Patrick Beeler wins 4 at Monticello Raceway

By: Shawn Wiles

Monticello – Wednesday July 31, was a day that Patrick Beeler won’t soon forget, as he drove 4 winners on the 10 race card. His new nickname tomorrow may be “Boxcar” as 2 of his winners paid over $65.00.

In the 3^rd race he won with Local Art, he was the second longest shot on the board and paid $67.50 to win for trainer Joseph Beagell.  He outdid himself in the 5^th race when he scored with Justa Rebel in 2:01.4 and returned $75.50 win, it was only the second win of the season for Justa Rebel. Mr. Ridgetaker, an 11 year old gelding by Tom Ridge, trained by Dawn Devaux would account for his 3^rd winning drive following his win in 2:00.  In the 8^th race it was Hidden Identity who started from post position 4 to score in 2:01 and paid $16.20 and gave trainer Dawn Devaux a training double on the afternoon.

Patrick Beeler is in 10^th place in the driver’s colony for leading dash winners, Michael Merton leads the way with 163 wins, Jim Taggart Jr. is second with 146 and Austin Siegelman rounds out the top 3 win 143 trips to the winner’s 

MILLIES POSSESION 9-5 IN HAMBLETONIAN OAKS

By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Millies Possesion looks to stay perfect in what will be her ninth lifetime start Saturday afternoon after being installed as the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the Hambletonian Oaks for 3-year-old trotting fillies at the Meadowlands.

The daughter of Possess The Will-Fashion Athena drew post position 2 for the $500,000 event at Tuesday afternoon’s post draw at the Big M.

“I think it’s a good spot,” said trainer Jim Campbell. “I’d sooner have the two than the one. I think it’s a good spot where (driver) Dexter (Dunn) can kind of see how the race shapes up and make whatever decision he sees fit.”

Millies Possesion upped her lifetime record to eight wins in as many starts after taking her Hambo Oaks elim last Saturday in 1:52.3, scoring by a nose over a fast-closing Evident Beauty.

“(Evident Beauty) is a good filly,” said Campbell. “She never gives up and keeps on going. I think it’s a real tough group. The trip is going to mean everything.”

Evident Beauty is listed at 7-2 from post 4 with Dave Miller driving. Another big-time contender is When Dovescry (5-2, 5, Simon Allard), who crushed her foes by 3 lengths in 1:51.3 in the other Oaks elim.

“Me for one, I did not see that coming,” said Campbell of When Dovescry’s performance. “She really came on strong at the end of last year and she was up to the task last week. It’s going to be a tough race.”

The road for Millies Possesion was an atypical one, as the Fashion Farms-owned and bred filly was unraced at 2. “She had some soundness issues,” said Campbell. “She had some issues with her hocks, so we just had to turn her out and let time heal her. We brought her back in January and the rest is history. She’s been nothing short of amazing.

“Anytime you have an unraced horse you don’t know what to expect. I would be surprised for any unraced 2-year-old to come back and be this good. She showed us a lot training down last year, but that’s all we had to go off. The way she went her first start this year (a 1:56 win in a non-winners of one at Harrah’s Philadelphia on May 1), she was impressive doing it. Every race since she has stepped up to the plate and done everything we’ve asked of her.”

So does Campbell, who won the Oaks with another fabulous Fashion Farms filly, Broadway Schooner in 2009, like the role of favorite?

“When you are the favorite, it means your horse has done well prior to that,” said Campbell. “I really don’t put a lot of thought into whether we’re the favorite or not. We are in the race and prepare the horse the best way we can to have the horse the best she can be that particular day, regardless of whether you are the favorite or not.”

The Hambletonian Oaks is Race 11 on Saturday on a star-studded, stakes-laden 16-race program and has post time of 4:30 p.m. The first race gets underway at noon.

Vernon Downs welcomes two divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) on Thursday (August 1)

The unbeaten Love A Good Story (Andy Miller) is the 9-5 morning line favorite in the $53,000 first division.  The filly by Chapter Seven-Celebrity Lovin is trained by Julie Miller for owners Pinske Stables, Kentuckiana Racing Stable, and Daniel Plouffe.  She has NYSS wins at Buffalo, Tioga Downs, Yonkers, and Batavia.  That makes her a perfect four for four in her young career.

The second choice at 2-1 is the Rick Zeron trained Illdoitmyself (Scott Zeron).  The filly by Chapter Seven-Domello is still searching for her first win but she has three seconds in her four starts.  She is owned by Rick Zeron Stables, James Walker, and Van Camp Trotting Corp.

Munster (Kasper Foget) is the 9-5 morning line choice in the $52,000 second division.  The filly by Chapter Seven-Richesse Oblige S is trained by Per Engblom for owners Black Horse Racing, and Wiesman Farms LLC.  She has a win and two seconds in three career starts so far.  Her win was a leg of the NYSS at Yonkers.

Seventimesalady (Ake Svanstedt) is the second morning line choice at 2-1.  The Chapter Seven-Ava Marion filly is coming off a NYSS win at Batavia.  Owned by trainer Svanstedt with Little E LLC., and Knutsson Trotting Inc., she is one for three lifetime.

The 11 race card starts at 6:10 p.m.

For more information go to www.vernondowns.com

YONKERS’ RACING SECRETARY STEVE STARR RETIRES

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

YONKERS, NY, Monday, July 29, 2019—Long-time Yonkers Raceway racing secretary Steve Starr is retiring, effective Wednesday (July 31^st).

        Starr has been ‘putting together’ Yonkers races since early 1976 after serving an apprenticeship under both Ed Parker and Richard O’Donnell. Of course, at that time, New York-area racing alternated, with three-month stays at Roosevelt Raceway and Yonkers.  

Before leaving and turning over the big chair to assistant Bob Miecuna, Starr looked back.

“When I first started, we had classified racing, A, B, C, and paper eligibility, so the race office had more control,” he said. “It was in the early 1990’s that we went to condition racing.

       

“It became easier. The horses classify themselves and you don’t have to be as observant.”

       

Ask Starr about his favorite horsemen and you get names such as Buddy Gilmour (‘Straight shooter. Would give you the shirt off his back and the shoes off his feet.’), Lucien Fontaine and Ted Wing (‘Professionals’).

       

“I didn’t have a problem with anyone as long as they were good to talk to and had nothing to hide,” he said. “Maybe it’s me, but I think the horsemen worked harder back then. Today, there seem to be three times as many trainers, owners and drivers, so we see a lot more people.”

Starr spoke fondly of the Rooneys, whose ownership of the Raceway essentially spanned his time as racing secretary.

       

“I can’t say enough good things about (former YR president) Tim (Rooney), (former general manager) Bob (Galterio) and the family. They allowed me to do my job, paid me a good salary and I was able to get married and raise my own family.

       

“I guess the best thing I could say is that I enjoyed my job and was 100 percent ready to go to work every day,” Starr said.

       

“I know people who make a lot of money and are good at their jobs, but hate it. I have no regrets.

       

As for the immediate future, “Spending time with the children and grandchildren.

“I owe my wife (Denise) a lot of vacations, so we’re going to travel,” Starr said. “By car. I don’t like to fly.”

Flying wasn’t needed when Starr’s visited the winner’s circle, where Yonkers’ horsemen and racing officials stopped by and wished him well.

NAADA TO HOST THEIR ITALIAN COUNTERPARTS IN EARLY AUGUST

by John Manzi for NAADA

The members of the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) have been making plans to host their Italian counterparts from Torino in early August after being guests of the Italians from the Venice area in July.

“Besides competing against our NAADA teams at Yonkers on Monday(Aug. 5) and at Monticello on Tuesday (Aug. 6) we are in the process of securing drives for the visiting Italians in the Hamiltonian Amateur Trot at the Meadowlands on Friday, Aug. 2,” said NAADA president Joe Faraldo. “And at this time,with the assistance of many, it appears that that the Italians will be able to participate over the famed mile-oval.”

The visiting Italians team includes; Senor Michele Bechis (461 lifetime wins), Jacopo Brischetto (27 wins), Gianni Scrima (27 wins) and Enrico Colombino (367 wins).

“The Italian team leader, Enrico Colombino is a well know Italian amateur and a true gentleman. Alan (Schwartz) and I know him for more than 25 years,” Faraldo said. “His dad and mom always brought us homemade soppressata and homemade wine. Enrico's dad did that so many times that we nicknamed him “Vino Colombino” and of the entire family we have very fond memories. It will be great to see a friend from years ago and compete with him on American soil.”

The following is the scheduled itinerary:

Thurs. Aug.1--Italians arrive at JFK and have dinner at Sel et Poivre in NYC

Fri Aug. 2—Italians get licensed at the Meadowlands for Hambletonian Amateur

Sat. Aug 3-- Italians taken to the Meadowlands,to watch Hambletonian, dinner at Pepolinos

Sun. Aug 4-Guided tour of NYC and dinner st Fraunces Tavern where President George Washington gave his farewell address

Mon. Aug 5-Race at Yonkers..dinner at Roberto's in the Bronx

Tues. Aug 6-Picked up from their hotel in NYC and stop at the Hall of Fame in Goshen; then race at Monticello. dinner at the River Palm in Mahwah, NJ

Wed. Aug 7 Italians depart for home

Quincy Blue Chip scores in 1:56.2 in Sire Stake win at Monticello

Monticello – Racing for the largest single purse since 20017, Monticello Raceway had 1 division of Sire Stakes racing for a purse of $118,800 and 7 heats of Excelsior races.

Jim Morrill Jr. had just driven Market Bre to victory in the second race, after the winner circle presentation Morrill said “I’ll be back in an hour for the that Sire Stake blanket.” As the starter picked up the field of 8 Sire Stakes a sudden burst of rain began, Quincy Blue Chip the 1/5 favorite started from post position 2, she led from start to finish, cutting fractions of 28.4,59.0, 1:27.4 to win in 1:56.2, a 1/5 of a second off the track record, (LQ 28.3) finishing second was the pocket sitter Sensibility, Winndevie was third.  Quincy Blue Chip (Chapter Seven – Sirenuse) earned her 6^th win of the season and her third Sire Stake win and has seasonal earning of $274,000 in 10 starts.  She is owned by Barbara & James Boese of Milton Delaware and trainer Richard Banca of Otisville NY.  During the winner circle presentation, the rain had stopped and Morrill quipped “I told you I was coming back for that Blanket!”

In Excelsior Action, the winners were Hana Dreamgirl 1:59.3- Jason Bartlett / Market Bre 2:01.1 – Jim Morrill Jr. / Crystalline 1:58.2 Scott Zeron / Muscle N Beauty 2:01 – Bruce Aldrich Jr. / Summertime Fever 2:00.1 Jim Taggart Jr. and Marcella Bella 2:02.1 - Bruce Aldrich.

Jim Morrill Jr. has a driving double on the card, George Ducharme had a training double.  Local reinsman Bruce Aldrich Jr. and Jim Taggart Jr also each had Excelsior driving wins.  Chapter Seven lead the way with 3 daughters entering the winners circle.

 The next stop for the Sire Stake at Monticello Raceway Is on Monday August 12, as 2 year old trotting fillies come to town.

Hambletonian Post Draw Live on Social Media this Tuesday

The entries, post positions and harness racing morning line odds will be revealed for the $1 million Hambletonian and $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks at the Meadowlands during a live post position draw on Tuesday, July 30 beginning at 2:00 p.m. 

The event will be streamed exclusively on the Meadowlands Racetrack Facebook page and YouTube channel. Fans should be sure to "Like" the Facebook page or "subscribe" to the YouTube channel in order to view the stream.

Guests are welcome to attend the live draw which will be held in the Meadowlands Racetrack’s second floor Lounge. 

Marc Malusis, co-host of the “Taz and the Moose” CBS Sports Radio morning show will serve as the co-host and celebrity drawmaster.

Marcus Melander, trainer of three top Hambletonian contenders Greenshoe, Gimpanzee and Green Manalishi S, will be a guest on the broadcast.

The $1 Million Hambletonian will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network, 4-5:30 pm on Saturday, August 3.

For more information, visit www.playmeadowlands.com or www.hambletonian.com.

Greenshoe remains #1 in Ken Warkentin's Final 2019 Road to the Hambletonian

Greenshoe has held the top spot all eleven weeks of Ken Warkentin’s 2019 Road to the Hambletonian. 

The entries, post positions and harness racing morning line odds will be revealed for the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks during a live post position draw on Tuesday, July 30 beginning at 2:00 p.m.  The event will be streamed exclusively on the Meadowlands Racetrack Facebook page and YouTube channel.

#Hambo19

Rank	Horse	Driver, Trainer, Owner	Ken Warkentin’s Comments
1	Greenshoe (Father Patrick)	Brian Sears, Marcus Melander, Courant Inc, Hans Backe, Lars Grandqvist, Morten Langli	Two-time NJSS champion off an impressive 1:50.1 career best in the Dancer, won his second NJSS Final in 1:50.2, second by a nose in the Beal, Brian Sears looks for his 4th Hambo, Marcus Melander’s uncle Stefan won the 2001 Hambo with Scarlet Knight
2	Gimpanzee (Chapter Seven)	Brian Sears, Marcus Melander, Courant Inc, S R F Stable	Dan Patch Award winner goes into the Hambo undefeated 12-for-12 & three-for-three in 2019, off a 1:52.4 mark @ Tioga Downs after a 24-day layoff, dominated the EBC @ Vernon Downs, 27YO Marcus Melander picked up checks in the last two Hambos
3	Marseille (Muscle Hill)	Ake Svanstedt, Ake Svanstedt Inc, Order By Stable, Howard Taylor	Surged to the forefront with a new mark of 1:51.1 in the Tompkins Geers after missing three weeks, stole the Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial wire-to-wire in 1:52.3 at 55-1, Team Svanstedt won the 2017 Hambo with Perfect Spirit through disqualification
4	Green Manalishi S (Muscle Hill)	Tim Tetrick, Marcus Melander, Courant Inc	Fresh off an easy 1:52.4 win in the Tompkins Geers after a second [1:51.4] to Swandre The Giant in the Dancer, Hall of Fame nominee Tim Tetrick won the 2012 Hambo with Market Share
5	Pilot Discretion (Muscle Hill)	Andrew McCarthy, Tony Alagna, Robert LeBlanc, David Anderson, John Fodera	Third [1:52] to Marseille in the Tompkins Geers as a final prep, second [1:51] to Greenshoe in the Dancer, won the Goodtimes Final in 1:52.4, Tony Alagna finished third in 2012 with MY MVP
6	Don’t Let’em (Muscle Hill)	Yannick Gingras, Nancy Johansson, Brittany Farms, Christina Takter, John Fielding, Herb Liverman	2018 Peter Haughton Memorial winner & track record holder bounced back with a career best of 1:50.2 in the Reynolds Memorial on July 27 @ The Big M off a break in the Dancer, Yannick Gingras and Nancy Johansson both look for their first Hambo
7	Swandre The Giant (Swan For All)	Dave Miller, Ron Burke, Diamond Creek Racing, J & T Silva Stables, Howard Taylor	Pride of Indiana finished second from post 11 in the Reynolds as a final tune up, upset Green Manalishi S in a career best of 1:51.3 in his Dancer division with Lasix added, Dave Miller & Ron Burke look to avenge their DQ in 2017 with What The Hill
8	Soul Strong (Father Patrick)	Dexter Dunn, Ake Svanstedt, Stable Why Not	Gelding finished a gutsy first over second [1:51.4] to stablemate Marseille in the Tompkins Geers after holding off stablemate Sheena’s Boy in :26.3 on June 28, the Dexter Dunn breakout season continues into his first Hambo
9	Forbidden Trade (Kadabra)	Bob McClure, Luc Blais, Determination	O’Brien Award winner sports a 6 – 4-2-0 in Ontario this season, a close second [1:52.4] in the Goodtimes Final, Bob McClure and Luc Blais both look to reach their first Hambletonian Final
10	Cantab Fashion (Cantab Hall)	Dexter Dunn, Jim Campbell, Fashion Farms	Lightly-raced Grand Circuit winner at two in 1:51.4 playing catch up, rallied for third in the Tompkins Geers and fourth in the Reynolds, Jim Campbell won the 1995 Hambo with Tagliabue

KEY PREP RACES

Date	Stakes	Site	Winner	Driver	Trainer	2nd Horse	3rd Horse	Time
05/04	Dexter Cup	Fhld	OSTERC	Yannick Gingras	Per Engblom	HL REVADON	Skyway Kon Man	1:57
05/11	PASS	Mea	GINGER TREE SKYR	Dan Rawlings	Sam Beegle	Capy Chaps Hanover	Explosive Magic	1:55
05/11	PASS	Mea	OSTERC	Yannick Gingras	Per Engblom	KLUTZY	FASHION POSSESSED	1:55.1
05/11	PASS	Mea	GOES DOWN SMOOTH	Yannick Gingras	Ron Burke	CHIPLOSIVE	Papi Hanover	1:54.3
05/17	NJSS	M	GREENSHOE	Brian Sears	Marcus Melander	SHEENA’S BOY	BATTENBERG	1:51.2
05/17	NJSS	M	SOUL STRONG	Yannick Gingras	Ake Svanstedt	NO DRAMA PLEASE	Galixton	1:53
05/24	NJSS	M	REIGN OF HONOR	Dave Miller	Nifty Norman	TRIX AND STONES	NO DRAMA PLEASE	1:54.2
05/27	E. Breeders Final	VD	GIMPANZEE	Brian Sears	Marcus Melander	MR VICKTOR	Travel Winner	1:54
05/31	NJSS Final	M	GREENSHOE	Brian Sears	Marcus Melander	REIGN OF HONOR	Galixton	1:50.2
06/02	PASS	PcD	MARSEILLE	Ake Svanstedt	Ake Svanstedt	GERRY	Papi Hanover	1:53.3
06/02	PASS	PcD	EXPLOSIVEBREAKAWAY	Tom Jackson	Fred Grant	SUMMIT IN SIGHT	Capt Chaps Hanover	1:54.2
06/07	Goodtimes Elim	Moh	FORBIDDEN TRADE	Bob McClure	Luc Blais	SWANDRE THE GIANT	SMART AS HILL	1:53.1
06/07	Goodtimes Elim	Moh	PILOT DISCRETION	Andrew McCarthy	Tony Alagna	SOUTHWIND AVENGER	Dream Nation	1:52
06/14	PASS	Phl	SUMMIT IN SIGHT	Andy Miller	Julie Miller	GOES DOWN SMOOTH	Night Hall	1:53
06/14	PASS	Phl	GUARANTEED	Tim Tetrick	Linda Toscano	Macmorris Hanover	Kate’s Massive	1:55.1
06/14	PASS	Phl	OSTERC	Yannick Gingras	Per Engblom	MARSEILLE	EXPLOSIVEBREAKAWAY	1:52.2
06/15	Goodtimes Final	Moh	PILOT DISCRETION	Andrew McCarthy	Tony Alagna	FORBIDDEN TRADE	SUPER SCHISSEL	1:52.4
06/22	E. Beal, Jr. Elim	PcD	GREENSHOE	Brian Sears	Marcus Melander	OSTERC	MARSEILLE	1:52.3
06.22	E. Beal, Jr. Elim	PcD	GREEN MANALISHI S	Tim Tetrick	Marcus Melander	SUMMIT IN SIGHT	SWANDRE THE GIANT	1:52.1
06/29	Earl Beal, Jr. Mem	PcD	MARSEILLE	Ake Svanstedt	Ake Savnstedt	GREENSHOE	GREEN MANILISHI S	1:52.3
07/13	Stanley Dancer	M	SWANDRE THE GIANT	Dave Miller	Ron Burke	GREEN MANALISHI S	REIGN OF HONOR	1:51.3
07/13	Stanley Dancer	M	GREENSHOE	Brian Sears	Marcus Melander	PILOT DISCRETION	SUPER SCHISSEL	1:50.1
07/20	Tompkins Geers	M	GREEN MANALISHI S	Tim Tetrick	Marcus Melander	SHEENA’S BOY	CANTAB FASHION	1:52.4
07/20	Tompkins Geers	M	MARSEILLE	Ake Svanstedt	Ake Svanstedt	SOUL STRONG	PILOT DISCRETION	1:51.4
07-27	Reynolds Memorial	M	DON’T LET’EM	Yannick Gingras	Nancy Johansson	SWANDRE THE GIANT	SUPER SCHISSEL	1:50.2