Harness action heats up on Sunday
A trio of five-eighths mile harness racing ovals scarcely in close proximity to one another took center stage on Sunday afternoon and evening as Miami Valley Raceway, Rosecroft Raceway and Pompano Park offered a bevy of solid overnight events for trotters and pacers.
Just past the midway point of the program at Miami Valley, All About Cowboys (Jason Brewer) gained command early then withstood a first over bid from Another Breath (Dan Noble) by the half and three-quarters then outlasted a late bid from Pine Dream (Chris Page) for a mild 3-1 upset in the $22,500 Open I class for trotters in 1:55. A six-year-old Swan For All gelding trained by Ken Rucker, All About Cowboys notched his second win in five starts this year and now owns 15 wins and over $185,000 banked from 88 career outings.
Then two races later on the card in the $20,000 Open II Handicap for trotters, Mystical Power (Page) left to secure good early position, yielded to favored Primed N Powerful (Tyler Smith) nearing the opener in 27.2, sat a tight pocket by three-quarters and on the far turn, angled out at the head of the lane, surged to command mid-stretch then outlasted the late bid of Impressive Chief (Brett Miller) to score in 1:55.4 in his first start off the claim for trainer Clarence Folk.
In the opening race on the Rosecroft Raceway card on Sunday afternoon, Jack Quick (Jonathan Roberts) lived up to his billing as the 4-5 favorite in a non-winners of three races or $30,000 lifetime class for younger pacers when he angled out second over nearing the half, angled three-wide and brushed to command before reaching three-quarters in 1:23.1 then held safe Redwood Again (Frank Milby) to score by a length in 1:52.2.
A four-year-old Nuclear Breeze gelding owned, bred and trained by Basil Sapienza, Jack Quick notched his second straight victory over the local oval and now sports three wins in seven starts this year and boasts six wins and nearly $30,000 banked from 23 career tries. Both of his local outings have featured a similar backside brush and Jack Quick appears to be one of the budding stars on the circuit.
Then two races later in a non-winners of two races or $12,500 lifetime class for younger pacers, BJ's World (Declan Donoway) benefited from patient handling past the half, angled out midway down the backside and brushed to command before three-quarters in 1:25.2 then opened a clear lead and held safe 4-5 favorite Aintthebeercold (Allan Davis) to forge an 18-1 upset in 1:55.2. A four-year-old World Of Rocknroll gelding trained by Brian Wright for owner-breeder Willard Hall, Jr., BJ's World recorded his second win from 31 career starts and lowered his lifetime mark by four seconds in the process.
Several races later in a non-winners of $2,500 last five starts class for older pacers contested under the first hint of light rain showers, Concert Artist (Russell Foster) left to secure good early position, quarter moved to command, met token pressure from Foiledbythebeach (Roger Plante, Jr.) down the backside then held safe the late bid of even-money choice Bo Breeze (Jason Green) to score by nearly two lengths in 1:55.3 as the 7-2 second choice for owner-trainer Brian Tomlinson.
One race later in a non-winners of six races or $45,000 lifetime class for younger pacers, Anderson Valley (Foster) lived up his role as the tepid 7-5 favorite when he gained command before a 27.1 opener, got a breather by the half in 57 flat, rolled by three-quarters unpressed in 1:25.3 then held safe pocket-sitting 8-5 second choice Always A Rocket (Roberts) to score by nearly a length in 1:54.1. The five-year-old Bonnie And Clyde gelding trained by Greg Trotto recorded his first win in two starts this year and his fourth victory in 51 career tries and lowered his lifetime mark by two full seconds in the process.
Then one race later in the featured $9,000 Winners Over class for trotters, Third Coast (Plante) rallied from well off the pace, third over and widest of all in the lane to edge Overnight Shipper (Robert Hoffman) for a mild 6-1 upset in 1:57. A seven-year-old Jailhouse Jessie gelding owned and trained by Kerry Welty, Third Coast notched his first win in two starts this year and now boasts 17 wins and earnings of nearly $115,000 from 90 career outings. Overnight Shipper has been second in each of his two local starts since returning from Dover Downs.
One race later in a tough, non-winners of $6,500 last five starts class for older pacers, Diamondkeeper (Foster) rallied from far back and widest of all down the backside and through the far turn to overhaul 4-5 favorite Abelard Hanover (Roberts) by a length in 1:53.4. An eight-year-old Pine Valley gelding owned and trained by Sapienza, Diamondkeeper notched his second straight score and now boasts 337 wins and nearly $340,000 banked from 127 career tries. Abelard Hanover settled for second for the second straight week in the upper conditioned class and sports a very respectable 58-32-32 slate and nearly $793,000 bankroll from 233 career outings.
Then one race later in the featured $12,000 Open Handicap for older pacers, Sams Triple Crown (Wagner) overcame a long first over bid down the backside and through the far turn and outlasted the late bid of Rock N Roll Jet (Kim Vincent) to prevail by over a length in 1:51.4. A five-year-old Art Official gelding owned and trained by Jerry Nock, Sams Triple Crown kicked delivered a gritty score in his seasonal debut and now owns 18 wins and over $146,000 banked from 63 career outings.
Rock N Roll Jet, last year's fall meet champion pacer for owner-trainer William "Buddy" Bright, has now been second in each of his two local starts since returning from Dover Downs. The 10-yer-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding owns a 47-31-27 slate and over $385,000 banked from 253 career tries. Lil Johnny (Milby) rallied from far off the pace and widest of all to finish third for owner-trainer Jason Walters.
Two races later in the penultimate race on the Rosecroft Sunday card, Manattack (Brian Burton) lived up to his role as the even-money favorite when he carved out modest fractions of 56.3 to the half and 1:24.4 to three-quarters and held safe 2-1 second choice JW Renegade (John Mackinnon) to score by a length in 1:54.2. A five-year-old American Ideal stallion owned and trained by Burton, Manattack notched his first win in two starts this year and now owns 10 wins and just over $100,000 banked from 71 career outings.
That same evening at Pompano Park in Florida, New World A (Greg Merton) capped the early daily double by posing an 8-1 upset in a non-winners of $1,500 last four starts class for pacers when he brushed to command before three-quarters in 1:23.1 then held safe 4-5 favorite Team Captain (Wally Hennessey) to score in 1:51.4. A seven-year-old Rich And Spoilt gelding trained by Dale Gilmour, New World A notched his second win from six starts this year and and his 13th tally from 65 career outings.
Then two races later in a non-winners of $2,500 last four starts class for older pacers, R Gauwitz Hanover (George Napolitano, Jr.) benefited from a pocket trip through the first three calls then outlasted the late bid of even-money favorite Dinky Dune (Mike Simons) for a neck score in 1:53.1. A 10-year-old Modern Art gelding trained by Daniel Gassien, R Gauwitz Hanover posted a 7-1 upset for his first win in seven starts this year and he now owns 43 wins and nearly $430,000 banked from 159 career outings.
Two races later in a non-winners of $5,700 last four starts/optional $30,000 claiming class for pacers, Big N Bad (Napolitano) just lived up to his role as the 1-2 favorite when he quarter moved to command from Sgt Pappa Daddy (Scott Zeron), got a breather by the half in 56.3, rolled by three-quarters unpressed in 1:24.2 then just outlasted the late bid from the pocket horse for a nose victory in 1:52.2. A nine-year-old Badlands Hanover gelding trained by Joe Pavia, Jr., Big N Bad recorded his first win in four starts this year and now owns 48 wins and nearly $710,000 banked from 191 lifetime tries.
Then two races later in a non-winners of $4,500 last four starts class for pacers, Harry Terror (Hennessey) just lived up to his billing as the 1-2 favorite when he gained command before a 27.1 opener, got a breather by the half in 56.4, raced unpressed by three-quarters in 1:24.2 then just held safe the late bid of The Onlyest One (Ricky Macomber, Jr.) for a length score in 1:52.1. It was the second straight tally and second win in six starts this year for the six-year-old Western Terror gelding trained by Jim McDonald.
One race later in the featured $10,000 Open I for older pacers, American Hustle (Scott Zeron) left to secure good position early, quarter moved to command, yielded to Rebellious (Jim Meittinis) before the half in 55.3, sat a loose pocket down the backside and through the far turn, angled out at the head of the lane and wore down the leader late for a neck triumph in 1:51. A five-year-old American Ideal stallion owned and trained by Bryan Lawrence, American Hustle recorded his third win in five starts this year and he now sports 17 wins and nearly $130,000 banked from 46 lifetime outings.
Just past the midway point of the program at Miami Valley, All About Cowboys (Jason Brewer) gained command early then withstood a first over bid from Another Breath (Dan Noble) by the half and three-quarters then outlasted a late bid from Pine Dream (Chris Page) for a mild 3-1 upset in the $22,500 Open I class for trotters in 1:55. A six-year-old Swan For All gelding trained by Ken Rucker, All About Cowboys notched his second win in five starts this year and now owns 15 wins and over $185,000 banked from 88 career outings.
Then two races later on the card in the $20,000 Open II Handicap for trotters, Mystical Power (Page) left to secure good early position, yielded to favored Primed N Powerful (Tyler Smith) nearing the opener in 27.2, sat a tight pocket by three-quarters and on the far turn, angled out at the head of the lane, surged to command mid-stretch then outlasted the late bid of Impressive Chief (Brett Miller) to score in 1:55.4 in his first start off the claim for trainer Clarence Folk.
In the opening race on the Rosecroft Raceway card on Sunday afternoon, Jack Quick (Jonathan Roberts) lived up to his billing as the 4-5 favorite in a non-winners of three races or $30,000 lifetime class for younger pacers when he angled out second over nearing the half, angled three-wide and brushed to command before reaching three-quarters in 1:23.1 then held safe Redwood Again (Frank Milby) to score by a length in 1:52.2.
A four-year-old Nuclear Breeze gelding owned, bred and trained by Basil Sapienza, Jack Quick notched his second straight victory over the local oval and now sports three wins in seven starts this year and boasts six wins and nearly $30,000 banked from 23 career tries. Both of his local outings have featured a similar backside brush and Jack Quick appears to be one of the budding stars on the circuit.
Then two races later in a non-winners of two races or $12,500 lifetime class for younger pacers, BJ's World (Declan Donoway) benefited from patient handling past the half, angled out midway down the backside and brushed to command before three-quarters in 1:25.2 then opened a clear lead and held safe 4-5 favorite Aintthebeercold (Allan Davis) to forge an 18-1 upset in 1:55.2. A four-year-old World Of Rocknroll gelding trained by Brian Wright for owner-breeder Willard Hall, Jr., BJ's World recorded his second win from 31 career starts and lowered his lifetime mark by four seconds in the process.
Several races later in a non-winners of $2,500 last five starts class for older pacers contested under the first hint of light rain showers, Concert Artist (Russell Foster) left to secure good early position, quarter moved to command, met token pressure from Foiledbythebeach (Roger Plante, Jr.) down the backside then held safe the late bid of even-money choice Bo Breeze (Jason Green) to score by nearly two lengths in 1:55.3 as the 7-2 second choice for owner-trainer Brian Tomlinson.
One race later in a non-winners of six races or $45,000 lifetime class for younger pacers, Anderson Valley (Foster) lived up his role as the tepid 7-5 favorite when he gained command before a 27.1 opener, got a breather by the half in 57 flat, rolled by three-quarters unpressed in 1:25.3 then held safe pocket-sitting 8-5 second choice Always A Rocket (Roberts) to score by nearly a length in 1:54.1. The five-year-old Bonnie And Clyde gelding trained by Greg Trotto recorded his first win in two starts this year and his fourth victory in 51 career tries and lowered his lifetime mark by two full seconds in the process.
Then one race later in the featured $9,000 Winners Over class for trotters, Third Coast (Plante) rallied from well off the pace, third over and widest of all in the lane to edge Overnight Shipper (Robert Hoffman) for a mild 6-1 upset in 1:57. A seven-year-old Jailhouse Jessie gelding owned and trained by Kerry Welty, Third Coast notched his first win in two starts this year and now boasts 17 wins and earnings of nearly $115,000 from 90 career outings. Overnight Shipper has been second in each of his two local starts since returning from Dover Downs.
One race later in a tough, non-winners of $6,500 last five starts class for older pacers, Diamondkeeper (Foster) rallied from far back and widest of all down the backside and through the far turn to overhaul 4-5 favorite Abelard Hanover (Roberts) by a length in 1:53.4. An eight-year-old Pine Valley gelding owned and trained by Sapienza, Diamondkeeper notched his second straight score and now boasts 337 wins and nearly $340,000 banked from 127 career tries. Abelard Hanover settled for second for the second straight week in the upper conditioned class and sports a very respectable 58-32-32 slate and nearly $793,000 bankroll from 233 career outings.
Then one race later in the featured $12,000 Open Handicap for older pacers, Sams Triple Crown (Wagner) overcame a long first over bid down the backside and through the far turn and outlasted the late bid of Rock N Roll Jet (Kim Vincent) to prevail by over a length in 1:51.4. A five-year-old Art Official gelding owned and trained by Jerry Nock, Sams Triple Crown kicked delivered a gritty score in his seasonal debut and now owns 18 wins and over $146,000 banked from 63 career outings.
Rock N Roll Jet, last year's fall meet champion pacer for owner-trainer William "Buddy" Bright, has now been second in each of his two local starts since returning from Dover Downs. The 10-yer-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding owns a 47-31-27 slate and over $385,000 banked from 253 career tries. Lil Johnny (Milby) rallied from far off the pace and widest of all to finish third for owner-trainer Jason Walters.
Two races later in the penultimate race on the Rosecroft Sunday card, Manattack (Brian Burton) lived up to his role as the even-money favorite when he carved out modest fractions of 56.3 to the half and 1:24.4 to three-quarters and held safe 2-1 second choice JW Renegade (John Mackinnon) to score by a length in 1:54.2. A five-year-old American Ideal stallion owned and trained by Burton, Manattack notched his first win in two starts this year and now owns 10 wins and just over $100,000 banked from 71 career outings.
That same evening at Pompano Park in Florida, New World A (Greg Merton) capped the early daily double by posing an 8-1 upset in a non-winners of $1,500 last four starts class for pacers when he brushed to command before three-quarters in 1:23.1 then held safe 4-5 favorite Team Captain (Wally Hennessey) to score in 1:51.4. A seven-year-old Rich And Spoilt gelding trained by Dale Gilmour, New World A notched his second win from six starts this year and and his 13th tally from 65 career outings.
Then two races later in a non-winners of $2,500 last four starts class for older pacers, R Gauwitz Hanover (George Napolitano, Jr.) benefited from a pocket trip through the first three calls then outlasted the late bid of even-money favorite Dinky Dune (Mike Simons) for a neck score in 1:53.1. A 10-year-old Modern Art gelding trained by Daniel Gassien, R Gauwitz Hanover posted a 7-1 upset for his first win in seven starts this year and he now owns 43 wins and nearly $430,000 banked from 159 career outings.
Two races later in a non-winners of $5,700 last four starts/optional $30,000 claiming class for pacers, Big N Bad (Napolitano) just lived up to his role as the 1-2 favorite when he quarter moved to command from Sgt Pappa Daddy (Scott Zeron), got a breather by the half in 56.3, rolled by three-quarters unpressed in 1:24.2 then just outlasted the late bid from the pocket horse for a nose victory in 1:52.2. A nine-year-old Badlands Hanover gelding trained by Joe Pavia, Jr., Big N Bad recorded his first win in four starts this year and now owns 48 wins and nearly $710,000 banked from 191 lifetime tries.
Then two races later in a non-winners of $4,500 last four starts class for pacers, Harry Terror (Hennessey) just lived up to his billing as the 1-2 favorite when he gained command before a 27.1 opener, got a breather by the half in 56.4, raced unpressed by three-quarters in 1:24.2 then just held safe the late bid of The Onlyest One (Ricky Macomber, Jr.) for a length score in 1:52.1. It was the second straight tally and second win in six starts this year for the six-year-old Western Terror gelding trained by Jim McDonald.
One race later in the featured $10,000 Open I for older pacers, American Hustle (Scott Zeron) left to secure good position early, quarter moved to command, yielded to Rebellious (Jim Meittinis) before the half in 55.3, sat a loose pocket down the backside and through the far turn, angled out at the head of the lane and wore down the leader late for a neck triumph in 1:51. A five-year-old American Ideal stallion owned and trained by Bryan Lawrence, American Hustle recorded his third win in five starts this year and he now sports 17 wins and nearly $130,000 banked from 46 lifetime outings.
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