Bettor's Delight--Madura, by
Ball And Chain), $90,000 2010 LEX-SEL O-Russ
Mignano. B-Claude Gendreau Stb Inc. T-Karen Tkaczyk.
D-Dan Noble, $10,000, Lifetime Record: 108-20-22-14,
$138,822
To watch the race replay click here
7, ScD, $25,000, P, OPEN I POST POSITIONS DRAWN,
27.0, 54.4, 1:21.1, 1:49.3, SY
1-Mykindachip (g, 6, Art's Chip--Figmental, by Precious
Bunny) O-Carl L Atley. B-John R Miller. T-Danny
Dubeansky. D-Jason Brewer, $12,500, Lifetime Record:
93-27-14-13, $439,047
To watch the race replay click here
1, PcD, $56,442, P, Pennsylvania Sire Stakes 3 Year Old
Colts & Geldings 1st Division of 4, 26.3, 55.3, 1:23.1, 1:51.0, FT
1-Mcardles Lightning (r, 3, McArdle--Winning Venture,
by Jate Lobell) O-Lightning Stable. B-Lightning Stable.
T-Steve Elliott. D-Anthony Napolitano, $28,221, Lifetime
Record: 14-6-2-3, $181,207
2-Cooperstown (c, 3, Four Starzzz Shark--American
Charm, by American Ideal), $25,000 2013 LEX-SEL
O-Burke Racing Stable LLC & Weaver Bruscemi LLC &
Keith J Pippi & Michelle L Yanek. B-Brittany Farms. T-Ron
Burke. D-Jim Morrill Jr, $14,110
3-Amora Beach (g, 3, Somebeachsomewhere--Amora
Hanover, by Western Ideal), $100,000 2013 LEX-SEL
O-Menary Racing Inc, CA & Brad D Gray, CA & Michael A
Guerriero, CA. B-Garth S Bechtel, CA. T-David Menary.
D-Simon Allard, $6,773
Calls: 4, 5, 1Q, NS, 3Q - Finish Order: Tomy Terror, Lyons
Levi Lewis, Chaching Hanover, Trading Up
To watch the race replay click here
2, PcD, $30,000, T, Open, 27.3, 57.3, 1:25.2, 1:53.1, FT
1-Classic Martine (m, 5, Classic Photo--Drinking Days,
by Andover Hall) O-Hauser Bros Rcng Ent LLC & Susan
M Oakes & Conrad E Zurich & Edwin J Gold. B-Todd M &
Christine L Schadel. T-Chris Oakes. D-Geo. Napolitano Jr,
$15,000, Lifetime Record: 48-23-13-5, $1,039,636
2-Classicality (g, 5, Classic Photo--Penn Worthy Lane, by
Lindy Lane) O-Dunn Stable. B-Dunn Stable. T-Lisa
Dunn-Adams. D-Brian Zendt, $7,500
3-Shake It Cerry (m, 4, Donato Hanover--Solveig, by
Yankee Glide) O-Solveig's Racing Partners. B-Solveig's
Breeders. T-Jimmy Takter. D-Jimmy Takter, $3,600
Calls: 1H, 1Q, 1H, 5, 3H - Finish Order: Tag Up And Go,
Zooming, Dancehall Mistress, Wisenheimer, Sim Brown
To watch the race replay click here
3, PcD, $56,442, P, Pennsylvania Sire Stakes 3 Year Old
Colts & Geldings 2nd Division of 4, 26.3, 55.4, 1:23.0,
1:51.4, FT
1-Lost For Words (c, 3, Well Said--Thou Shalt Not, by
Real Desire), $50,000 2013 LEX-SEL O-Country Club
Acres Inc & William J Robinson & Richard M Lombardo &
Strollin Stable. B-Lindwood Farm. T-Brian Brown. D-Jim
Morrill Jr, $28,221, Lifetime Record: 15-7-1-3, $237,007
2-Allbeef N Nobull (c, 3, McArdle--She Likes It All, by The
Big Dog), $5,000 2013 WALKER O-Donald J Emond.
B-Perretti Farms. T-Monte Gelrod. D-Simon Allard, $14,110
3-Cardiac Fashion (g, 3, Well Said--Where The Heart Is,
by Abercrombie) O-J M F Racing LLC. B-Fashion Farms
LLC. T-Gilbert Garcia-Herrera. D-Geo. Napolitano Jr,
$6,773
Calls: 1Q, 1Q, 1H, 4, 1H - Finish Order: Lyons Again, Pv
Coming Home, Kona Kid, R N Nate
To watch the race replay click here
5, PcD, $56,442, P, Pennsylvania Sire Stakes 3 Year Old
Colts & Geldings 3rd Division of 4, 26.1, 55.3, 1:22.2, 1:51.3, SY
1-Rise Up Now (g, 3, Somebeachsomewhere Northwestern, by Western Hanover), $40,000 2013
SHS-HBG O-Strollin Stable & King Mcnamara & William J
Robinson & Country Club Acres Inc. B-Hanover Shoe
Farms Inc. T-Brian Brown. D-Simon Allard, $28,221,
Lifetime Record: 12-6-0-0, $66,525
2-Blood Brother (g, 3, Somebeachsomewhere--Blood
Diamond, by Western Ideal) O-Diamond Creek Racing &
J&T Silva Stables, LLC. B-Diamond Creek Farm LLC &
Exquisite Farms. T-Jimmy Takter. D-Jim Morrill Jr, $14,110
3-Rufo (c, 3, Dragon Again--My Little Artist, by Real Artist),
$77,000 2013 SHS-HBG O-Burke Racing Stable LLC &
Weaver Bruscemi LLC & Matthew Don Kakaley. B-White
Birch Farm. T-Ron Burke. D-Matt Kakaley, $6,773
Calls: 5H, 2, 1H, 1H, 1H - Finish Order: Colorful Speech,
Affluenza, Cams Fernando, Joe Hill
To watch the race replay click here
6, PcD, $22,000, P, NW $21,500 in Last 5 Starts AE: NW 9
Ext. PM Races or $90,000 Lifetime, 26.1, 55.2, 1:23.0, 1:50.4, SY
1-Dynamic Youth (g, 6, Bettor's Delight--Always True,
by Western Hanover), $85,000 2010 SHS-HBG O-J&T
Silva Stables, LLC & Kenneth R Tucci & C&G Racing
Stable. B-Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. T-Aaron Lambert.
D-Anthony Napolitano, $11,000, Lifetime Record:
73-23-13-8, $971,207
To watch the race replay click here
HarnessRacingUpdate.com
• 5/17/15 PAGE 14 of 19
8, PcD, $30,000, P, Open, 26.0, 54.1, 1:21.4, 1:49.3, SY
1-Alexa's Jackpot (g, 5, Million Dollar Cam--Michelle's
Jackpot, by Artsplace) O-Marty W Fine, CA & Highland
Thoroughbred Frm, CA. B-Jeffrey S Snyder. T-Marty Fine.
D-Geo. Napolitano Jr, $15,000, Lifetime Record:
57-12-13-10, $245,811
2-Domethatagain (h, 6, Bettor's Delight--Road Sign, by
Life Sign), $67,000 2010 LEX-SEL O-Allard Racing Inc, CA
& Robert L Hamather, CA & Bruce A Soulsby. B-White
Birch Farm. T-Rene Allard. D-Simon Allard, $7,500
3-Clear Vision (g, 9, Western Hanover--Artistic Vision, by
Artsplace), $180,000 2007 LEX-SEL O-Burke Racing
Stable LLC & Weaver Bruscemi LLC & The Panhellenic Stb
Corp & James A Koran. B-Steve H Stewart & Charles &
Julie R & Francene Nash. T-Ron Burke. D-Matt Kakaley,
$3,600
Calls: 2, 1Q, 2, 2, 1Q - Finish Order: To Beach His Own,
Adventure Bound, Quik Jolt, Scott Rocks, Major Uptrend, Pop Cop
To watch the race replay click here
10, PcD, $56,842, P, Pennsylvania Sire Stakes 3 Year Old
Colts & Geldings 4th Division of 4, 27.0, 57.0, 1:24.4,
1:52.0, SY
1-Wakizashi Hanover (g, 3, Dragon Again--Western
Gesture, by Western Hanover), $23,000 2013 SHS-HBG
O-Tri County Stable, CA. B-Hanover Shoe Farms Inc.
T-Joann Looney-King. D-Jim Morrill Jr, $28,421, Lifetime
Record: 9-5-3-0, $155,510
2-Yankee Bounty (g, 3, Yankee Cruiser--Bootleg Yankee,
by Allamerican Native), $21,000 2013 SHS-HBG O-Yankee
Bounty Partnership & Frank E Chick. B-Charles E Keller III.
T-Ron Burke. D-Matt Kakaley, $14,210
3-Dragon Eddy (g, 3, Dragon Again--Jaska Hanover, by
No Pan Intended), $42,000 2013 LEX-SEL O-William C
Wiswell & Jean A Goehlen & Eugene W Schick & Vip
Internet Stable LLC. B-Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. T-John
Butenschoen. D-Mike Simons, $6,821
Calls: 1Q, 1Q, 1Q, H, 1Q - Finish Order: My Hero Ron, Coal
Hanover, Asap Hanover, Paparazzi Hanover, Rich Wisdom
To watch the race replay click here
14, PcD, $22,000, T, NW $20,000 in Last 5 Starts AE: NW
9 Ext. PM Races or $90,000 Lifetime, 27.2, 56.4, 1:25.1,
1:53.3, SY
1-Razor Ramone (h, 4, Kadabra--Oaklea Rae, by Angus
Hall) O-Stephen J Iaquinta & William J Dittmar Jr. B-Mark
G Etsell, CA & Robert C Newton, CA & Chuan Chin Tan,
CA. T-Eric Ell. D-Anthony Napolitano, $11,000, Lifetime
Record: 35-9-7-6, $116,489
To watch the race replay click here
Brian Brown is "The Man" in PA Sire Stakes;
Classic Martine wins again
WILKES-BARRE, PA – To modify a Southern expression
to its current "home," trainer Brian Brown is “hotter’n a
two-dollar Pennsylvania pistol on a Saturday night.”
Trainer Brown, trainer of 2014 divisional and Jugette
champion Color’s A Virgin and a resident of Delaware OH,
may be having himself a two-day party late this September
at the famed half-miler, as he already has five different
Pennsylvania Sire Stakes-winning three-year-old pacing
horses, three fillies and now the two colts who continued
the hot trainer’s winning ways Saturday night at The Downs
at Mohegan Sun Pocono, being among the four winners in
the $226,168 first leg of their Sires action.
As the track turned “sloppy” for the fifth race Sires
division (Pocono is about 150 miles northeast of Baltimore
as the crow flies, and the Preakness rain started about two
hours before the storms hit northeast PA), Rise Up Now
remained undefeated in five outings this year, tucking in the
pocket down the back and then catching leader Blood
Brother in the stretch to post a 1½-length 1:51.3 over a
newly-christened “sloppy” track. Blood Brother had
snapped off splits of 26.1, 55.3, and 1:22.2, but the 53
usage in the odd-numbered quarters did not allow him to
hold off the Somewheresomebeach gelding and driver
Simon Allard, who piloted the Brown trainee for King
McNamara of Florida, the only non-Buckeye in the
ownership group which includes the Strollin Stable, William
Robinson, and Country Club Acres.
Brown is now two-for-two seasonally with the Well Said
colt Lost For Words, who reclaimed the lead down the
backstretch, opened up four lengths turning for home, then
held off the late charge of the game little Allbeef N Nobull to
win by 1½ lengths in 1:51.4 in the night’s second division,
when the track was still “fast.” Lost For Words, a finalist in
both the Governors Cup and Breeders Crown last year,
was driven by Jim Morrill Jr. for the three Ohioans who
share in Rise Up Now’s ownership and another Buckeye,
Richard Lombardo.
For years Brown has done very well in the Pennsylvania
program, but this year his numbers are only slightly short of
unbelievable. He’s perfect in five Pocono starts, and at The
Meadows he sports a 13-9-3-0 tally, for a Keystone State
total of 18-14-3-0 – which produces a mind-boggling state
UTR of .870!
McArdles Lightning teamed with driver Anthony
Napolitano to post a 6-1 upset in taking the first division,
coming from last at the half in the seven-horse field and
blitzing his own back two quarters in 54.2 to equal his
lifetime mark of 1:51. Steve Elliott conditions the McArdle
ridgling (double thoroughbred Triple Crown racewinner
American Pharoah is also a ridgling) for the Lightning
Stable.
In the final Sires heat, Wazikashi Hanover was a pocket
rocket in catching last year’s 2YO Sires champion, Yankee
Bounty, by 1¼ lengths, with the time on the sloppy track
1:52. Yankee Bounty overcame the outside “eight-ball” to
HarnessRacingUpdate.com
• 5/17/15 PAGE 15 of 19
post splits of 27, 57, and 1:24.4, but “Wazikashi,” a Dragon
Again gelding, was relentless and gained into the 27.1
kicker for trainer Joann Looney-King and the Tri County
Stable. Driver Jim Morrill Jr. joined trainer Brown as a
double winner in the Sires races.
Also on the Pocono Saturday card were two $30,000
Open events, one for each gait, which were carded in
anticipation of next Sunday’s $150,000 Invitationals to be
raced at the other track that Pennsylvania Harness
Horsemen’s Association services, Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Last year’s divisional champion Classic Martine will have
an interesting decision to make about “trying the boys” after
taking the $30,000 Open trot by 3½ lengths in 1:53.1 on a
fast track for driver George Napolitano Jr. and trainer Chris
Oakes. The daughter of Classic Photo, owned by Hauser
Brothers Racing Enterprises, Susan Oakes, Conrad Zurich,
and Ed Gold, made the lead in 27.3, “stole” a 30-second
second quarter, and then dashed home in successive 27.4
panels to defeat Classicality, with 2014 Trotter of the Year
Shake It Cerry coming from seventh at the half to claim
third, another length behind.
On the pacing side, Van Rose Memorial winner
Domethatagain and second-place Alexa’s Jackpot met
again, but this time, two weeks later, the post position
advantage was reversed (1-4, respectively, in the Rose to
8-3 Saturday), as was the result, with Alexa’s Jackpot
winning in 1:49.3 in the off going. Domethatagain motored
to the top in 26 flat from his next-to-outside starting berth
Saturday, but Alexa’s Jackpot was put on the move soon
thereafter by George Napolitano Jr., who took both Opens,
and posted splits of 54.1 and 1:21.4 en route to the
1¼-length triumph. Trainer Marty Fine shares ownership in
the winner with the Highland Thoroughbred Farm.
The week’s racing comes to an end at Pocono Sunday
night with four $20,000 divisions of the first leg of the
Pennsylvania Stallion Series for the three-year-old colts
and geldings. Many horses holding promise of developing
into good horses are in the Stallion events; one of the more
promising is Gallic Beach, making his first start of the year
but showing a half-length loss in 1:50.2 at Lexington last
fall. He’s a son of Somebeachsomewhere out of Western
Gallie, a daughter of Western Hanover whose dam is
Galleria and whose SBSW half-sister is double Breeders
Crown elim winner Galliebythebeach.
1, Mea, $48,316, T, *****STENOGRAPHER***** PA SIRE
STAKE - 3 YEAR OLD FILLY TROT 1ST OF 4 DIVISIONS,
27.2, 56.0, 1:24.3, 1:53.0, FT
1-Livininthefastlane (f, 3, Donato Hanover--Nicole's
Promise, by Dream Vacation), $80,000 2013 SHS-HBG
O-Marvin Katz, CA & Al J Libfeld, CA & Sam A Goldband,
CA. B-Concord Stud Farm LLC. T-Julie Miller. D-Andy
Miller, $24,158, Lifetime Record: 13-6-1-3, $312,221
2-Smexi (f, 3, Explosive Matter--Sanna Hanover, by
Yankee Glide), $35,000 2013 LEX-SEL O-Christina Takter
& John D Fielding, CA & Herb A Liverman & Jim H
Fielding, CA. B-Brittany Farms. T-Jimmy Takter. D-Dave
Palone, $12,079
3-Matter Hatter (f, 3, Explosive Matter--Queen Volo, by
Malabar Man) O-Pius J Soehnlen. B-White Birch Farm.
T-Jeff Cox. D-Mike Wilder, $5,797
Calls: H, 1H, 1H, 2H, NK - Finish Order: Scented Roses,
Osteo Blast, E L Love, Focus On Me
To watch the race replay click here
3, Mea, $48,316, T, *****STENOGRAPHER***** PA SIRE
STAKE - 3 YEAR OLD FILLY TROT 2ND OF 4
DIVISIONS, 28.2, 57.1, 1:26.3, 1:55.1, SY
1-Wild Honey (f, 3, Cantab Hall--U Wanna Lindy, by S
J's Photo), $35,000 2013 LEX-SEL O-Christina Takter &
John D Fielding, CA & Herb A Liverman & Jim H Fielding,
CA. B-Lindy Racing Stable. T-Jimmy Takter. D-Dave
Palone, $24,158, Lifetime Record: 13-11-1-0, $463,861
2-Sweet Thing (f, 3, Chocolatier--Berdine Hanover, by
Kadabra) O-Homer J Hochstetler & Robert J Buddig.
B-Connie J Hochstetler & Robert J Buddig. T-Homer
Hochstetler. D-David Miller, $12,079
3-Smokinmombo (f, 3, Explosive Matter--Horizontal
Mombo, by Malabar Man), $15,000 2013 SHS-HBG
O-Christopher F Beaver & Synerco Ventures Inc, CA &
James R Gallagher. B-White Birch Farm. T-Christopher
Beaver. D-Aaron Merriman, $5,797
Calls: 1H, 1H, 1H, 2, 1H - Finish Order: Oh My Darlin,
Sweet Shurga, Kirsi Hanover, Bee The Queen
To watch the race replay click here
4, Mea, $48,316, T, *****STENOGRAPHER***** PA SIRE
STAKE - 3 YEAR OLD FILLY TROT 3RD OF 4
DIVISIONS, 28.1, 56.4, 1:25.2, 1:54.4, SY
1-Sarcy (f, 3, Donato Hanover--Southwind Allaire, by
Valley Victory), $37,000 2013 LEX-SEL O-Christina Takter
& Oakwood Farms & John D & Jim H Fielding, CA. B-John
D Fielding, CA & David S Willmot, CA & Frederick W
Hertrich III. T-Jimmy Takter. D-Dave Palone, $24,158,
Lifetime Record: 16-3-4-2, $131,337
2-Sky Hanover (f, 3, Donato Hanover--Slow Dance
Hanover, by Conway Hall), $57,000 2013 SHS-HBG
O-Little E LLC & Westminster Road LLC & Banyan Farms.
B-Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. T-Julie Miller. D-Andy Miller,
$12,079
HarnessRacingUpdate.com
• 5/17/15 PAGE 16 of 19
3-Gatka Hanover (f, 3, Muscle Massive--Girlie Tough, by
Conway Hall), $40,000 2013 SHS-HBG
O-Burke Racing Stable LLC & Our Horse Cents Stables &
Tracy G Hendler & Weaver Bruscemi LLC. B-Hanover
Shoe Farms Inc. T-Ron Burke. D-Mike Wilder, $5,797
Calls: 3, 3, 1, 1, HD - Finish Order: Christine Sixteen, She
Glides, Old Money, Meadowbranch Wendy
To watch the race replay click here
8, Mea, $48,316, T, *****STENOGRAPHER***** PA SIRE
STAKE - 3 YEAR OLD FILLY TROT 4TH OF 4 DIVISIONS,
27.4, 57.2, 1:25.4, 1:55.2, SY
1-Magic Marker (f, 3, Andover Hall--Susie's Magic, by
Dream Vacation), $110,000 2013 SHS-HBG
O-Melvin Hartman, CA & Herb A Liverman & David H Mc
Duffee & Little E LLC. B-L&L Devisser LLC & William L
Jones. T-R. Nifty Norman. D-David Miller, $24,158, Lifetime
Record: 5-3-0-0, $38,858
2-Blessings Counted (f, 3, Muscle Massive--Winner
Springs, by American Winner) O-Richard C & Regina M
Beinhauer. B-Richard C & Regina M Beinhauer. T-Rick
Beinhauer. D-Dan Rawlings, $12,079
3-Lady Clarabella (f, 3, Lear Jetta--Jet By, by Andover
Hall) O-Paul W Kinnear & Dreamland Farms. B-Paul W
Kinnear. T-Randy Beeckman. D-Mike Wilder, $5,797
Calls: 6H, 6H, 4, 2, 2Q - Finish Order: Pad Princess,
Paolina Esplosiva, Wiclet Hanover, I'm So Fancy
To watch the race replay click here
Livininthefastlane Sets Stake Mark in Pass at
the Meadows
WASHINGTON, PA, May 16, 2015 — Livininthefastlane
beat the field — and a raging thunderstorm — Saturday at
The Meadows when she scored in a stake-record 1:53 in a
$193,364 Pennsylvania Sires Stake for 3-year-old filly
trotters.
The event, known as the Stenographer, was contested
over four divisions, with Wild Honey, Sarcy and Magic
Marker taking the other splits. Dave Palone and trainer
Jimmy Takter teamed for a pair of stake victories with Wild
Honey and Sarcy.
Livininthefastlane’s victory was hard earned. She was
looped from the gate and had to step lively for Andy Miller
to make the front in 27.2, then hold off the strong late
challenge of Smexi to down her by a neck. Matter Hatter
finished third. The time erased the old Stenographer mark
of 1:53.4 established by Maven in 2012.
“I didn’t want to use her quite that much early, but she
responded. She’s a good filly,” Miller said. “She’s grown up,
and she’s a lot easier to handle than she was last year. If
she has a little luck, she could have a very big year.”
Julie Miller trains Livininthefastlane, a daughter of Donato
Hanover-Nicole’s Promise who soared over $300,000 in
lifetime earnings, for Marvin Katz, Al Libfeld and Sam
Goldband. Andy Miller said Livininthefastlane likely will take
several weeks off before her next engagement.
Shortly after Livininthefastlane triumphed, a gully gusher
inundated the track, forcing a brief delay in the program
and costing Wild Honey any shot at breaking the new stake
record. Wild Honey, who won 10 of 12 starts and $439,703
at 2, was sharp nevertheless, quarter-poling to the lead and
winning geared down in 1:55.1. Sweet Thing was second,
1-1/2 lengths back, while Smokinmombo earned show.
“She’s awesome,” Palone said. “I’m just trying to get it
done as cheap as I can
this early in the season.
She finished well within
herself — just a
beautiful filly to drive.
She’s not a real big,
stout filly, but she’s as
quick as a cat and so
versatile.”
Christina Takter, John
Livininthefastlane (inside) sizzled Fielding, Herb Liverman
in 1:53 yesterday at The
and Jim Fielding
Meadows
campaign Wild Honey, a
daughter of Cantab
Hall-U Wanna Lindy.
Sarcy also quarter-poled to the front for Palone and
needed all her determination to thwart the first-over bid of
Sky Hanover, who fell a head short. Gatka Hanover
completed the ticket. A daughter of Donato
Hanover-Southwind Allaire, Sarcy triumphed in 1:54.4 for
owners Christina Takter, Oakwood Farms, John Fielding
and Jim Fielding.
“I had to use her twice,” Palone said, “but I really felt the
whole way through the stretch my filly would fight (Sky
Hanover) off. I was happy with her. That’s a good mile in
these conditions.”
5, VD, $30,450, P, NEW YORK SIRE STAKES 3 Year Old
Fillies - 1st Division Declaration Fee - $610, 27.0, 55.2,
1:23.0, 1:51.0, FT
1-Sassa Hanover (f, 3, Rock N Roll Heaven--Sayo
Hanover, by Allamerican Native), $50,000 2013 LEX-SEL
O-Burke Racing Stable LLC & The Panhellenic Stb Corp &
Weaver Bruscemi LLC & Lawrence R Karr. B-Hanover
Shoe Farms Inc. T-Ron Burke. D-Andrew McCarthy,
$15,225, Lifetime Record: 14-10-3-0, $500,816
2-Bossers Joy (f, 3, Art Major--Esther's Joy, by David's
Pass) O-Francis H Azur. B-Kentuckiana Farms Gen Par.
T-Kevin Mc Dermott. D-Gregory Merton, $7,612
3-Not Before Eight (f, 3, Bettor's Delight--Skinny Dip, by
Western Ideal), $9,000 2013 SHS-HBG O-Ernest W
Hartman. B-Robert A & Lauren B Tucker. T-Steve Elliott.
D-John Macdonald, $3,654
Calls: 3T, 2T, 1, 5, 5H - Finish Order: Mosquito Blue Chip,
Bin N Heaven, Luck Be A Lindy, Gweneeee J
To watch the race replay click here
HarnessRacingUpdate.com
• 5/17/15 PAGE 17 of 19
Vernon Downs - Race 5: The talented filly Sassa Hanover
kicked off her 3-year-old season with a bang last night at
Vernon. A Grand Circuit winner at 2, when she won nine of
13 starts, she annihilated New York sire stakes foes to win
this event by 5 ½ lengths. Andrew McCarthy drove for
trainer Ron Burke as regular pilot Yannick Gingras was at
the Meadowlands. Sent off as the 1-4 favorite, Sassa
Hanover pounced on the leaders on the backstretch from
fourth, took command after a half went in 55.2 and was
never again challenged. At 36-1, Bossers Joy nosed Not
Before Eight for the place. The victory took Sassa
Hanover's career earnings over the $500,000 mark.
6, VD, $31,050, P, NEW YORK SIRE STAKES 3 Year Old
Fillies - 2nd Division Declaration Fee - $610, 26.2, 54.1,
1:22.3, 1:51.0, FT
1-Bettorhaveanother (f, 3, Bettor's Delight--Katie My
Girl, by Real Artist) O-Kellogg Racing Stables LLC &
Janie Martin. B-Murray L Brethour, CA & Jeffery E Ruch,
CA & 30 Plus Stable, CA & David P Reid. T-Jackie Rousse.
D-Chris Lems, $15,525, Lifetime Record: 9-5-0-1, $34,402
2-Allthatjazz De Vie (f, 3, American Ideal--Todalu, by
Artsplace), $4,000 2013 SHS-HBG O-Burke Racing Stable
LLC & Weaver Bruscemi LLC. B-Joie De Vie Farm LLC.
T-Ron Burke. D-Andrew McCarthy, $7,762
3-Lady Spartacus (f, 3, Bettor's Delight--Lady's Secret, by
Artsplace), $25,000 2013 SHS-HBG O-Seth E Coen &
South Street Farm & George A & Theresa R Rath.
B-Congilose Racing Stb LLC & Peter Paul Venturini.
T-Linda Toscano. D-John Macdonald, $3,726
Calls: 6H, 5Q, 2T, 2, 3H - Finish Order: Heavenly Bride,
Bedroomconfessions, Single Me, Our Hot Majorette, Living History
To watch the race replay click here
Vernon Downs - Race 6: Coming off some good efforts in
open stakes races, Bedroomconfessions looked like the
one to beat in this spot and was made the 1-2 favorite. But
she tired in the lane after moving to the lead approaching
the three-quarters and finished fifth. Her subpar effort
helped the longshots take over this race as
Bettorhavenaother won for local driver Chris Lems at 10-1.
She finished 3 ½ lengths in front of 14-1 shot Allthatjazz De
Vie. Bettorhaveanother handled the jump in class after
winning an $8,300 overnight at Saratoga. She raced last
year in Canada for Murray Brethour but is now handled by
trainer Jackie Rousse.
7, VD, $30,450, P, NEW YORK SIRE STAKES 3 Year Old
Fillies - 3rd Division Declaration Fee - $610, 27.3, 57.1,
1:25.0, 1:51.3, FT
1-Bettor Be Steppin (f, 3, Bettor's Delight--Two Steppin'
Sally, by Western Hanover), $70,000 2013 SHS-HBG
O-Val D'Or Farms & Rojan Stables & Theodore Gewertz.
B-Frederick W Hertrich III. T-Joe Holloway. D-Corey
Callahan, $15,225, Lifetime Record: 15-6-2-4, $325,316
2-Heart Major (f, 3, Art Major--Ru Girl, by Big Rube),
$25,000 2013 SHS-HBG O-Dijo Racing Inc & Joe Pavia Jr
Stable Inc & Vincent Barbera & Steven M Held. B-Stephen
P Dey III. T-Joe Pavia Jr. D-Joe Pavia Jr, $7,612
3-Girlofyourdreams (f, 3, Bettor's Delight--Jk Majorette, by
Art Major), $8,000 2013 SHS-HBG O-The Wiz Kids Stable
LLC. B-3 Brothers Stables. T-W Bart Dalious. D-W Bart
Dalious, $3,654
Calls: 1Q, 1H, 1H, 2, 1H - Finish Order: Band Of Angels, A
Plus, Hipnumberone, Zip Code Envy
To watch the race replay click here
9, VD, $30,450, P, NEW YORK SIRE STAKES 3 Year Old
Fillies - 4th Division Declaration Fee - $610, 27.0, 55.4,
1:24.1, 1:52.1, FT
1-Moonlit Dance (f, 3, Art Major--Gone Dancing, by
Presidential Ball) O-David Goodrow Stable, CA. B-David
Goodrow Stable, CA. T-Tony Osullivan. D-Joe Pavia Jr,
$15,225, Lifetime Record: 13-3-4-2, $67,184
2-Devil Child (f, 3, American Ideal--Kattimon, by Astreos),
$27,000 2013 LEX-SEL O-Homer J Hochstetler & James B
Michels & South Of The Tracks Rac Inc. B-Winbak Farm.
T-Homer Hochstetler. D-Jimmy Whittemore, $7,612
3-Divine Caroline (f, 3, Rock N Roll Heaven--Loving
Caroline, by Art Major), $75,000 2013 SHS-HBG
O-Val D'Or Farms & Theodore Gewertz & Rojan Stables &
Michael A Ouriel. B-Diamond Creek Farm LLC. T-Joe
Holloway. D-Corey Callahan, $3,654
Calls: 4T, 2H, NS, 1H, NK - Finish Order: Bettor N Better,
Rock Me Gently, She's Heavenly, American Truth
To watch the race replay click here
Vernon Downs - Race 9: Bettor N Better seemed to have
this one won as she pulled clear in mid-stretch but she
weakened in the late going. That was good news for the
winner, Moonlit Dance. She collared Bettor N Better on the
far turn but couldn't keep up with the other filly. But driver
Joe Pavia Jr. persisted and Moonlit Dance had the sort of
second gear that Bettor N Better did not, and got the win.
Though obviously a New York-bred, prior to last night
Moonlit Dance had spent her entire career racing in Ontario
for trainer Tony O'Sullivan and owner-breeder David
Goodrow. Moonlight Dance won by a neck. Heavily favored
at 3-10, Divine Caroline finished right behind the top two in
third.
1, YR, $25,000, P, NON-WINNERS OF $25,000 IN LAST 6
STARTS, 27.2, 56.0, 1:23.3, 1:51.1, FT
1-Mcerlean (h, 6, McArdle--Igottwowordsforyou, by
Cam's Card Shark), $20,000 2010 SHS-HBG O-Muscara
Racing Trust. B-Perretti Farms. T-Darran Cassar. D-Tyler
Buter, $12,500, Lifetime Record: 99-19-11-16, $532,367
To watch the race replay click here
2, YR, $25,000, P, NON-WINNERS OF $25,000 IN LAST 6
STARTS, 27.1, 56.4, 1:25.2, 1:53.1, FT
HarnessRacingUpdate.com
• 5/17/15 PAGE 18 of 19
1-Texican N (g, 7, Bettor's Delight--Bury My Heart, by In
The Pocket) O-Harry von Knoblauch. B-Mrs M Carson, NZ.
T-Peter Tritton. D-Eric Carlson, $12,500, Lifetime Record:
78-22-11-8, $446,304
To watch the race replay click here
3, YR, $28,000, P, NON-WINNERS OF $32,000 IN LAST 6
STARTS, 27.3, 56.2, 1:23.4, 1:51.4, FT
1-Bj's Guy (g, 6, Towner's Big Guy--B J's Sunrise, by
No Nukes), $23,000 2010 HOOSIER O-Blindswitch Racing
Stable & David J Sebolsky & Stanley J Yoskowitz.
B-Genesis Trotters. T-Jose Godinez. D-Eric Carlson,
$14,000, Lifetime Record: 136-33-19-24, $501,517
To watch the race replay click here
4, YR, $25,000, P, NON-WINNERS OF $25,000 IN LAST 6
STARTS, 27.3, 57.2, 1:25.3, 1:53.3, FT
1-Hard To Mach (h, 6, Mach Three--Angel In Disguise,
by Camluck), $24,000 2010 FOREST O-William E
Emmons. B-Two Creeks Farm, CA & Michael Dockendorf.
T-Claude Faucher. D-Jordan Stratton, $12,500, Lifetime
Record: 101-14-19-16, $434,004
To watch the race replay click here
5, YR, $31,000, T, PREFERRED HANDICAP POST
POSITIONS 1-3 DRAWN POST POSITIONS 4-8
ASSIGNED, 28.0, 56.2, 1:25.3, 1:56.2, FT
1-Mugshot Jess (g, 8, Jailhouse Jesse--Photo Emmy,
by S J's Photo) O-Walter Gower. B-Fred E Morgan Jr.
T-Taylor Gower. D-Jordan Stratton, $15,500, Lifetime
Record: 160-22-25-23, $412,993
2-New York Muscle (g, 6, Muscles Yankee--Sandy
Britches, by Sand Chaser) O-Zmw Racing Corp & Joseph
P Vance. B-Zmw Racing Corp. T-Dennis J Laterza. D-Tyler
Buter, $7,750
3-Fort Valley As (g, 7, Tom Ridge--Caspian, by Baltic
Speed) O-Jennifer L Sabot. B-Acl Stuteri Inc. T-Jennifer
Sabot. D-Jason Bartlett, $3,720
Calls: 8H, 7T, 5, 5T, T - Finish Order: E R Ellie, Nf
Happenstance, Bouncing Bax, Walltocousins, Theraputic
To watch the race replay click here
6, YR, $42,000, T, OPEN HANDICAP POST POSITIONS
1-7 ASSIGNED, 27.3, 56.4, 1:25.3, 1:54.2, FT
1-Luminosity (g, 5, Cash Hall--Brighten My Way, by
Conway Hall) O-Burke Racing Stable LLC & Weaver
Bruscemi LLC. B-Antonia H Poklembo. T-Ron Burke.
D-George Brennan, $21,000, Lifetime Record:
78-22-14-12, $205,771
2-Obrigado (g, 5, Boy Band--Malimony, by Malabar Man)
O-Paul Kelley Racing Stable & Linwood M Higgins &
William B Weaver III & Stable 45. B-Michael D Andrew.
T-Paul Kelley. D-Mark Macdonald, $10,500
3-Il Mago (h, 6, Kadabra--Northern Style, by Earl)
O-J L Sadowsky LLC. B-Chris Alexander, CA. T-Robert
Bresnahan. D-Daniel Dube, $5,040
Calls: 1H, 2, 1H, 1H, 1Q - Finish Order: Dewycolorintheline,
Tweet Me, A Cool Million, Stan The Man
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7, YR, $28,000, P, NON-WINNERS OF $32,000 IN LAST 6
STARTS, 27.2, 56.0, 1:24.1, 1:52.1, FT
1-Panchester United (g, 5, No Pan Intended--Pan And
Teller, by Broadway Jate) O-Burke Racing Stable LLC &
Weaver Bruscemi LLC. B-Peter Pan Stables Inc. T-Ron
Burke. D-George Brennan, $14,000, Lifetime Record:
69-19-7-14, $128,134
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8, YR, $42,000, P, OPEN HANDICAP POST POSITIONS
1-3 ASSIGNED POST POSITIONS 4-8 DRAWN, 27.1,
56.4, 1:24.2, 1:52.4, FT
1-Big N Bad (g, 5, Badlands Hanover--Just Sassy, by
Northern Luck), $22,000 2011 ASHA O-Vincent J
Laurenzo. B-William E Andrew, CA. T-Jennifer Sabot.
D-Eric Carlson, $21,000, Lifetime Record: 78-26-14-11,
$353,699
2-The Real One (g, 5, Mach Three--Elle Blue Chip, by
Bettor's Delight) O-Helene Fillion, CA. B-R Berthiaume Inc,
CA. T-Pat Lachance. D-Pat Lachance, $10,500
3-P H Supercam (g, 8, Million Dollar Cam--Callwood Ivy,
by Run The Table) O-Bamond Racing LLC. B-Dr R James
Shive, CA. T-Jeffrey Bamond Jr.. D-Jason Bartlett, $5,040
Calls: 6T, 3, 2, 1H, H - Finish Order: Sapphire City, Casimir
Jitterbug, In Commando, Beach Memories, Fool Me Once
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9, YR, $31,000, P, WINNERS OVER $25,000 IN LAST 6
STARTS, 28.0, 57.0, 1:25.0, 1:52.2, FT
1-Moonliteonthebeach (g, 5, Somebeachsomewhere Sweet Paprika, by Artiscape), $90,000 2011 LEX-SEL
O-Bamond Racing LLC. B-Andray-Lindwood. T-Jeffrey
Bamond Jr.. D-Jason Bartlett, $15,500, Lifetime Record:
33-9-5-4, $133,522
2-Smooth Criminal (g, 6, Blue Burner--Gunslingin Gal, by
Cam's Card Shark) O-Little Bapa, LLC. B-Robert D &
Debbie A Morris, CA. T-Jennifer Sabot. D-Eric Carlson,
$7,750
3-Bettor Reason N (g, 7, Bettor's Delight--No Reason, by
New York Motoring) O-Pit Bull Stable LLC. B-P M Cook,
NZ. T-Doug Dilloian Jr. D-Eric Abbatiello, $3,720
Calls: 2, 2, 1T, 2, 1H - Finish Order: Statesman N, Mc
Dynamite, Duel In The Sun, Life Up Front
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10, YR, $25,000, P, 4 YEAR OLD OPEN HANDICAP
POST POSITIONS 1-4 ASSIGNED POST POSITIONS 5-8
DRAWN, 26.2, 55.2, 1:23.1, 1:52.2, FT
1-Capozzo (h, 4, Bettor's Delight--Annie Mcguire N, by
In The Pocket) O-Thomas R Finelli & Salvatore P Capone.
B-Standardbred Equities LLC. T-Mark Capone. D-Eric
Carlson, $12,500, Lifetime Record: 49-12-9-7, $160,214
To watch the race replay click here
HarnessRacingUpdate.com
• 5/17/15 PAGE 19 of 19
11, YR, $31,000, T, WINNERS OVER $25,000 LAST 6
STARTS HANDICAP POST POSITIONS 1-3 ASSIGNED
POST POSITIONS 4-7 DRAWN POST POSITION 8
ASSIGNED, 28.0, 57.3, 1:26.4, 1:56.1, FT
1-Rossini (g, 5, Classic Photo--Beverly Crusher, by
Balanced Image), $45,000 2011 SHS-HBG O-Harbor
Racing Stable LLC. B-Steve D Organ, CA. T-Jim Raymer.
D-Steve Smith, $15,500, Lifetime Record: 51-18-5-5,
$357,383
2-Crazy About Pat (g, 5, Crazed--Dibrizzi, by Malabar
Man) O-Patricia Stable. B-Harvey F Fried & Patricia Stable.
T-Paul Kelley. D-Mark Macdonald, $7,750
3-Massacaia (g, 4, Muscle Mass--Ghirardelli Square, by
Like A Prayer), $16,000 2012 SHS-HBG O-Robert D Main.
B-Perretti Farms. T-Jason Robinson. D-Jason Bartlett,
$3,720
Calls: 1H, 4Q, 1T, 2Q, NS - Finish Order: Outburst, Lucky
Colby, Somebody As, March Awareness, Backstreet
Hanover
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12, YR, $21,500, P, NON-WINNERS OF $18,000 IN LAST
6 STARTS, 27.4, 57.3, 1:25.3, 1:53.4, FT
1-Flem N Em N (g, 10, Courage Under Fire--Equus
Franco, by Falcon Seelster) O-Bamond Racing LLC.
B-Spreydon Lodge LTD, NZ. T-Jeffrey Bamond Jr..
D-Jason Bartlett, $10,750, Lifetime Record: 195-34-34-31,
$643,445
To watch the race replay click here
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