Plenty of harness action on Sunday afternoon and evening
Less than three weeks before the start of the National Football League season when most harness racing fans opt to stay home on Sundays, many of them found something appealing about the afternoon and evening cards at numerous tracks on Sunday.
At Yonkers Raceway on Sunday afternoon, Hall of Fame driver Brian Sears reached the 10,000 win plateau in his career when he steered home Chasin Dreams to prevail as the 3-10 choice in a non-winners of four races of four races or $50,000 lifetime class for trotters. A sophomore son of Credit Winner trained by Anette Lorentzon, Chasin Dreams notched his fifth win from nine starts this year after a winless campaign as a juvenile and pushed his lifetime earnings past the $50,000 mark.
That same afternoon at Harrah's Philadelphia, Sunfire Blue Chip (Josert Fonseca) benefited from an early duel between Check Six (Tony Morgan) and Mach It So (George Napolitano, Jr.), grinded down the leader first over by three-quarters in 1:22 and through the final turn and just outlasted the late bid of Donttellmeagain (Victor Kirby), who was attempting to rally from an impossible spot fourth over, to capture the $30,000 Great Northeast Series Open in 1:50.
An eight-year-old American Ideal stallion trained by Jimmy Takter, Sunfire Blue Chip notched his second tally in the Open series and now owns a 5-50 slate and $100,000 banked from 16 starts this year. Donttellmeagain, hero of the Graduate Series final for four-year-old pacers, held his own again in the Open series while settling for second in a stellar performance considering his excess cover down the backside and through the far turn.
That same afternoon at Tioga Downs in New York, Rebellious (Jim Meittinis) overcame dull cover with a three-wide brush down the backside and surged to command by three-quarters in 1:22.1 and romped home four lengths clear in 1:50 in the $12,000 Open 1. A four-year-old Mach Three gelding owned and trained by Michael Deters, Rebellious ended a mild three-race skid by notching his 11th win in 23 seasonal outings with earnings of $75,000 along the way.
One race later in the $37,000 W.N. Reynolds Memorial for two-year-old filly trotters, Starita (David Miller) easily lived up to her role as the 2-5 favorite in the compact field when she gained command before a 28.3 opener, got a breather by the half in 58.3, raced unpressed by three-quarters in 1:27.2 and edged clear from Fashion Rachel (Corey Callahan) to score in 1:55.4. It was the second win in seven starts for the daughter of Trixton trained by recent Hall of Fame selection Joe Holloway.
Then one race later in the $70,000 W.N. Reynolds Memorial for two-year-old colt trotters, No Drama Please (Andy Miller) forged a mild 3-1 upset when he led throughout to score by two lengths over Cheap Tricks (James Taggart, Jr.) in 1:56. A juvenile son of Trixton trained by Julie Miller, No Drama Please picked the ideal time to record his first victory in six career outings and pushed his seasonal earnings well past $40,000 with the handy victory.
Then one race later in the $56,000 W.N Reynolds Memorial for two-year-old filly pacers, Zero Tolerance (David Miller) maintained her sharp form by leading through modest fractions early and then romping home five lengths clear in 1:53.2 as the 1-9 favorite. A Maryland-bred daughter of Heston Blue Chip trained by Holloway, Zero Tolerance recorded her fourth straight triumph and fifth win in six career outings while pushing her bankroll toward $100,000.
Then one race later in the $66,500 W.N. Reynolds Memorial for two-year-old colt pacers, Mangogh (Tetrick) raced parked to gain command in 28 flat, maintained an honest tempo by the half in 56, rolled by three-quarters in 1:24.4 and held safe Sweet Troy (Marcus Miller) to score in 1:53.4. A juvenile son of Western Ideal trained by Bruce Saunders, Mangogh recorded his second win from six starts and pushed his career earnings to nearly $50,000 while taking a new mark.
Then one race later in the $37,500 W.N. Reynolds Memorial for two-year-old filly trotters, Cloud Nine Fashion (Tetrick) lived up to her role as the 1-9 favorite while avoiding several breakers early and then setting soft fractions of 30.3, 1:00.1 and 1:28.2 then sprinted home from Southwind Percy (David Miller) to score in 1:57. A juvenile daughter of Muscle Hill trained by Jim Campbell for owner-breeder Fashion Farms, Cloud Nine Fashion remained perfect from four starts and nearly doubled her career earnings to $40,000.
Then several races later on the card in the $10,000 Open II, Believe This Bob (Aaron Byron) lived up to his role as the 3-2 choice when he gained command easily in a 27.2 opener, got a breather by the half in 56.2, raced unpressed down the backside and by three-quarters in 1:23.2 then held safe O Sundland (Larry Stalbaum) to score by a neck in 1:51.3. An 11-year-old Beach Romeo gelding trained by Joe Skowya for owner Mary Ann Larrimore, Believe This Bob ended a modest skid to notch his fourth win from 25 seasonal outings.
That same evening at Lexington's Red Mile, the early portion of the card focused on the Kentucky Sire Stakes for two-year-old pacing colts and several of them emerged as budding stars.
In the opening race on the card, Edge Of Eternity (Chris Page) just lived up to his role as the 2-5 favorite when he gained command before the opener in 28.3, rolled by the half in 56.3 and three-quarters in 1:26 and just outlasted the late bid of Cash Reward (Yannick Gingras) to score in 1:53 in a KYSS split for two-year-old filly pacers. The juvenile daughter of Rocknroll Dance trained by Brian Brown has won three of four starts and earned $30,000.
Then one race later in the first $30,000 KYSS split for two-year-old colt pacers, Magic Joe Lindy (Scott Zeron) easily lived up to his billing as the 6-5 favorite when he brushed to command before the half in 55.3, rebuffed an early bid from Egomania (Page) by three-quarters in 1:24 then romped home four lengths clear in 1:51. A freshman son of American Ideal trained by Dominico Cecere, Magic Joe Lindy rebounded from a pair of narrow defeats to notch his second win in four starts and lowered his lifetime mark by nearly three seconds.
Then one race later in the second $30,000 KYSS split for two-year-old colt pacers, Hurrikane Emperor (Andrew McCarthy) rallied belatedly to wear down Bettor's Wish (Dexter Dunn) to score by a neck in 1:50.4. A juvenile son of Hurricane Kingcole trained by John McDermott, Hurrikane Emperor rebounded from a very narrow setback in his previous outings to record his fifth win in six lifetime tries and push his bankroll to $87,000.
Then one race later in the second $30,000 KYSS division for two-year-old filly pacers, Beautyonthebeach (Doug McNair) benefited from a wicked early tempo, rallied with live cover down the backside and through the far turn and swept by the leaders in the lane to score by two lengths in 1:51. A juvenile daughter of Somebeachsomewhere trained by Greg McNair, Beautyonthebeach notched her second straight victory and third win in six starts overall while lowering her lifetime mark by two full seconds.
Then one race later in the third $30,000 KYSS split for two-year-old colt pacers, Captain Trevor (McCarthy) overhauled 4-5 favorite Blood Money (Gingras) in the lane for a length victory in 1:52.2. A juvenile son of Captaintrecherous trained by Tony Alagna, Captain Trevor remained perfect in three starts by unleashing a 26 final quarter to overtake Blood Money in the final yards. Blood Money owns three wins and a pair of second-place efforts in five starts for Takter.
That same evening at Ocean Downs, where aged pacers are typically the ruling party, the seaside oval offered a good blend of overnight events along with a pair of Maryland Sire Stakes finals for two-year-olds.
In the second race on the card, All The Cookies (Tyler Davis) benefited from a coveted rail draw, left to secure good position, yielded briefly to Simons Artist (Jason Thompson) then retook before the opener, got a breather to the half in 57.1, rebuffed a first over bid from Rock The Town (Morgan), opened a clear lead on the far turn and held safe Simons Artist for a three-length score in 1:53.3 in the $7,500 Gold Class 1.
A five-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding trained by Phil Mitchell, All The Cookies recorded his fourth straight victory and fourth win in eight starts at the meet and is among the short list of contenders for horse of the meet heading into Labor Day weekend. All The Cookies sports a 6-5-2 slate and $29,000 bankroll from 21 seasonal outings and still boasts a 1:50.2 lifetime mark at Dover Downs two years ago.
Just prior to the midway point of the card, Whoopdee Goo (Jim Morand) swept past his entrymate Gaareat Gazoo (Frank Milby) to take command before three-quarters in 1:30.2, opened a clear lead on the far turn and easily held safe Mind Your Business (Russell Foster) to score in 2:01.1. A gelded son of Googoo Gaagaa owned, bred and trained by Richard Hans, Whoopdee Goo notched his third win in four starts and pushed his earnings past $44,000. Mind Your Business recovered from a break nearing the half to rally for second in a good try.
Then one race later on the card in the $67,000 MDSS final for two-year-old filly pacers, How Bout Dat Rusty (Jonathan Roberts) easily lived up to her role as the 1-9 favorite when she gained command from post two well before a 28.4 opener, got a breather to the half in 59.1, opened a clear lead by three-quarters in 1:27.1 and held safe B For Real (Victor Kirby) to score by two lengths in 1:56.3. A juvenile son of Rusty's For Real trained by Mike Hall for owner Al Carter, How Bout Dat Rusty notched her fourth win from six starts and pushed her earnings past $50,000 while taking a new lifetime mark.
Then two races later in the $10,000 Open Handicap for older pacers, Emeritus Maximus (Jason Green) lived up to his role as the even-money favorite when he overcame a month layoff and first over journey to wear down In Force (Kirby) by three-quarters in 1:24.2, surged to a clear lead at the head of the lane and held safe Hi Sir (Foster) to score by three lengths in 1:52.4. An eight-year-old Rocknroll Hanover stallion trained by Kyle Moore, Emeritus Maximus easily prevailed in his seaside oval debut and now owns a 7-2-4 slate and nearly $70,000 banked from 22 starts this year.
At Yonkers Raceway on Sunday afternoon, Hall of Fame driver Brian Sears reached the 10,000 win plateau in his career when he steered home Chasin Dreams to prevail as the 3-10 choice in a non-winners of four races of four races or $50,000 lifetime class for trotters. A sophomore son of Credit Winner trained by Anette Lorentzon, Chasin Dreams notched his fifth win from nine starts this year after a winless campaign as a juvenile and pushed his lifetime earnings past the $50,000 mark.
That same afternoon at Harrah's Philadelphia, Sunfire Blue Chip (Josert Fonseca) benefited from an early duel between Check Six (Tony Morgan) and Mach It So (George Napolitano, Jr.), grinded down the leader first over by three-quarters in 1:22 and through the final turn and just outlasted the late bid of Donttellmeagain (Victor Kirby), who was attempting to rally from an impossible spot fourth over, to capture the $30,000 Great Northeast Series Open in 1:50.
An eight-year-old American Ideal stallion trained by Jimmy Takter, Sunfire Blue Chip notched his second tally in the Open series and now owns a 5-50 slate and $100,000 banked from 16 starts this year. Donttellmeagain, hero of the Graduate Series final for four-year-old pacers, held his own again in the Open series while settling for second in a stellar performance considering his excess cover down the backside and through the far turn.
That same afternoon at Tioga Downs in New York, Rebellious (Jim Meittinis) overcame dull cover with a three-wide brush down the backside and surged to command by three-quarters in 1:22.1 and romped home four lengths clear in 1:50 in the $12,000 Open 1. A four-year-old Mach Three gelding owned and trained by Michael Deters, Rebellious ended a mild three-race skid by notching his 11th win in 23 seasonal outings with earnings of $75,000 along the way.
One race later in the $37,000 W.N. Reynolds Memorial for two-year-old filly trotters, Starita (David Miller) easily lived up to her role as the 2-5 favorite in the compact field when she gained command before a 28.3 opener, got a breather by the half in 58.3, raced unpressed by three-quarters in 1:27.2 and edged clear from Fashion Rachel (Corey Callahan) to score in 1:55.4. It was the second win in seven starts for the daughter of Trixton trained by recent Hall of Fame selection Joe Holloway.
Then one race later in the $70,000 W.N. Reynolds Memorial for two-year-old colt trotters, No Drama Please (Andy Miller) forged a mild 3-1 upset when he led throughout to score by two lengths over Cheap Tricks (James Taggart, Jr.) in 1:56. A juvenile son of Trixton trained by Julie Miller, No Drama Please picked the ideal time to record his first victory in six career outings and pushed his seasonal earnings well past $40,000 with the handy victory.
Then one race later in the $56,000 W.N Reynolds Memorial for two-year-old filly pacers, Zero Tolerance (David Miller) maintained her sharp form by leading through modest fractions early and then romping home five lengths clear in 1:53.2 as the 1-9 favorite. A Maryland-bred daughter of Heston Blue Chip trained by Holloway, Zero Tolerance recorded her fourth straight triumph and fifth win in six career outings while pushing her bankroll toward $100,000.
Then one race later in the $66,500 W.N. Reynolds Memorial for two-year-old colt pacers, Mangogh (Tetrick) raced parked to gain command in 28 flat, maintained an honest tempo by the half in 56, rolled by three-quarters in 1:24.4 and held safe Sweet Troy (Marcus Miller) to score in 1:53.4. A juvenile son of Western Ideal trained by Bruce Saunders, Mangogh recorded his second win from six starts and pushed his career earnings to nearly $50,000 while taking a new mark.
Then one race later in the $37,500 W.N. Reynolds Memorial for two-year-old filly trotters, Cloud Nine Fashion (Tetrick) lived up to her role as the 1-9 favorite while avoiding several breakers early and then setting soft fractions of 30.3, 1:00.1 and 1:28.2 then sprinted home from Southwind Percy (David Miller) to score in 1:57. A juvenile daughter of Muscle Hill trained by Jim Campbell for owner-breeder Fashion Farms, Cloud Nine Fashion remained perfect from four starts and nearly doubled her career earnings to $40,000.
Then several races later on the card in the $10,000 Open II, Believe This Bob (Aaron Byron) lived up to his role as the 3-2 choice when he gained command easily in a 27.2 opener, got a breather by the half in 56.2, raced unpressed down the backside and by three-quarters in 1:23.2 then held safe O Sundland (Larry Stalbaum) to score by a neck in 1:51.3. An 11-year-old Beach Romeo gelding trained by Joe Skowya for owner Mary Ann Larrimore, Believe This Bob ended a modest skid to notch his fourth win from 25 seasonal outings.
That same evening at Lexington's Red Mile, the early portion of the card focused on the Kentucky Sire Stakes for two-year-old pacing colts and several of them emerged as budding stars.
In the opening race on the card, Edge Of Eternity (Chris Page) just lived up to his role as the 2-5 favorite when he gained command before the opener in 28.3, rolled by the half in 56.3 and three-quarters in 1:26 and just outlasted the late bid of Cash Reward (Yannick Gingras) to score in 1:53 in a KYSS split for two-year-old filly pacers. The juvenile daughter of Rocknroll Dance trained by Brian Brown has won three of four starts and earned $30,000.
Then one race later in the first $30,000 KYSS split for two-year-old colt pacers, Magic Joe Lindy (Scott Zeron) easily lived up to his billing as the 6-5 favorite when he brushed to command before the half in 55.3, rebuffed an early bid from Egomania (Page) by three-quarters in 1:24 then romped home four lengths clear in 1:51. A freshman son of American Ideal trained by Dominico Cecere, Magic Joe Lindy rebounded from a pair of narrow defeats to notch his second win in four starts and lowered his lifetime mark by nearly three seconds.
Then one race later in the second $30,000 KYSS split for two-year-old colt pacers, Hurrikane Emperor (Andrew McCarthy) rallied belatedly to wear down Bettor's Wish (Dexter Dunn) to score by a neck in 1:50.4. A juvenile son of Hurricane Kingcole trained by John McDermott, Hurrikane Emperor rebounded from a very narrow setback in his previous outings to record his fifth win in six lifetime tries and push his bankroll to $87,000.
Then one race later in the second $30,000 KYSS division for two-year-old filly pacers, Beautyonthebeach (Doug McNair) benefited from a wicked early tempo, rallied with live cover down the backside and through the far turn and swept by the leaders in the lane to score by two lengths in 1:51. A juvenile daughter of Somebeachsomewhere trained by Greg McNair, Beautyonthebeach notched her second straight victory and third win in six starts overall while lowering her lifetime mark by two full seconds.
Then one race later in the third $30,000 KYSS split for two-year-old colt pacers, Captain Trevor (McCarthy) overhauled 4-5 favorite Blood Money (Gingras) in the lane for a length victory in 1:52.2. A juvenile son of Captaintrecherous trained by Tony Alagna, Captain Trevor remained perfect in three starts by unleashing a 26 final quarter to overtake Blood Money in the final yards. Blood Money owns three wins and a pair of second-place efforts in five starts for Takter.
That same evening at Ocean Downs, where aged pacers are typically the ruling party, the seaside oval offered a good blend of overnight events along with a pair of Maryland Sire Stakes finals for two-year-olds.
In the second race on the card, All The Cookies (Tyler Davis) benefited from a coveted rail draw, left to secure good position, yielded briefly to Simons Artist (Jason Thompson) then retook before the opener, got a breather to the half in 57.1, rebuffed a first over bid from Rock The Town (Morgan), opened a clear lead on the far turn and held safe Simons Artist for a three-length score in 1:53.3 in the $7,500 Gold Class 1.
A five-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding trained by Phil Mitchell, All The Cookies recorded his fourth straight victory and fourth win in eight starts at the meet and is among the short list of contenders for horse of the meet heading into Labor Day weekend. All The Cookies sports a 6-5-2 slate and $29,000 bankroll from 21 seasonal outings and still boasts a 1:50.2 lifetime mark at Dover Downs two years ago.
Just prior to the midway point of the card, Whoopdee Goo (Jim Morand) swept past his entrymate Gaareat Gazoo (Frank Milby) to take command before three-quarters in 1:30.2, opened a clear lead on the far turn and easily held safe Mind Your Business (Russell Foster) to score in 2:01.1. A gelded son of Googoo Gaagaa owned, bred and trained by Richard Hans, Whoopdee Goo notched his third win in four starts and pushed his earnings past $44,000. Mind Your Business recovered from a break nearing the half to rally for second in a good try.
Then one race later on the card in the $67,000 MDSS final for two-year-old filly pacers, How Bout Dat Rusty (Jonathan Roberts) easily lived up to her role as the 1-9 favorite when she gained command from post two well before a 28.4 opener, got a breather to the half in 59.1, opened a clear lead by three-quarters in 1:27.1 and held safe B For Real (Victor Kirby) to score by two lengths in 1:56.3. A juvenile son of Rusty's For Real trained by Mike Hall for owner Al Carter, How Bout Dat Rusty notched her fourth win from six starts and pushed her earnings past $50,000 while taking a new lifetime mark.
Then two races later in the $10,000 Open Handicap for older pacers, Emeritus Maximus (Jason Green) lived up to his role as the even-money favorite when he overcame a month layoff and first over journey to wear down In Force (Kirby) by three-quarters in 1:24.2, surged to a clear lead at the head of the lane and held safe Hi Sir (Foster) to score by three lengths in 1:52.4. An eight-year-old Rocknroll Hanover stallion trained by Kyle Moore, Emeritus Maximus easily prevailed in his seaside oval debut and now owns a 7-2-4 slate and nearly $70,000 banked from 22 starts this year.
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