Ocean Downs and Pocono Downs offer Sunday night cards
During a weekend in which heavy rains wreaked havoc with numerous outdoor activities throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, Ocean Downs and Pocono Downs offered full cards on Sunday evening amid completely opposite conditions.
Just prior to the midway point of the Ocean Downs card on Sunday and roughly an hour after patrons could literally tour the half-mile oval which was fast and spared a late evening shower, Seen Before Heard (Jonathan Roberts) easily overcame post eight with a quick acceleration through the first turn, rolled through honest fractions of 28.4, 57.4 and 1:27.4 with a 10-length lead and romped home well clear to score in 1:57.4 for his first win in seven starts this year for trainer Bart Bradley.
Then one race later in a $6,000 Silver Class for older pacers, favored Major Blue Coat (Richard Still) and One Bad Shot (Jared Moyer) proved to be inseparable at the wire. Major Blue Coat carved out the fractions from along the rail as the 4-5 choice and One Bad Shot sat a loose pocket throughout and angled out turning for home and gained ground with every stride and just drew even with the favorite on the wire for a dead-heat in 1:57.1.
Major Blue Coat, an eight-year-old Art Major gelding owned and trained by Brittany Bounds, recorded his fourth win in 19 starts this year and pushed his seasonal earnings to $18,000 with his first win at the seaside oval this summer. One Bad Shot, an eight-year-old Sand Shooter gelding trained by Joe Eisenhower, benefited from the pocket trip and notched his second win in 22 starts this year and his first victory in six tries at the seaside oval this summer.
Then one race later in a non-winners of three races lifetime class for younger pacers, Dancingonthesand (Roberts) benefited from an inside draw and a loose pocket trip behind odds-on favorite Allgonowhoa (Frank Milby) through the first three calls, angled out of the pocket midway on the far turn and overhauled the leader in the lane for a two-length score in 1:56.4. A sophomore daughter of A Rocknroll Dance trained by Mike Hall, Dancingonthesand notched her third win in 12 starts this year and pushed her career earnings toward $22,000.
One race later in the $25,000 Maryland Sire Stakes 4-5YO Open pace, Mr Ham Sandwich (Russell Foster) easily lived up to his role as the 1-9 favorite when he tucked third early, sat there through the first two calls, angled out and brushed to command before three-quarters in 1:26 and romped home four lengths clear in 1:55.1. A four-year-old Cam's Rocket stallion trained by Trevor Stafford for Allard Racing, who purchased the multiple MDSS champ for $65,000 in the spring, Mr Ham Sandwich notched his fifth win in 18 starts this year and pushed his career bankroll over the $200,000 plateau.
Then one race later in the $7,000 Gold Class 2, Last Shot Leeton (John Wagner) gained command soon after the outset and led throughout en route to a four-length score in 1:56.3 as the 5-2 second choice. A 10-year-old P-forty-seven gelding owned and trained by Eli Scott, Jr., Last Shot Leeton notched his third win in 17 starts this year - his three wins have come over three different ovals - and pushed his lifetime earnings past $250,000 with the handy triumph.
One race later in the $11,000 Open Handicap for the track's best aged pacers, Sicily (Victor Kirby) delivered a dominant performance as the 8-5 favorite in a prep for an appearance on Governor's Day at Harrington this Thursday. Away quickest of all from post six, Sicily gained command in a 27.2 opener, got a breather by the half in 57 flat, rolled by three-quarters in 1:25.2 and simply sprinted clear from his foes in the lane to a five-length score in 1:53.
A six-year-old Art Major gelding trained by Wayne Givens, Sicily recorded just his second win in 13 starts this year and posted his 20th tally from 100 lifetime outings and pushed his career bankroll toward $430,000 when he romped home as much the best in the Open Handicap on Sunday. Accustomed to facing much tougher throughout the campaign, including the likes of All Bets Off, Western Fame, Always At My Place and Heaven Rocks A, Sicily made quick work of his Open Hcp rivals in his second start at the seaside oval.
Then one race later in the $6,500 Silver Class for older pacers, Atomic Art (Moyer) lived up to his role as the 1-2 favorite when he gained command early from the coveted rail, rebuffed an early bid from Wisers Deluxe past the half, opened a clear lead down the backside and through the far turn and drew clear late to a three-length score in 1:55.3. An eight-year-old Party At Artsplace gelding trained by Arlene Cameron for owner Kayla Moyer, Atomic Art notched his second straight win over the oval - both in the Silver Class - and now owns three wins and $15,000 banked from 13 starts this year.
One race later in a $7,500 Gold Class 1 for aged pacers, Too Darn Hot (Allan Davis) lived up to his role as the 1-2 favorite in his local debut when he raced parked to gain command in a 28 opener, maintained an honest tempo to the half and three-quarters then edged clear from the pocket-sitting Midnite Pass (Tyler Davis) to score in 1:55.1. A six-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding trained by Joe Hundertpfund, Jr., Too Darn Hot notched his second win in his last three outings and now owns five wins from 22 seasonal outings.
Two races later in the finale, a $5,000 Bronze Class contested at one-mile and one-sixteenth, Robby Bobby (Roberts) gained command from post six in an honest 27.3 opener, maintained an honest tempo for the next three calls and held safe Looksgoodhowmuch (Foster) to forge a 26-1 shocker in 2:05.2. A five-year-old Pacific Renegade stallion trained by John Pyott, Robby Bobby recorded his second win in three starts at the meet and gave Roberts a driving triple on the card.
That same evening over a sloppy track at Pocono Downs where the first two-thirds of the card was hardly palatable, the last five races on the program proved worth the wait for the dozens of spectators watching trackside.
In the 10th race on the card, Satin Dancer (Matt Kakaley) gained command in a 27.1 opener, got a breather by the half in 57 flat and led the way by three-quarters in 1:25.1 then just outlasted the late bid of pocket-sitting Crazshana (George Napolitano, Jr.) to score by a nose in 1:53 in a non-winners of $23,000 last five starts class for trotters. A four-year-old Big Stick Lindy mare trained by Travis Alexander, Satin Dancer notched her third win from seven starts this year and pushed her lifetime bankroll to nearly $640,000.
Three races later in a non-winners of $17,500 last five starts class for trotters, Boffin (Napolitano) easily lived up to his role as the 3-5 favorite when he gained command before the 28 opener, got a breather by the half in 58.1, opened a clear lead by three-quarters in 1:26 then romped home four lengths clear in 1:54.1. An eight-year-old Donato Hanover gelding trained by Annette Lorentzen, Boffin recorded his third straight victory while climbing the condition ladder and soared past the $500,000 plateau in career earnings.
Sunday's richest harness race came courtesy of Running Aces in Minnesota when the five-eighths mile oval hosted the $50,000 Dan Patch Free-For-All, named in honor of the sport's first genuine superstar, Running Aces (Sam Widger) gained command soon after the start, carved out honest fractions of 26.4, 54.1 and 1:22 while rebuffing several challengers then just outlasted the late bid of defending Dan Patch winner Firedrake (Nick Roland) to score in 1:51.1.
A four-year-old Delmarvalous gelding trained by Denise Maier, Nine Ways now owns a 4-3-2 slate and banked nearly $60,000 this year from 21 starts. Firedrake just missed successfully defending his title in the Dan Patch for trainer-driver Nick Roland, while Nuclear Dragon and Trashytonguetalker were unable to overcome their prolonged overland routes to be any factor late.
Just prior to the midway point of the Ocean Downs card on Sunday and roughly an hour after patrons could literally tour the half-mile oval which was fast and spared a late evening shower, Seen Before Heard (Jonathan Roberts) easily overcame post eight with a quick acceleration through the first turn, rolled through honest fractions of 28.4, 57.4 and 1:27.4 with a 10-length lead and romped home well clear to score in 1:57.4 for his first win in seven starts this year for trainer Bart Bradley.
Then one race later in a $6,000 Silver Class for older pacers, favored Major Blue Coat (Richard Still) and One Bad Shot (Jared Moyer) proved to be inseparable at the wire. Major Blue Coat carved out the fractions from along the rail as the 4-5 choice and One Bad Shot sat a loose pocket throughout and angled out turning for home and gained ground with every stride and just drew even with the favorite on the wire for a dead-heat in 1:57.1.
Major Blue Coat, an eight-year-old Art Major gelding owned and trained by Brittany Bounds, recorded his fourth win in 19 starts this year and pushed his seasonal earnings to $18,000 with his first win at the seaside oval this summer. One Bad Shot, an eight-year-old Sand Shooter gelding trained by Joe Eisenhower, benefited from the pocket trip and notched his second win in 22 starts this year and his first victory in six tries at the seaside oval this summer.
Then one race later in a non-winners of three races lifetime class for younger pacers, Dancingonthesand (Roberts) benefited from an inside draw and a loose pocket trip behind odds-on favorite Allgonowhoa (Frank Milby) through the first three calls, angled out of the pocket midway on the far turn and overhauled the leader in the lane for a two-length score in 1:56.4. A sophomore daughter of A Rocknroll Dance trained by Mike Hall, Dancingonthesand notched her third win in 12 starts this year and pushed her career earnings toward $22,000.
One race later in the $25,000 Maryland Sire Stakes 4-5YO Open pace, Mr Ham Sandwich (Russell Foster) easily lived up to his role as the 1-9 favorite when he tucked third early, sat there through the first two calls, angled out and brushed to command before three-quarters in 1:26 and romped home four lengths clear in 1:55.1. A four-year-old Cam's Rocket stallion trained by Trevor Stafford for Allard Racing, who purchased the multiple MDSS champ for $65,000 in the spring, Mr Ham Sandwich notched his fifth win in 18 starts this year and pushed his career bankroll over the $200,000 plateau.
Then one race later in the $7,000 Gold Class 2, Last Shot Leeton (John Wagner) gained command soon after the outset and led throughout en route to a four-length score in 1:56.3 as the 5-2 second choice. A 10-year-old P-forty-seven gelding owned and trained by Eli Scott, Jr., Last Shot Leeton notched his third win in 17 starts this year - his three wins have come over three different ovals - and pushed his lifetime earnings past $250,000 with the handy triumph.
One race later in the $11,000 Open Handicap for the track's best aged pacers, Sicily (Victor Kirby) delivered a dominant performance as the 8-5 favorite in a prep for an appearance on Governor's Day at Harrington this Thursday. Away quickest of all from post six, Sicily gained command in a 27.2 opener, got a breather by the half in 57 flat, rolled by three-quarters in 1:25.2 and simply sprinted clear from his foes in the lane to a five-length score in 1:53.
A six-year-old Art Major gelding trained by Wayne Givens, Sicily recorded just his second win in 13 starts this year and posted his 20th tally from 100 lifetime outings and pushed his career bankroll toward $430,000 when he romped home as much the best in the Open Handicap on Sunday. Accustomed to facing much tougher throughout the campaign, including the likes of All Bets Off, Western Fame, Always At My Place and Heaven Rocks A, Sicily made quick work of his Open Hcp rivals in his second start at the seaside oval.
Then one race later in the $6,500 Silver Class for older pacers, Atomic Art (Moyer) lived up to his role as the 1-2 favorite when he gained command early from the coveted rail, rebuffed an early bid from Wisers Deluxe past the half, opened a clear lead down the backside and through the far turn and drew clear late to a three-length score in 1:55.3. An eight-year-old Party At Artsplace gelding trained by Arlene Cameron for owner Kayla Moyer, Atomic Art notched his second straight win over the oval - both in the Silver Class - and now owns three wins and $15,000 banked from 13 starts this year.
One race later in a $7,500 Gold Class 1 for aged pacers, Too Darn Hot (Allan Davis) lived up to his role as the 1-2 favorite in his local debut when he raced parked to gain command in a 28 opener, maintained an honest tempo to the half and three-quarters then edged clear from the pocket-sitting Midnite Pass (Tyler Davis) to score in 1:55.1. A six-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding trained by Joe Hundertpfund, Jr., Too Darn Hot notched his second win in his last three outings and now owns five wins from 22 seasonal outings.
Two races later in the finale, a $5,000 Bronze Class contested at one-mile and one-sixteenth, Robby Bobby (Roberts) gained command from post six in an honest 27.3 opener, maintained an honest tempo for the next three calls and held safe Looksgoodhowmuch (Foster) to forge a 26-1 shocker in 2:05.2. A five-year-old Pacific Renegade stallion trained by John Pyott, Robby Bobby recorded his second win in three starts at the meet and gave Roberts a driving triple on the card.
That same evening over a sloppy track at Pocono Downs where the first two-thirds of the card was hardly palatable, the last five races on the program proved worth the wait for the dozens of spectators watching trackside.
In the 10th race on the card, Satin Dancer (Matt Kakaley) gained command in a 27.1 opener, got a breather by the half in 57 flat and led the way by three-quarters in 1:25.1 then just outlasted the late bid of pocket-sitting Crazshana (George Napolitano, Jr.) to score by a nose in 1:53 in a non-winners of $23,000 last five starts class for trotters. A four-year-old Big Stick Lindy mare trained by Travis Alexander, Satin Dancer notched her third win from seven starts this year and pushed her lifetime bankroll to nearly $640,000.
Three races later in a non-winners of $17,500 last five starts class for trotters, Boffin (Napolitano) easily lived up to his role as the 3-5 favorite when he gained command before the 28 opener, got a breather by the half in 58.1, opened a clear lead by three-quarters in 1:26 then romped home four lengths clear in 1:54.1. An eight-year-old Donato Hanover gelding trained by Annette Lorentzen, Boffin recorded his third straight victory while climbing the condition ladder and soared past the $500,000 plateau in career earnings.
Sunday's richest harness race came courtesy of Running Aces in Minnesota when the five-eighths mile oval hosted the $50,000 Dan Patch Free-For-All, named in honor of the sport's first genuine superstar, Running Aces (Sam Widger) gained command soon after the start, carved out honest fractions of 26.4, 54.1 and 1:22 while rebuffing several challengers then just outlasted the late bid of defending Dan Patch winner Firedrake (Nick Roland) to score in 1:51.1.
A four-year-old Delmarvalous gelding trained by Denise Maier, Nine Ways now owns a 4-3-2 slate and banked nearly $60,000 this year from 21 starts. Firedrake just missed successfully defending his title in the Dan Patch for trainer-driver Nick Roland, while Nuclear Dragon and Trashytonguetalker were unable to overcome their prolonged overland routes to be any factor late.
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