Silverlode puts herself in record books

 By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness

With her 2:57 2/5 final clocking in winning last weekend’s mile and one-half Joe Lighthill Trot, Silverlode has established a new North American record for the distance on a mile track.

The 10-year-old California-bred British Sterling mare, who is owned by Medinah Racing and Kathie Plested, is trained by Plested and was handled by Steve Wiseman, captured the Lighthill by three and one-quarter lengths in a sensational performance.

Silverlode, who has a slew of Sire Stakes trophies on her mantle, pushed her career bank account to $237,000 with the victory and has a 1:54 3/5 mark for a mile that was established last year over the Running Aces oval.

For the record, the previous standard for a mile and a half victory on a mile layout of 2:57 3/5 was jointly held by three trotters – Meadow Road (1985), Victors Pursuit (2006) Rev It Up (2012).

In addition to the record-breaking score by Silverlode, the Plested shedrow also sent out the winner of the Open Pace last Saturday night as King Of The Crop flew home to get the nod over Pancetta in a 1:52 4/5 performance.

Another Cal-bred, King Of The Crop carries the banner of Don and Barbara Arnstine, Steve Chambers and Plested and was also excellently handled by Wiseman. It was the third tally at the head of the class from the last five trips to the post for this 8-year-old son of Little Steven.

  

Speaking of Little Steven offspring, a tip of the cap to Rick Cisco’s 14-year-old pacing mare Blue Note, who has now won three of her last seven starts with Nate Sobey, James Kennedy and most recently Luke Plano doing the honors while pushing her earnings over the $150,000 plateau.

Stablemates Pancetta, Bettor Lady in spotlight

Stablemates Pancetta, Bettor Lady in spotlight

A pair of Open Paces head the action Friday night at Cal Expo, and barnmates Bettor Lady and Pancetta loom large in their respective events for owners Richard Morita and David Yamada and trainer Lino Pacheco.

A 12-race card is on tap under the Watch and Wager LLC banner with first post at 6:10 p.m. and there will also be trio of California Sire Stakes for the 4-year-olds going as non-betting events prior to the regular program.

Bettor Lady is coming off back-to-back 6-1 upset scores, the most recent coming in last week’s Filly and Mare Open. In that contest, James Kennedy was able to work out a pocket trip with the daughter of Bettor’s Delight, she responded when the question was asked and was up by a nose.

Meanwhile, Pancetta just missed to favored King Of The Crop in last week’s Open Pace and will not have that rival to deal with this time around. The 10-year-old son of No Pan Intended will once again have Dean Magee doing the honors.

Bettor In The Bank rattled off four straight wins between January 25 and February 15, including two Open Pace scores, before checking in a close third in the most recent clash at the head of the class and deserves plenty of respect.

The long-fused 9-year-old goes about his business for Debra McCarthy with Gordie Graham training and James Kennedy in the sulky. He is looking to add to a $221,000 bank account with 1:51 3/5 standard that was established over this layout.

Icy Blue Scooter has gone some outstanding miles at this meet while racing at the highest level and helps make things very interesting from the outside post for driver/trainer Nate Sobey, who co-owns the son of Blue Burner with Diane Bertrand and Robert Gilhespy.

THE BIG M’S GREAT FEBRUARY EIGHT

Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Meadowlands is known for good business and good racing in the wintertime, but even the track’s biggest supporters – whether management or fan – might have been a tad surprised at how things transpired at the mile oval over the course of the eight racing programs during the month of February.

On the track, nobody did it better than driver Yannick Gingras. During the month, Gingras – who won 13 times during the opening weekend – visited the winner’s circle 33 times. His win percentage was a gaudy 33 and he hit the board 57 percent of the time.

The next three most prolific winning drivers – Dexter Dunn (14), Andy Miller (11) and Corey Callahan (9) – all did well yet combined to win only one more race than Gingras did all by himself.

Trainer Ron Burke – who not surprisingly uses Gingras as his go-to pilot – also amassed remarkable February numbers, winning 18-of-46 starts, good for a win percentage of 39.

Wagering at the sport’s industry leader hit high gear during February when a total of $23,122,405 was pushed through the windows. Average handle per card was $2,890,300, while $222,330 was bet per race.

The Big M’s popular low takeout (15 per cent) multi-leg bets saw plenty of play. The eight February 50-Cent Pick-5 pools took $480,160 in action, averaging $60,020 per, while the 50-Cent Pick-4 handled $788,568, good for an average pool of $98,571.

Last Saturday (Feb. 23), shrewd handicappers hit big when playing the wagers. The Pick-5 saw no winning favorites during its sequence, and as a result, those holding winning tickets cashed in for $14,703. On the same night, the Pick-4 came back an extremely appealing $4,492 despite a pair of winning “figure” horses. During that sequence, there was one winner who paid $7.80 as a second choice and another who came back $4.20 as the even-money favorite, with both driven by Gingras.

The challenge for those who hit was having one 20-1 shot and one 15-1 chance, both of whom went inside trips as a contentious pace with a live outer flow unfolded around them, a common Meadowlands occurrence.

The average Pick-5 payoff during February was $3,264 while the Pick-4 yielded $1,207.

Free program pages for the Pick-4s for the upcoming Friday and Saturday programs are available – as always – by going to www.ustrotting.com or www.playmeadowlands.com.

When racing resumes Friday at 7:15 p.m., 20-Cent Jackpot Super High-Five players have a pair of healthy carryovers to shoot for. In the fifth race, $54,633 will be the starting point, while in the 13^th race, $14,065 will be up for grabs.

February might be over, but there is much to look forward to in March. The first of two substantial purse increases take effect Friday. One such increase will be reflected in the seventh race Preferred Handicap for pacers, where the purse, which had been $21,000, will now offer $25,000 for the top five finishers to divvy up.

“Good weather, competitive racing and full fields led to us having a great month of February,” said Big M Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir, “the support of our horsemen was a big factor on how well things went. Starting this week, we hope to continue to get their support as we offer bigger purses, which should provide our fans with the wagering opportunities – specifically big fields – they want.”

COUNTDOWN TO MADNESS: College basketball’s yearly stranglehold on the sports world begins March 19, as “March Madness” gets underway. For the first time ever, Meadowlands fans can watch and wager on each and every one of the games in the Big M’s FanDuel Sportsbook.

LET ME BE YOUR TEDDY BEAR: On Friday (March 1), spend an evening with Elvis Presley impersonator Ralph Carey, who will take you through the career of “The King”. They’ll be music, laughter and memories, and you get the show plus a buffet dinner for only $29.95. Call 201-THE-BIGM for reservations.

CATCH THE FEVER: On March 1 and 2, there will literally be plenty of money up for grabs at the Meadowlands.

Six contestants will be selected to spend 30 seconds in the track’s “Cash Money Machine” and grab as much green as they can before the clock runs out. To be eligible, one must enter before the fifth race with the contest to take place after the sixth.

Contestants must “catch and hold” as much cash as they can. The available denominations are $1, $2, $5, $10, $25, $50, $100 and $500. While in the money machine, participants must face forward and catch the cash, no bending down or turning around will be allowed. All monies must be collected in the provided cooler bag. No money in pockets or hugged to the body will count towards the prize money.

WHHC QUALIFIER: On Saturday (March 16), there will be a last chance $200 qualifier for the World Harness Handicapping Championship at the Big M. For complete information, go to http://playmeadowlands.com/uploadedFiles/2019%20March%20WHHC%20qualifier_Rev1.pdf.

Sr Radar Pulls Shocker At Buffalo Raceway

by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway

HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Sr Radar wasn't on the 'radar' of many fans in Buffalo Raceway's $10,500 Class A Open Handicap Trot on Wednesday night (Feb. 27) but those who had him on their screens were rewarded handsomely with a $53.50 win ticket.

In the other main event, HP Sissy ($7.30) dashed through the snow in gate-to-wire fashion and easily took the $10,500 Class A Open Handicap Pace for the filly and mares.

Scoring from the three post on the flurry-filled evening, Sr Radar was pushed right to the lead by driver Mike Baumeister. After registering fractions of :29.4, 1:00.4 and 1:33.1, Sr Radar then braced himself for late charges down the stretch.

Those rallies came fast and furious as Are You In (John Cummings Jr.) and Kickinitwithkohler (Denny Bucceri) both made valiant efforts down the lane but Sr Radar managed to cling to neck victory 2:05.4. Are You In took second while Kickinitwithkohler was third.

Owned and trained by Brittney Ohol, it was the second win in six tries this season for the 6-year-old gelded Sr Radar (Iron Duke-Sweethomeourbama). The victory pushed his seasonal winnings to $13,325 and $110,715 lifetime.

HP Sissy (Bucceri) found things much easier in the co-feature as she had little problem in wiring the field by 3-1/4 lengths 

Pacing right to the lead off the wings, HP Sissy cruised on the front end with splits of :30.1, 1:01.4 and 1:32.0. It appeared that Aritzia Hanover and You Mach Me Crazy were poised to make bids at the top of the stretch, but HP Sissy stayed on task and never was threatened at the finish line.

HP Sissy (Up The Credit-Monica Blue Chip) is a 6-year-old mare owned by John and Sally Finocchario and trained by Mike Ohol. She has now produced $18,138 in 2019 earnings and $269,274 career-wise.

In the $15,000 final of the Opportunity Knock Series, Keystone Royce (Bucceri) collared the pace-setting Capital Account (Drew Monti) and scored the two length victory. Quick Trot (Jimmy Whittemore) took the show position.

Keystone Royce (Western Hanover-Keystone Romona) is an 11-year-old gelding that is owned by Lav Racing Stable and trained by George Anthrop. It was the second trip to the winner's circle for Keystone Royce this year. It moved his seasonal bankroll to $12,720 and $229,640 lifetime.

In the $7,500 Opportunity Knocks consolation event, Ugly Betty (Billy Davis Jr.) pulled a $11.20 surprise.

Davis Jr. and Bucceri each had four-baggers in the bike while Monti had a double. Jeff Amann had a training double.

Racing will continue on Saturday evening when a 13-race card goes to the post starting at 6 p.m. There will be a $649 carryover in the Pick-5 which begins in the second race.

For more information including the latest news, race replays, results, entries, upcoming promotions and simulcast schedule, go to www.buffaloraceway.com

Photos:

YONKERS’ TUESDAY RACE DECLARED ‘NO CONTEST’

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

                                                                                                 

YONKERS, NY, Tuesday, February 26, 2019—Yonkers Raceway’s fourth race Tuesday night (Feb. 26^th) was declared a ‘no contest’.

Right around the quarter-mile pole, trailing pacer Classiesistar N (Joe Bongiorno) took some bad steps and fell down. He landed about two or three paths out from the pylons and not far from where the starting car remains as an observer during the race.

 When the rest of field hit the backstretch the second time, they all had to check up to negotiate a ‘skinnier’ oval, going wide in between the fallen horse and the car.

With the entire oval unable to be used during the race, the judges deemed the race a ‘no contest’.

Now the good news. Bongiorno was not hurt, while 10-year-old gelding Classiesistar N—once unhooked from the bike—immediately took a clockwise lap before escorting himself back to the paddock. The injury report apparently consisted of just some cuts to his knees and/or feet.  

USHWA CONDUCTS SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS, DAN PATCH AWARDS BANQUET IN ORLANDO

From the U.S. Harness Writers Association

HARRISBURG PA – The United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA), the leading organization of harness racing’s chroniclers, held its annual meetings at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando FL for the second consecutive year this past Saturday and Sunday. The writers’ meetings were held in conjunction with the group’s annual Dan Patch Awards Banquet, which on Sunday evening celebrated the best of brightest of the sport during the 2018 racing campaign (including an attending “mystery guest” – more on him near the end).

Saturday’s meeting gathered the organization’s board of directors, while Sunday’s session was an open gathering for all of USHWA’s members.

The major by-law change passed by the USHWA directors gave a fuller oversight authority to the group’s Integrity Committee, who now is empowered to take action during all stages of all of the awards processes, from the start of the nominations all the way through and beyond the awarding of any honors.

As a result of discussion during the meetings, two new USHWA Committees were formed. A proposal to transfer final decisionmaking power on journalists to appear on the annual Communicators Hall of Fame ballot, which would have shifted that authority from the Directors to the Hall of Fame Screening Committee, was after a multifaceted discussion tabled pending a report from the new committee to be established to study the matter. Also to be the subject of investigation of a committee was the possibility of producing “past performance line”-type information to aid voters of the various Dan Patch Equine Awards at year’s end.

USHWA continued its recent trend of financial responsibility and income production during 2018, showing a profit for the second straight year. Prospects for 2019 also received an early boost from the excellent sale of journal ads, sponsorships, and tickets surrounding the weekend’s Dan Patch Awards Banquet.

As reported earlier, the Directors voted Ken Weingartner, media relations manager for the U.S. Trotting Association, and Phil Pikelny, former publicity director at the USTA and several tracks and also co-author of the book Rambling Willie: The Horse That God Loved, as ballot candidates for this summer’s election for the status of being a member of the Communicators Hall of Fame.

The team of Officers in charge of guiding the fortunes of USHWA was returned for another year: Shawn Wiles, of Monticello Raceway, as President; Kim Rinker, of the Ohio Sire Stakes and Ohio Standardbred Development Fund, as Vice-President; and freelance communicators Barry Lefkowitz and Jerry Connors as, respectively, treasurer and secretary. The fifth Officer, the multitasking Tim Bojarski, remains as Chair of the Board, as that position is defined in the USHWA bylaws as the immediate past president of the organization.

At the Dan Patch Awards Banquet, USHWA’s Stan Bergstein-Proximity Award, the highest honor voted on solely by the organization’s members and given for longtime distinguished service to the sport, was bestowed on the top moneywinning Standardbred of all time, the $7,635,588 earner Foiled Again. And the banquet crowd was roused to a standing ovation when the 15-year-old Foiled Again, now in retirement, was himself walked into the banquet hall , displaying the equanimity (or should that be “equinimity”?) which had endeared him to so many harness fans on both sides of the fence during his long and illustrious career.

McWicked, the leading moneywinner of the 2018 season, took home both Harness Horse of the Year and Pacer of the Year honors, while the three-year-old filly Atlanta, conqueror of “the boys” in the prestigious Hambletonian Stake, won plaudits as Trotter of the Year on the 2018 racing scene.

Also on hand to be honored were Ted Gewertz, Joe Holloway, Jerry Silverman, and Linda Toscano upon their election to the sport’s highest honor, the Hall of Fame, along with Mark Hall and Dave Little, who were voted into the Communicators Hall of Fame. This group will join with Hall of Fame electees Blair Burgess and Ted Wing to be formally inducted on the seventh of July at the site of the sport’s Hall, Goshen NY.

Usiak Joins Buffalo Raceway's Handicapping Staff

by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway

HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Opinions. Everybody has one.

Well, fans are now getting another opinion when it comes to handicapping the races at Buffalo Raceway as Paige Usiak has joined the team to give her insight. She's along side Buffalo Raceway track announcer Wayne Teaven on the track and simulcast feed as the pair share their perspective on each race.

Their input is in addition to Brian Mazurek's selections which appear in the nightly Buffalo Raceway program and at http://briansbuffaloracewayselections.blogspot.com

So, along with the morning line odds, it now gives fans four different points of view on each and every race. 

Usiak said, "We are tweaking things as we go along but so far I think Wayne and I are playing off each other well. I study the program for every card and probably watch two hours of replays to get ready for the night."

Buffalo Raceway Director of Operations Jon Cramer said, "We're excited to have Paige on board. She is working well with Wayne."

Usiak is no stranger to horses. She's was on Buffalo Raceway's backstretch last year,  working the ship-in barn and also paddocking. Being on the front side is different this season for her, stating, "On any given day I can be doing something new, I never know what but I'll do it. It's a lot of fun."

She can be seen serving cocktails in the clubhouse and discussing her personal race picks with seasoned fans and newcomers.

Usiak is currently enrolled at Erie Community College where she plans on becoming an architect. So while being a 'Jill of all trades' at Buffalo Raceway, a handicapper and college student, it makes for a busy life.

But for Usiak, it's something she's enjoying.

YONKERS’ MONDAY PICK 5 FEATURES $4,100 CARRYOVER, 15G GUARANTEE

                          BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway          

YONKERS, NY, Sunday, February 24, 2019—A friendly reminder from Yonkers Raceway that Monday evening’s (Feb. 25^st) Pick 5 wager starts with a carryover of $4,104.52 and a $15,000 guaranteed pool. The guarantee is in conjunction with the U.S. Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program.

The Pick 5 is a 50-cent base wager comprising races 7 through 11 Monday night. It has no consolation payoff, meaning if no one selects all five winners (as was the case Saturday evening), the entire pool (minus takeout) moves to the next racing program.

DAVIS PLAYING CLAIM GAME WELL AT BIG M

By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – It looks like trainer Dylan Davis, a Dover Downs regular, is preparing to do some damage at the Meadowlands. In fact, he’s already started doing just that.

Davis’ Castle Flight, a $50,000 claim two weeks ago, was a determined winner Saturday night in the Meadowlands’ weekly pacing feature, the $21,000 Preferred Handicap for pacers.

The 7-year-old gelded son of Panspacificflight-O Narutac Castle unleashed a powerhouse performance, cutting out fractions of :26.3, :55 and 1:22.1, before hitting the wire in 1:49.3 for driver Yannick Gingras. It was the first sub-1:50 mile this year at the Big M. New Talent was a half-length back in second with 2-1 public choice K Ryan Bluechip third.

“I think the horse was sharp before I got him,” said Davis, “I raced against him at Hoosier Park so I know a lot about him. I’m very impressed with him.”

When Castle Flight ($7.80 to win as the second choice) debuted in the Preferred ranks on Feb. 16, he finished a good second to K Ryan Bluechip. This time, there was no doubt who was best, as Castle Flight, who is owned by Michael Casalino Jr., won his 24^th race in 133 career starts, good for a bankroll of $249,776.

Just one race before Castle Flight established his new lifetime best, Davis and his owners (Casalino and Tom Lazzaro) took another horse for $50,000, the red-hot Mindtrip, who won his third straight at the tough non-winners of $15,000 level for pacers, on the front end in a lifetime-best 1:50. Mitch Cushing drove the winner, who was trained by Patti Harmon.

 “I was sitting with Mr. Casalino when Mindtrip won,” said Davis, “And I told him, ‘I think this one’s better than Castle Flight’, but then Castle Flight went out and won in 1:49(.3). I noticed on the condition sheets that the Meadowlands is writing higher-priced claimers. I see there’s a $50-60,000 claimer coming. Hey, if I can make $10,000 in a week it’s not the worst day if I lose him for $60,000, and if I don’t, we’ll just make as much money with him as we can. But, he could race in the preferred, so ultimately, what class he races in is the decision of my owners.”

Davis and his owners are no doubt looking to the future and the $40,000 per-card purse increase that will come to the Meadowlands, effective Friday, March 1. They will start the era with a pair of aces in their barn.

A LITTLE MORE: Some good handicapping and some good luck led to a big payoff in the 50-Cent Pick-5. A total of $67,180 was bet on the wager that begins in Race 1, and when favorites failed to win even one leg, those who had winning tickets walked away with $14,703.30. … The 50-Cent Pick-4 attracted total action of $105,936, and for those sharp enough to use a 21-1 shot and a 15-1 chance on their tickets cashed in for just under $4,500. … All-source wagering on the 13-race card totaled $2,901,031. … Racing resumes Friday at 7:15 p.m.

STRATTON AND PAIR OF 10-YEAR-OLDS SWEEP SATURDAY NIGHT 44G CO-FEATURES

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

                                                                                                 

YONKERS, NY, Saturday, February 23, 2019—Jordan Stratton was seen in the presence of some pretty haughty company Saturday night (Feb. 23^rd), taking both halves of Yonkers Raceway’s $44,000 co-features with favored millionaire (Melady’s Monet, $4.70) and favored double-millionaire (Bit of a Legend N, $3.80).

            The weekly marquee trot—handicapped--was not a fair fight, with Melady’s Monet moving first-up early and striding out late. Away fifth from post position No. 5 (in one notch after a defection), ‘Melady’ was out and moving in the second turn to go after Fearless Man (Jason Bartlett).

The one led through quickie early intervals of :27.1 and :56.4, but was heading the wrong way by the 1:26.1 three-quarters. Melady’s Monet took over soon thereafter, opening 2½ lengths entering the lane. He finished it off by 2¼ lengths in a season’s=best 1:55.3.

Smalltownthrowdown (Dan Dube) couldn’t match strides with the winner but did get into second, with Mostinterestingman (Austin Siegelman), DW’s NY Yank (George Brennan) and Lily’s Swan Pond (Joe Bongiorno) settling for the minors.

            For Melady’s Monet, a 10-year-old Revenue S gelding owned by Melady Enterprises and trained by Hermann Heitmann, it was his second win (54^th career) in five seasonal starts. The exacta paid $28.40, with triple  returned $115.50 and the superfecta paid $369.50.   

There weren’t many styles points for Bit of a Legend N in the week’s blind-draw adult pace. From post position No. 2, he went the distance (:28, :57.2, 1:25.1; 1:53.1), holding sway over a stubborn Don Domingo N (Matt Kakaley). The latter tried it first-up from third.  

The margin was a short head in 1:53.1. Imarocnrollegend N (George Brennan) was a  pocket third, with Bettor Memories (Bartlett) and Shneonucrzydiamnd A (Jim Marohn Jr.) rounding out the payees.  

            For Bit of a Legend N, a 10-year-old Down Under son of Bettor’s Delight owned by Von Knoblauch Stables and trained by Peter Tritton, it was his first win (47^th career) in a pair of ’19 tries. The exacta paid $13.80, the triple returned $44.80 and the superfecta paid $182.50.

Beachy Dream Makes Splash In Buffalo Raceway Win

by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway

HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Beachy Dream swept by the field like a tidal wave and surfed his way to a dominating 4-1/2 length win over Dark Horse in Buffalo Raceway's $11,000 Class AA Open Handicap Pace on Saturday night (Feb. 23).

Driver Shawn Gray sent Beachy Dream to the winner's circle and remained scorching hot at Buffalo Raceway as he banked four victories on the program to push his total to 23 in just 75 starts. He had four victories on Wednesday's card.

It was a mad dash for the lead with IYQ YQR and Dark Horse fighting it out to the half mile pole while Beachy Dream enjoyed the festivities from fifth. Gray then asked Beachy Dream to go to work and he responded perfectly.

Getting live cover, Beachy Dream stormed three-wide to the three-quarter pole and easily stormed his way to the lead, drawing off by widening 4-1/2 lengths in 1:58.1 over the good track. Dark Horse (Ray Fisher Jr.) picked up the place check while Mr Euroman N (Billy Davis Jr.) was third.

Beachy Dream (If I Can Dream-Beachy Girl) is an 8-year-old gelding that has found the winner's circle three times in five appearances in 2019. Owned by Mike Torcello and trained by Gerry Sarama, Beachy Dream has now earned $17,920 on the year and $198,060 in his career.

There were a pair of sub-featured $9,500 Class A races on the card. The most impressive in the two events was A F F Bigdaddy ($2.60) who strolled to an easy 5-1/4 length win over Im So Handsome in 1:56.1. 

After sitting back and watching the scrum take place on the front end, A F F Bigdaddy (Drew Monti) took over just before the quarter pole and never felt any pressure the rest of the way.

Owned by Jennifer and Marcus Rogowski and trained by Steve Kiblin, it was the second victory in three starts this season for A F F Bigdaddy (Sir Luck-Artacam Hanover). The 6-year-old gelding has now put $10,840 in the bank on the campaign and $89,865 lifetime.

In the other contest, four horses had a taste of the lead at some point but it was Manceiver ($5.40) who was on top when it counted the most, at the wire.  

Manceiver (Gray) had the lead early, was shuffled back, but found a way to shake free in the stretch to register a 1-3/4 length nod over Foreign Officer (Monti) in 1:58.1.

Conditioned by Sarama and owned by Torcello, it was the third victory in five outings this season for the 5-year-old gelded Manceiver (Sportswriter-Swift N Shout). The win jacked his seasonal earnings to $14,390 and $109,027 in his career. 

Monti also had an excellent night in the sulky as he had five victories while Davis Jr. doubled. Sarama had three training scores and Lee Dahn had a pair.

Racing will resume on Wednesday evening with a 13-race program scheduled for 5 p.m. The finals and the consolation round of the 'Opportunity Knocks' Series highlight the card along with the $10,500 Class A Open Handicap Trot and the $10,500 Class A Open Handicap Pace for the ladies.

For more information including the latest news, race replays, results, entries, upcoming promotions and simulcast schedule, go to www.buffaloraceway.com

STREAKING STREETCAR STRIKES AGAIN AT BIG M

By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Trolley continued his dominance of the top class at the Meadowlands – the $21,000 Preferred Handicap – winning the Big M's weekly trotting feature for a fourth straight start Friday night.

The Erv Miller student faced a tough task. The Ron Burke-trained In Secret was seeking his fourth straight win, and after Trolley sped away from the gate to grab the lead around the first turn, Yannick Gingras then moved In Secret to the top.

The half-mile marker was hit in :55.4 with In Secret (the 2-1 third choice) on the point, Trolley in the pocket and 9-5 second choice Sutton – who was making his seasonal debut – sitting third.

On the far turn, rather than wait for the stretch drive, Marcus Miller popped Trolley out of the pocket just before the three-quarter-mile marker and went after the leader, securing the top with a quick move with three-sixteenths of a mile to go.

Through the lane, Trolley showed his foes why he’s the “King of the Meadowlands”, easily going on to a 1-length win in 1:52.4. Rail-sitters Sutton and Two AM rallied to get second and third, respectively, as In Secret weakened to fourth.

After winning his previous start as the 2-5 choice, Trolley’s followers were rewarded Friday with a $4.40 win payout for the 6-5 favorite. The 6-year-old son of Donato Hanover-Lakeside Bride, who has now won six of his last seven outings, won for the 15^thtime in 29 career starts (52 per cent), good for earnings of $334,459 for owners Michael Anderson, Leland Mathias, Greg Gillis and Louis Willinger.

A LITTLE MORE: Four drivers recorded driving doubles on the card: Dexter Dunn, Gingras, Pat Berry and Anthony Napolitano. … Wagering in the 50-Cent Pick-4 came close to the $100,000 mark, as a total of $98,085 in action was taken. … All-source wagering on the 13-race card totaled $2,690,822. … Former Big M standout Brett Miller drove his 8,000^th career winner Friday, taking the $25,000 first edition of the Howard Beissinger Memorial Medley at 1¼ miles at Miami Valley Raceway. … Racing resumes at the Big M Saturday at 7:15 p.m.

ITTY BITTY WINS FRIDAY NIGHT 44G DISTAFF DERBY

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

                                                                                                 

YONKERS, NY, Friday, February 22, 2019—Tepid choice Itty Bitty (Jim Marohn Jr., $7.10) picked off a tiring leader Friday night (Feb. 22^nd), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $44,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.

Unhurried from post position No. 3, Itty Bitty saw a wide-early Monica Gallagher (Matt Kakaley) have to work to get around Ideal Lifestyle A (a returning Mark MacDonald). ‘Monica’ paid a :26.4 opening-quarter-mile price for the privilege, only to have Ideal Lifestyle A pull pocket by the :55.3 intermission.

That lass began to open up down the backside, widening through a 1:23.4 three-quarters and taking a 3½-length lead into the lane. However, the hooves were getting heavy and Itty Bitty—who had gone three-deep around a dullard—found herself within range.

  Itty Bitty rolled past Ideal Lifestyle A late, winning by a half-length in a season’s-best 1:53.4. A last-at-the-outset Betterb Chevron N (Jordan Stratton) did get the bottom of the ticket, with 79-1 outsider Shezza GNP N (Austin Siegelman) and Monica Gallagher settling for the minors.

            For Itty Bitty, a 5-year-old daughter of Always a Virgin co-owned (as Allard Racing) by (trainer) Rene Allard, B & I Stables and Stephen Klunowski, it was her second win in seven seasonal starts. The exacta paid $29, the triple returned $224 and the superfecta paid $4,332.

Opens, Goudreau Final, Lighthill Trot on tap

By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness

A pair of contentious Open Paces; the $8,600 Shelly Goudreau Final and the $8,000 Joe Lighthill Trot at an extended mile and one-half headline an excellent program at Cal Expo on Saturday night.

An 11-race card is set to kick off at 6:10 p.m., with the Lighthill going as the fourth event; the Filly and Mare Open follows in the next spot; the Open Pace occupies the seventh-race slot and the Goudreau Final will be the ninth event on the evening.

Urgointohearmeroar will be looking to account for his third series final at the meet in the Goudreau. A 4-year-old son of Mystery Chase, Urgointohearmeroar has already captured the Bill Conlin and Robert Gordon Finals at this stand and looms a very heavy favorite once again.

Owned by Mark Anderson, trained by Gordie Graham and with Mooney Svendsen in the sulky, he has been unbeatable this season while going off the prohibitive choice on each occasion.

Urgointohearmeroar faced his biggest challenge in last week’s outing in the Goudreau Prep, leaving from the second tier in the overflow cast. He was parked first-over at the half, then dug in determinedly to prevail by a neck that evening.

It was certainly a blanket finish, with the first four across the wire separated by only three-quarters of a length in that 1:54 flat mile, but the others figure to have their work cut out Saturday with Urgointohearmeroar having the rail draw this time around.

The two Opens are both very contentious events with Bettor In The Bank assigned the outside post in the male division and stablemates Capitol Hill and Outrageousdelightn getting the outside slots in the Distaff end.

Low takeout wagers offer true value

There are two wagers offered here each night that come with a reduced 16% takeout rate – the 50-cent Pick 5, which begins on the first race; and the 20-cent Pick 4.

There are guaranteed pools for the Pick 4, with a $30,000-guaranteed gross pool on Fridays and a $40,000 guarantee on Saturdays.

To give you some idea of the added value, last Saturday night’s Pick 5 returned a very nice $4,562 for each winning 50-cent ticket. Using normal takeout, the payoff would have been $4,073 a difference of $489 per ducket.

Meadowlands Spring Beer Dinner Features Blue Point Brewing

On Saturday, March 16^th Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment is hosting a 5-course beer dinner featuring Long Island’s Blue Point Brewing Company.

Each course is expertly paired by Executive Chef Dennis Sammarone to showcase Blue Point’s brews.

1st course: Brie, Manchego, Fig & Apricot with Blue Point Toasted Lager 

2nd course: Fresh Guacamole with Jalapenos & Cumin served with house-made chips paired with Blue Point The IPA

3rd course: Beer-Steamed Mussels with Blue Point Shore Thing Lager

4th course: BBQ Ribs with Spicy Fries & Coleslaw with Blue Point Small Batch Hazy Bastard

5th course: Apple & Lemon Tart with fresh Whipped Cream & Blueberries paired with Blue Point Blueberry Ale

Beer dinner guests also get a show on the racetrack with live harness racing kicking off at 7:15pm.

For reservations call 201-The-BigM.  The full menu and beer descriptions are available at http://playmeadowlands.com/dining/blue-point-beer-dinner.html

Veteran Franks Best adds to the resume

By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness

Franks Best hasn’t been around forever, it just seems that way.

The 12-year-old son of Armbro Scribe got his first snapshot of the season in last weekend’s Open III Trot with Mooney Svendsen at the controls for owner/trainer/breeder Bob Johnson.

“There’s no question, he’s one of my all-time favorites,” said Johnson. “He just loves to go out there and race.”

For the record, Franks Best was making his 256^th trip to the post and has now recorded 48 wins, 47 seconds and 37 thirds while putting $280,475 in his bank account. He recorded his 1:55 4/5 lifetime mark three years ago.

Franks Best, who has a number of Sire Stakes trophies on his mantle, was cut out to be a nice performer. His sire won 40 of his 226 starts while earning $433,000, while his dam Inside Edition was a top racemare who captured 22 of her 69 starts before going to the breeding shed.

Meanwhile, Bob Johnson is set to celebrate his 76^th birthday in April and continues to send out a steady stream of winners. He was second in the trainer standings here last year and is currently third in the race at this meet.

Johnson comes into this week having sent out 15,683 starters and 2,574 have come back to greet him in the charmed enclosure, including those 47 wins by Franks Best. Both are looking to add to their impressive totals in the near future.

Eastender gets top billing in main event

Eastender, third behind the hard-knocking pair of I’m An Athlete and Pancetta at most recent asking, lands a cozy spot in Friday night’s conditioned pacing feature at Cal Expo.

A 12-race card is on tap under the Watch and Wager LLC banner with first post is 6:10 p.m. and there will also be three California Sire Stakes going as non-betting events prior to the regular program.

An 8-year-old son of Cheyenne Rei, Eastender is owned by Maryann Plano and Nikki Hudson with Luke Plano reigning and training. He will be looking for his second win on the year from seven trips to the post.

The bay gelding recorded that victory as the odds-on choice in a January 19 contest and is coming off a second and a third in his last two tries. While no match for the top pair in that last tour after making a first-over bid, he should be very much at home in Friday’s line-up.

Taking him on are One And Only, Justabitcrazy, Last Dragon, Laissez Moi Passer, Contemporary Legend, China King, Prodigal and Wet Shark.

Looking ahead to Saturday’s outstanding card, there will be a pair of Open events, the Shelly Goudreau Final and the Joe Lighthill Trot.

Both Opens look like very contentious events, while Urgointohearmeroar looms an overwhelming favorite in the Goudreau Final and the Lighthill should prove to be a very interesting contest with the trotters going an extended mile and one-half journey.

COUNTDOWN TO BIGGER MEADOWLANDS PURSES IS ON

Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The condition sheet is out, and everybody who cares about racing at the Meadowlands – be they management, employee, horseman or bettor – has an awful lot to be excited about.

Beginning Friday, March 1, purses at the Big M – thanks to the recent purse subsidy legislation signed into law by Gov. Phil Murphy – will get a $40,000 per-card boost. Purses will get another $40,000 jolt on March 29. After a Saturday (Feb. 16) night program that saw a 2019-best $3,166,920 in all-source wagering, there is reason for great optimism at the East Rutherford mile oval.

In recent years, the Big M has experienced a lull in horseman interest once the Pennsylvania tracks opened in March, but the playing field has now been leveled with a swipe of Gov. Murphy’s pen.

“As far as competing with area tracks for horses,” said Big M Director of Racing Pete Koch, “it certainly puts us back in the ballgame. We paid attention to the non-winners of two, three and four classes, and we’ve written some races for higher-priced claimers.”

On Feb. 9, Castle Flight was claimed by Dylan Davis for $50,000, and he came back one week later to finish second to K Ryan Bluechip in the $21,000 Preferred Handicap for pacers, a race that five weeks from now will offer a $30,000 purse.

“With the drop off in purses in recent years,” said Koch, “the higher-priced claimers have evaporated. With additional funds, we are hoping to bring them back. The $50,000 claim on Castle Flight was probably our highest in six or seven years.”

“Carding more straight claimers,” said trainer Bob Lounsbury, “it’s very interesting to me and a lot of my owners. A lot of my owners just want claiming horses. If we get beat, fine. But then we want the chance to take the winner. Combining claimers with conditioned horses is tough because the conditioned horses have an advantage.

“I have some guys right now who want to claim a $30,000 or $40,000 horse (a class that is offered on next week’s condition sheet). As a matter of fact, I had a couple of owners claim some horses last week. Both said the same thing: ‘If there are going to be bigger purses, then we have to claim something.’ It might take a couple of weeks to get going, but it should work, and me and my people are going to support the Meadowlands.”

It will take not only horseman support but fan participation as well to make this thing work. “With the increased purses, we are encouraging horsemen to race with us,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir, “because for the supplement to continue into the future, we need to show some handle gains to fulfill some of the parameters of the subsidy. As last weekend proved, bigger fields mean bigger handle, and we have a positive outlook moving forward.”

(To see the condition sheet, go to http://horsemen.ustrotting.com/conditionsheet.cfm?condition_sheet_id=70660)

Not surprisingly, last Saturday’s 50-Cent Pick-5 and 50-Cent Pick-4 saw their biggest pools of the year. The Pick-5 saw $79,108 in play while the Pick-4 took $115,218 in action. The month of February has seen a betting bonanza at the industry’s handle leader, as all-source total wagering has averaged $2.92 million per program.

Other single-pool highlights from Saturday’s card:

·         $80,873 Exacta (Race 5)

·         $60,966 Trifecta (Race 7)

·         $52,199 Win (Race 7)

·         $46,974 Superfecta (Race 3)

20-Cent Jackpot Super High-Five fans have a $50,930 carryover to shoot for in Race 5 on Friday’s card, when racing resumes at 7:15 p.m. Free program pages for the Pick-4 are available at www.playmeadowlands.com and www.ustrotting.com.

LINEUP CHANGES: Look for some new faces on the small screen as some usual members of the Meadowlands’ TV team – Dave Brower, Dave Little and Bob “Hollywood” Heyden – will be in Florida at the Dan Patch Awards dinner.

On Friday (Feb. 22), Harrah’s Philadelphia track announcer and one-half of the podcast team of “Posttimewithmikeandmike”, Mike Bozich, will serve as co-host of the live “Racing from the Meadowlands” simulcast show. Rich Mattei, the assistant racing secretary at Freehold Raceway, will bring his big-time handicapping skills to TVG’s live coast-to-coast presentation of the Meadowlands’ races.

Saturday (Feb. 23) will find Bozich in the announcer’s booth calling the races as Ken Warkentin serves as host of the show. Occasional fill-in Pete Kleinhans will take another turn as co-host, while the newest member of the Big M’s TV team, Jessica Otten, will make her TVG debut.

HANG OUT, BET SPORTS: Fans of sports betting have a new place to watch the games they bet on: the FanDuel Sportsbook Lounge at the Meadowlands. Comfortable seating, dozens of TVs, food and beverage service, and of course, the opportunity to bet on sports events from around the globe. Remember that March Madness is coming! Make your plans to be at the Big M’s FanDuel Sportsbook.

BRUNCH FOR DINNER? On Friday (Feb. 22), try a little something different. It’s “Brunch for Dinner” at the Big M’s Pink Restaurant. It’s only $29.95 for a sumptuous all-you-can-eat buffet that is right out of the brunch playbook. For reservations, call 201-THE-BIGM.

GET EVEN AT THE BIG M: On Saturday (Feb. 23), “It’s Your Lucky Day”!

Two lucky Players Rewards Members will be selected to win back all Meadowlands’ live racing wagering losses from that evening’s program. The winners will be posted Sunday (Feb. 24) at 11 a.m. Cash back is limited to $1,000.

In addition, enter to win $25 and $50 betting vouchers all night long.

Open to Players Club Members only.

DANCIN’ TO THE JAILHOUSE ROCK: On Friday (March 1), spend an evening with Elvis Presley impersonator Ralph Carey, who will take you through the career of “The King”. They’ll be music, laughter and memories, and you get the show plus a buffet dinner for only $29.95. Call 201-THE-BIGM for reservations.

Gray Wins Four, Sweeps Buffalo Raceway Features

by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway

HAMBURG, N.Y. --- It was a great night for owner William Emmons, trainer James Clouser Jr. and driver Shawn Gray as the trio combined to sweep both featured events at Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday night (Feb. 20).

In the $10,500 Class A Open Handicap Trot, Time Will Tell All made it two straight by nudging past Empire Earl N in 2:01.0 while in the $10,500 Class A Open Handicap Pace for the filly and mares, You Mach Me Crazy rallied in the stretch to turn back HP Sissy in a snappy 1:56.3 over the good track.

Gray, Buffalo Raceway's leading driver in the early going, completed the grand slam by connecting with Donna's Beach ($5.40) and Glow Boat ($4.70).

Time Will Tell All didn't get much love at all from the public as she returned $24.40 for the victory in the first main event.

Sitting sixth, Gray took Time Will Tell All on a first over trip just past the half and eventually battled with the tempo-setting and stubborn Empire Earl N (Ray Fisher Jr.) down the lane. It wasn't until deep stretch when Time Will Tell All managed to take the lead and hold on for a neck decision. Lucky Guess (Kirk Desmond) had plenty of late trot and took the show position.

It was the second win in five tries for Time Will Tell All (Prayer I Am-Tender Dion). The 8-year-old gelding has now bankrolled $13,125 in 2019 and $204,986 lifetime.

In the featured pace for the ladies, Gray basically used the same method to send You Mach Me Crazy ($6.00) for the photo opportunity.

After settling into sixth, You Mach Me Crazy was sent first over by Gray and looked like he was going to have clearing sailing to the top. Unfortunately just before the three-quarter marker, HP Sissy (Denny Bucceri) made the first move and took over command.

Things worked out just fine however for You Mach Me Crazy as Gray was able to find an open path on the outside down the lane and zoomed past HP Sissy, finishing three-quarters of a length in front. Sentimental Lady (Billy Davis Jr.) took third.

You Mach Me Crazy (Mach Three-Lady Terror) is a 6-year-old mare that now has won three of four starts this season, putting $15,175 in the bank in 2019 and $118,729 in her career.

Besides the stellar night by Gray, Davis Jr. notched a triple and Fisher Jr. a double. George Anthrop, a newcomer to Buffalo Raceway, conditioned three winners while Lynn Fisher and Gerry Sarama had a pair of training victories.

Racing will continue on Saturday night with a 6 p.m. post. The first Pick-5 carryover of the season will await fans with $992 in the pot.

For more information including the latest news, race replays, results, entries, upcoming promotions and simulcast schedule, go to www.buffaloraceway.com

Mike Merton wins 7 at Monticello Raceway on Wednesday

Last week it was Austin Siegelman who put on a driving clinic, this week its Mike Merton. On Wednesday February 20, Merton dominated the snowy afternoon and drove 7 winners on the 12-race card.

He started off hot winning the first race with Mamie Marc in a wire to wire win for trainer Patti Harmon in 2:00.4.  In the 3^rd he scored with Permanent Joy in a 7-length romp in 1:59 and paid $3.80 to win.  Drive em Cowboy accounted for his 3^rd win of the day in 1:56.3.   Merton then went on to win races 7 – 10 Hi Ho Steverino won race 7 in 1:57 - $3.40.  Zach Lee won in 1:56.1, giving trainer Andrew Adamczyk a training triple for the afternoon. Patronne Seelster, a 5-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight (2:00.3 - $9.70)   Rounding out the afternoon in race 10 was Caviar Court, the Jim Doherty trainee scored in 2:03.2

Enjoy a Night-Time Brunch this Friday at the Meadowlands

Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment’s themed buffet nights continue this Friday, February 22^nd with a Brunch for Dinner Buffet!

The brunch is $29.95 and features all your breakfast favorites including French toast, farm-fresh scrambled eggs, hash browns, maple bacon and sausage along with a variety of muffins and danish. 

The full menu can be viewed at http://www.meadowlandsracetrack.com/dining/frifeb22-brunch.html

Don’t forget about the “Eat & Earn” VIP card promotion for Friday night diners.  Guests that dine in Pink Friday nights five times will get 50% off their 6^th buffet.  Guests that have dined on 11 Friday buffets will get their 12^th buffet for free.  Diners will receive a rewards card on their first visit to a Friday night buffet.  

The themed buffet schedule continues with:

• Friday, March 1: 70s Friday featuring Elvis Through the Years – Dine on your favorites from the 1970s including quiche Lorraine, chicken ala King, cherries jubilee and more.  Plus enjoy an entertaining ride through the career of The King with Ralph Carey as Elvis of the 50s, 60s & 70s!
• Friday, March 15: St Patrick’s Irish Dinner – Enjoy corned beef and cabbage, shepherd’s pie, Irish stew and Guinness Stout chocolate cake
• Friday, March 29: Seafood Extravaganza

Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made by calling (201) THE-BIGM.

Montemurro and Scogna Qualify for WHHC presented by DerbyWars.com

Nick Montemurro of Bogota, NJ, captured the February 16^th World Harness Handicapping Championship Qualifier presented by DerbyWars.com at the Meadowlands Racetrack. 

Montemurro finished the contest with a bankroll of $682 after cashing in on three of his ten wagers.  His largest score came in the eleventh race at the Meadowlands when his $30 to win on #7 Frankandjoanne banked him $594.  Nick solidified his contest win with a $92 score in the final Meadowlands Race on #4 Tact Tate N.  Montemurro has also qualified for the WHHC Final via DerbyWars.     

Gary Scogna of Carmel, NY, also qualified for the April 13^th Final with his second place finish in Saturday’s contest.  Scogna hit on three of his ten wagers.  The largest being a $612 score in the twelfth race at the Meadowlands with a $51 win bet on Ideal Son. 

The $200 Qualifier required contestants to place ten $10 minimum win wagers on Meadowlands races. 

The World Harness Handicapping Championship presented by DerbyWars.com is a one-day tournament [April 13, 2019], with a welcome reception the evening prior.  Players that did not earn a seat through a qualifying event can directly buy-in for $1,300.  The $1,300 entry fee includes a $300 bankroll, with the remaining $1,000 going to the prize pool.  The $150,000 prize pool is based on an estimated 150 entries.  The WHHC contest format requires players to bet 10 races: their choice of seven Meadowlands races, plus three designated mandatory races.  Players keep all pari-mutuel winnings.  Prize payouts are to the Top 10. 

Players can qualify for the WHHC for as low as $33 every night on DerbyWars.com.  Next Saturday, February 23rd DerbyWars.com will host a WHHC Super-Qualifier with up to five spots gaining entry to the $150,000-estimated WHHC.

Club Hawthorne’s weekend qualifiers sent three winners into the WHHC Final.  Steven Ginder, Stand Werner and Loretta Yablon will all travel to the Meadowlands on April 13^th.

Buffalo Raceway and TVG/4NJBets, Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs and Rosecroft are also hosting WHHC Qualifiers. Visit http://playmeadowlands.com/contest_detail.aspx?id=8240 for a complete qualifier schedule.

For more information on how to become a WHHC partner outlet or sponsor, contact Rachel Ryan, Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment (raryan@playmeadowlands.com) or 201-842-5015. 

BETTING REACHES NEW HEIGHTS, KRB TAKES FEATURE AT BIG M

By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Perfect conditions and ultra-competitive racing led to the biggest betting night of the year at the Meadowlands, as a total of $3,166,920 was pushed through the windows during the 13-race Saturday night program. It was the second time during 2019 that wagering exceeded $3 million.

The night got off to a fast start at the industry’s handle leader as $303,044 was wagered in the first race, with $79,108 of that poured into the 50-Cent Pick-5 pot. Not surprisingly, the second most money was wagered in the eighth race – $299,848 – with $115,218 wagered into the 50-Cent Pick-4 pool. The total bet in both the Pick-5 and Pick-4 were yearly bests.

The month of February has seen six racing programs at the Big M. On those programs, a total of $17,529,832 has been wagered, for an average per card of $2,921,638.

In the featured $21,000 Preferred Handicap for pacers, K Ryan Bluechip got back in the win column for the first time in six weeks, pulling off a surprise at odds of 7-1 in 1:50.4.

The red-hot Tuxedo Bay, sent to the gate as the 4-5 favorite in search of a third straight score in the weekly feature, had a rough go of it. Pushed four-wide into the first turn, driver Eric Carlson had to use his horse hard to reach the quarter on the front end in :26.

A rated second panel of :28 would follow, but K Ryan Bluechip, who was away early in fifth, was now making good progress while racing first over. KRB got to within a half-length of the public choice at three-quarters before powering past to lead by 1¼ lengths with three-sixteenths of a mile to go.

Through the stretch, the Virgil Morgan-trained, Andy Miller-driven K Ryan Bluechip maintained his edge as Tuxedo Bay weakened, and after a leisurely final quarter of :28.4, K Ryan Bluechip had his second victory in the Preferred ranks in seven tries. It was 1¾ lengths back to Castle Flight in second. New Talent finished third while Tuxedo Bay was last in the field of six.

K Ryan Bluechip, who is owned by Carl T Howard and Brian Witt, returned $17.60 as the fifth choice in the wagering. The 7-year-old gelded son of Art Major-Fool That I Am now has 32 wins in 104 lifetime starts, good for earnings of $410,484.

A LITTLE MORE: Andy Miller drove three winners on the card while Corey Callahan and Dexter Dunn had two each. … Two bettors cashed in for $6,103 after lasting seven legs in the 20-Cent Survivor Pick-10. … Mindtrip destroyed his foes as the 3-5 choice in the eighth race non-winners of $16,000 pace in a lifetime-best 1:50.1 for trainer Patti Harmon and driver Mitch Cushing. … When racing resumes Friday at 7:15 p.m., a carryover of $50,930 awaits those playing the Early 20-Cent Jackpot Super High-Five (Race 5).

BRENNAN SWEEPS SATURDAY NIGHT 44G CO-FEATURED OPEN HANDICAPS

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

                                                                                                 

YONKERS, NY, Saturday, February 16, 2019—George Brennan was the man of the hour Saturday night (Feb. 16^th), taking both halves of Yonkers Raceway’s $44,000 co-featured Open Handicaps.

It was a second-up-to-first-home Don Domingo N ($5.80) in the week’s adult pace. From post position No. 5, he watched as just-over-even-money favorite Bettor’s Fire N (Ron Cushing) lead through cheapy subsections of :28.2, 58.3 and 1:26.3.

Hitching a lift behind season-debuting Somewhere in L A (Jason Bartlett), Don Domingo N—in the his first Open ‘Cap start—did get within range. Bettor’s Fire N owned a length lead into the lane, but ‘Don’ ran him down, in a manner of speaking

He picked off the leader, winning by a neck in 1:54.2. Somewhere in L A was a credible third, with Our Zak Whitby A (Dan Dube) and a ‘19-starting Bit of a Legend N (Jordan Stratton) settling for the remainder.    

            For second choice Don Domingo N, a 7-year-old Down Under American Ideal gelding owned by William Hartt and trained by Lance Hudson, it was his fifth win in six seasonal/U-S starts. The exacta paid $11, the triple returned $80 and the superfecta paid $240.

            The weekly trotting feature was not for the squeamish, reduced to a field of five after Melady’s Monet came up ill and two of the starters came up breaking. What resulted was a two-speed, two-favorite, soft-fractions number and DW’s NY Yank (Brennan, $4.50) beating Smalltownthrowdown (Dube) by a length-and-a-quarter (:29, :59.3. 1:27.4, 1:56.1), matching a season’s-best effort.

            Fearless Man (Bartlett) and Lily’s Swan Pond (Joe Bongiorno) flipped positions after the former was deemed to have interfered with the latter. Weslynn Dancer (Matt Kakaley) brought up the quintet rear.  

            For DW’s NY Yank, a 10-year-old Dilbert Hanover gelding co-owned (as Burke Racing) by (trainer) Ron Burke and Weaver Bruscemi, it was his second win in four seasonal starts. The exacta paid $13.60, with triple and superfecta wagering cancelled due to short staffing.   

Upfront Countryboy Rolls In Buffalo Raceway Feature

by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway

HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Upfront Countryboy got 'up front' early in Buffalo Raceway's $11,500 Class AA Open Handicap Pace on Saturday night (Feb.16) and never looked back in taking a 1-1/2 length triumph over Dark Horse in 1:56.0 over the good track.

Title Town (Shawn McDonough) was quickest off the gate in the main event but didn't have much time to savor the front end as Upfront Countryboy (Shawn Gray) took over the lead just before the opening panel.

Dark Horse was first over and looked like the main threat to Upfront Countryboy coming down the stretch but his rally didn't materialize as hoped and had to settle for second with Title Town holding on for the show position.

Owned by William Emmons and trained by James Clouser Jr., it was the first win in two starts for Upfront Countryboy (Dragon Again-Cambloid). The 10-year-old gelding has earned $6,670 this year and $446,090 in his career.

There were a pair of $9,500 Class A paces on the under card.

Mr Euroman N ($4.80) went gate-to-wire and turned back the late attempts by R M Hawk (David McNeight III) and Manceiver (Gray) to take the victory in 1:57.0 in the first sub-featured event.

Leaving from the inside post, Mr Euroman N set the fractions with a :29.2, :58.3 and 1:28.0. A :29.0 last panel was enough as R M Hawk could get no closer than a half length.

Driven by Billy Davis Jr. and trained by Maria Rice, Mr Euroman N (Art Major-Little Big Sister) is a 7-year-old gelding that is co-owned by the Vogel & Wags Nags Stable, Jack Rice and Pine Hill Racing LTD. It was the second victory in five tries this season for Mr. Euroman N, now a winner of $9,950 in 2019 and $113,329 lifetime.

In the second leg, A F F Bigdaddy (Drew Monti) was able to grind out a length victory over Im So Handsome in 1:56.3.

Going first over down the backstretch, A F F Bigdaddy slowly but surely started to cut into the lead of Im So Handsome and took over command midway down the lane. Im So Handsome had to settle for the place position with Heaven Rocks finishing in third.

A F F Bigdaddy (Sir Luck-Artacam Hanover) is a 6-year-old gelding owned by Jennifer and Marcus Rogowski. Conditioned by Steven Kiblin, it was the first trip to the winner's circle for A F F Bigdaddy, now a earner of $5,590 this year and $85,115 in his career.

Ray Fisher Jr. topped the drivers with four victories on the night. Monti, tripled while Davis Jr. and Gray each doubled. Mike Ohol, Maria Rice and Sabrina Clevenger all scored a pair of training wins.

Racing will continue on Wednesday night at 5 p.m. with a 12-race card scheduled.

For more information including the latest news, race replays, results, entries, upcoming promotions and simulcast schedule, go to www.buffaloraceway.com