DRF HARNESS HOME DIGITAL HARNESS EYE HARNESS PPS DRF BETS ENTRIES ARCHIVE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 Talent aplenty in PA Sire Stakes Championships

Eight Sire Stakes finals worth north of $2 million will be contested this weekend at Mohegan Sun Pocono and Harrah’s Philadelphia

JAYWALKING By Jay Bergman @BergmanJay

Inside this issue There will be more than $2 million in purses on the line this weekend in Pennsyl- Gimpanzee jumps the border for a vania as champions will be crowned in each chance at Maple Leaf title, Page 4 division for 2- and 3-year-olds over the two- day event scheduled at The Downs at Mohe- Play that funky music Vicroy: Scioto gan Sun Pocono and Harrah’s Philadelphia. announcer playing the hits, Page 6 Juveniles go first with four $253,000 divisions Spotlight on Scioto’s Sunday All-Stakes on Saturday afternoon followed on Sunday at Harrah’s as the cream of the 3-year-old Pick 8, Page 6 crop in the Quaker state go at it for $252,000 Bob Marks: Papi Rob Hanover has the per division with just eight horses lining up behind the starting car. potential to be a perfect stallion, Page 7 Pennsylvania arguably produces more top Derick Giwner: Entering September, pacers and trotters than any other state or Horse of the Year up for grabs, Page 9 province and this weekend’s clashes feature some certain mismatches along with a string Dawnelle Mock New York casino approval big news for of ultra-competitive contests where upsets Captain Corey could be one of the stars of state tracks, horsemen, Page 10 should be expected. the afternoon at Pocono on Saturday. Since getting a glimpse of this year’s crop of Road to the Mohawk Million, Page 11 2-year-old colt trotters in Pennsylvania back in early July, it has become apparent what an The Meadows, a 1:54 1/5 mile, I wouldn’t be On The Backstretch: Profile of driver impact first-year stallions have had in 2020. shocked to see him trot in 1:52 or better on Peter Wrenn, Page 12 Just consider that eight of the nine 2-year- Saturday, though it’s doubtful he’ll need to. old colts and geldings in the field are by first- For my money, the two juvenile pacing Industry News & Best Bets, Page 14 croppers, including one by a stallion that had finals could draw the most fireworks given his first crop in Pennsylvania in this group- the post draws and other factors that may Comments? Questions? ing. We’re talking specifically about Captain make favorites vulnerable. In the tenth race Email the Editor [email protected] Corey, a colt by Googoo Gaagaa that enters on Saturday, the final for 2-year-old colts and Saturday afternoon’s contest a likely prohibi- geldings, trainer Ron Burke has 45 percent of tive favorite. The Ake Svanstedt-trained and the field. including three that drew inside the To ensure proper delivery driven colt looks more like a 4-year-old on the first four positions. Adding further intrigue of the newsletter via track and should get plenty of respect from was the poor draw of the only two horses in email, add [email protected]. his rivals given the value of finishing second the field to break the $100K mark in earnings or third to them. While Captain Corey’s fast- com to your contact list est time came in his first Sire Stakes score at CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Ohio Sires Stakes $300,000 Championships! for 2 & 3-Year-Old Trotting & Pacing Colts & Fillies

Sunday September 6 Eldorado Scioto Downs

For information contact Kimberly Rinker at 614-779-0269 [email protected] For conditions go to www.racingohio.net

© 2020 Daily Racing Form, LLC - 10 Grand Central, 3rd Floor, NY, NY 10017 $2.4 Million Ohio Super Night at Eldorado Scioto Downs Sunday, Sept. 6 Post Time 6:00 PM

FEATURING: ·Eight $300,000 Championship finals for 2- and 3-year-olds ·$100,000 #SENDITIN Invitationals

·$10,000 Guaranteed Pick 5 with 14% Takeout (Races 5-9 & 12-16) ·$10,000 Guaranteed All-Stakes Pick 8 (Races 3-10)

10% Rebate on Exotic Wagers at DRF Bets

BET NOW CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 this year. Always A Miki and Chase H Hanover go from posts eight and nine, respectively. with both entering the contest in top form. Though Always A Miki, a compact colt from the first crop of , was outsprinted in last week’s final preliminary, the Nancy Takter-trained colt has the talent to bounce back. The once unbeaten Lou’s Pearlman proved he wasn’t invincible, going down as the chalk two starts back, but he rebounded with a solid third-place finish last Saturday afternoon at The Meadows and is one of two serious threats for trainer Burke. The other is Southwind Gendry, who won at nearly 10-1 last week, odds you may never see again from this altered son of Always B Miki. Southwind Gendry is interesting in that he’s won all three of his races when he hasn’t made a break in stride.

Trainer Brian Brown has a pair of Chris Gooden Somebeachsomewhere-sired colts that Party Girl Hill looks to run her string of perfection to nine with a win in Sunday’s $252,000 he was high on before they debuted PA Sire Stakes final for 3-year-old pacing fillies. this season and they have lived up to his billing just to reach the Sire Stakes final. The Legend Hanover and Bayfield Beach are likely longshots on Breaking down the contenders in the field of eight in post order, the tote board but have enough ability to upset. we find Baby Your The Best in post two as a legitimate threat to be On paper some may say that Grace Hill (post 4) is the odds-on favor- the first horse to defeat Party Girl Hill. You could say there hasn’t ite to capture the juvenile pacing filly final, race 12 on Saturday’s been an unluckier filly in North America this year than Baby Your card, but the race is far from a walk-over. As a matter of fact, again The Best. Until the draw for Sunday’s contest, Baby Your The Best Ron Burke has four of the fillies in the field, with a few that are more raced seven times with her best starting position post five. She drew than capable. As for Grace Hill, who has taken all three of the Penn- post 10 in two Meadowlands stakes appearances and posts eight and sylvania Sire Stakes preliminaries she appeared in, the major ques- seven in two other stakes races. Given clear sailing in her last start, tion is what has she done lately? The answer is she hasn’t raced since Baby Your The Best was vicious winning a Kentucky Sire Stakes at August 10 when she captured a bitterly-fought division at Pocono by The Red Mile in a career-best 1:50 1/5 clocking. She will be joined by a nose. That nose was just ahead of Continualou, a Burke ownership her richer stablemate in the Linda Toscano barn, Rocknificent (post homebred that may be every bit her equal. While Grace Hill has been 5). On the board in all eight starts this year, Rocknificent has never off the track, Continualou put in a huge mile while finishing seventh faced Party Girl Hill in her career. Rocknificent tuned up for the final in a hotly-contested single Sire Stakes dash last Friday. That Joe accepting a two-hole journey and finishing second behind JK First Bongiorno returns to the bike makes Continualou (post 6) a major Lady in a Pennsylvania All Stars division at Pocono. player in this field. Trainer Linda Toscano does have a logical choice Adding serious punch to this field will be JK First Lady (post 6), a in this group with Marsala Hanover (post 2), a daughter of Captaint- homebred daughter of Western Ideal from former Horse of the Year JK reacherous. Marsala Hanover has shown that she can sit and she can She’salady, and last year’s divisional champion Lyons Sentinel (post sprint, and that should work to Scott Zeron’s advantage in this group. 7), who has just one victory in six starts this year but five second-place Marsala Hanover was able to overcome a Burke barrage in last week’s finishes, including an epic overland journey in the Mistletoe Shalee. Sire Stakes leg and she will likely have to do so again. Let’s not give less mention to Party Girl Hill, the winner of last Of Sunday’s four Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship events Saturday’s Fan Hanover at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Trainer Chris for 3-year-olds, race 12 is the one that is likely to get the most atten- Ryder has been associated with many champion-caliber fillies, with tion and not just because the undefeated Party Girl Hill is in the race. Put On A Show and I Luv The Nitelife a pair that stood above the While on paper having drawn the pole position it would be easy to crowd as 3-year-olds. Should Party Girl Hill defeat this incredible convince oneself that Party Girl Hill is a lock in this field, but that collection of sophomores and remain unbeaten, she could very well couldn’t be further from reality. Despite an unblemished record thus exceed Ryder’s past stars. far, it is in fact possible that the draw as well as the bona fide excel- In a year that has been filled with its disappointments, I’m looking lence of the field could make things a bit complicated for Party Girl forward to some great racing action in Pennsylvania this weekend Hill’s driver Dexter Dunn. and that race in Kentucky, too.

Advertise with

MULTIPLE PLACEMENT DISCOUNTS

For more information or to place an ad, contact Derick Giwner at [email protected]

DRF Harness Weekend | 3 | September 3, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Gimpanzee jumps the border for a chance at Maple Leaf title

By Jay Bergman

Marcus Melander and his team were on the fence about sending Gimpanzee to Ontario for Saturday’s C$560,000 Maple Leaf Trot. With restrictions not allowing Melander to accompany the 4-year-old son of Chapter Seven, there was a chance Gimpanzee would remain in the U.S. “We weren’t feeling good about sending him to Canada,” said Melander. “We were able to work out a good plan and he’ll be up there for just one race.” The plan allows for Gimpanzee to essentially stay in New Jersey with Melander and ship on Friday to Batavia where Ontario-based trainer Gregg McNair will accompany the horse to Woodbine Mohawk Park. Gimpanzee has won five of his six starts this year and returns to the track where he sprung an upset in last year’s Breeders Crown for sophomore trotters. Melander knows the horse will get over the track well but did have some concerns. “Post nine isn’t the best place to start from,” Melander said. “But he’s shown enough speed early that I think Derick Giwner he can handle it.” Gimpanzee will have to overcome post 9 if he is to win Saturday’s Regular driver Brian Sears also remains land-locked and thus Doug Maple Leaf Trot at Woodbine Mohawk Park. McNair will get behind Gimpanzee for the first time on Saturday. “I’m not worried about the driver,” said Melander. “Doug and Brian have already spoken about him. Last year Dave Miller drove him a few times Capricornus in the C$211,500 Goodtimes Final, carded as race three on and he was fine.” Woodbine Mohawk Park’s outstanding Saturday night stakes program. While Gimpanzee will remain in good hands, the post and the “I think the post is perfect for him,” said Melander. “He needs to race competition will once again demand that he be at his absolute best to from off the pace and make one move.” win the Maple Leaf. For Melander, the last few weeks have been spent Capricornus is winless this year in seven tries but Melander believes training Gimpanzee and he’s quite confident he enters the Maple Leaf his earnings could have been higher if a few things had gone differ- at the top of his game. The trainer was quite aware from the first start ently. “He raced well in the Hambletonian elimination,” said Melander in 2020 that how the horse raced against older foes, after he had domi- of the third-place finish. “Then we took the shoes off for the final and he nated 4-year-olds, was key to a successful campaign. “I was extremely made a break. I think he could have been fourth or fifth in that race.” happy with the way he raced in the Cashman against aged horses,” said Still Melander looks at Capricornus in the also-ran category against Melander. “His last start in the Crawford he went a very strong mile a solid field in the Goodtimes. “I think Ready For Moni and Play Trix racing parked more than the last half.” On Me are very good right now,” said Melander of the one-two finishers In the Crawford, Gimpanzee would taste defeat for the first time this in one of last week’s Goodtimes elimination races. year, but only by a quarter-length behind the classy Guardian Angel The Goodtimes also finds Melander’s pair (Hollywood Story, post 6) As, who smoked the Tioga Downs surface in a 1:50 4/5 mile and is the racing against an old stablemate in Hayek (post 2). defending champion in this race. The two meet up again on Saturday, “Hayek was a good horse training down,” said Melander. “He was along with eight others in what could be the strongest Maple Leaf field eligible in Ontario and they made us a nice offer.” Trainer Benoit Bail- we’ve seen in some time. largeon took over the conditioning and Hayek enters the Goodtimes Guardian Angel As drew post three and picks up a new driver in with four wins in seven tries this year. “He was a speedy horse but Jody Jamieson for trainer Anette Lorentzon. The 6-year-old by Arch- could get kind of grabby,” said Melander of Hayek. “They’ve done an angel has captured two of his five starts this year. excellent job with him.” Atlanta and Manchego are the lone mares in the field and both enter Melander said that his speedy 2-year-old Dancinginthedark M hit a the Maple Leaf on rare losing streaks. Atlanta (post 4) finished fourth knee that caused him to break stride in a Kentucky Sire Stakes recently in the Cashman and then followed that up with a break in stride in last at The Red Mile. “He’s fine. It’s something that could have happened to week’s Armbro Flight at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The former Hamble- an older horse and he would have kept trotting,” said Melander. “We’ve tonian winner has defeated the boys this year in the Arthur Cutler got him back in on Sunday at The Red Mile.” Memorial at The Meadowlands on July 4. Melander also mentioned that Damien, the $1,000,000 son of Muscle Manchego had looked nearly invincible early in the 2020 stakes Hill purchased last year in Kentucky, is scheduled to qualify next season but has finished third in her last two starts racing strictly weekend at The Meadowlands. “He’s a big horse and he doesn’t have against older mares. The 5-year-old starts from post 10 in the second really quick speed yet,” said Melander. “I think we’ll see him develop tier with Louis Philippe Roy replacing regular pilot Dexter Dunn. that as a 3-year-old.” Currently the plan is to race Damien just a few Melander was much happier with the post draw for his 3-year-old times in 2020.

DRF Harness Weekend | 4 | September 3, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness THE ## RACETRACK IN NORTH AMERICA

$$$$,,,, GUARANTEED EARLY PICK EYVY% ETARKEYOU RT A22C¢ MEIN DIMUAMY

TM WTraodemark oof Woodbidne Entertabinment Girounp Know Wehen To TSake TheB Reins Res.ponscibleGamobling.orgm Play that funky music Vicroy ELDORADO SCIOTO DOWNS By Derick Giwner

Amid changes in management and COVID-19, Eldorado Scioto Downs is having a banner year. A clear rock on the team continues By Derick Giwner to be track announcer Barry Vicroy, whose strong vocals behind the microphone and quick wit as master of ceremonies to the on-track audi- Eldorado Scioto Downs ence and simulcasting world shine on a daily basis. will offer three $10,000 Of course Vicroy gets paid to call the races, not just at Scioto but also Guaranteed wagers on Miami Valley and Dayton Raceway in Ohio, but as good as he sounds Sunday night - two Pick 5’s during the almost two minutes from start to finish of each race, his (races 5 and 12) and a Pick work as track DJ is spot-on as well. 8 (race 3). Below is a look at Scioto is one of the tracks, along with MGM Northfield Park and the all-stakes Pick 8: some others, which have taken to entertaining the audience with music between the races. Some traditionalists hate the music and perhaps Race 3 - $300,000 OHSS 2YO FILLY TROT - The best horses drew outside other more casual fans love it, but at least at Scioto they are treated to and that along with this being a 2-year-old filly trot could lead to a an interactive experience with Vicroy as the guide. crazy outcome. I’m spreading deep with #’s 1, 3, 4, 6, 7. “I worked as a nightclub DJ for 20 years before this,” said Vicroy, who started in Race 4 - $300,000 OHSS 2YO FILLY PACE - (1) SUMMER TOUCH has won the sport as a groom and has been call- four straight and while she isn’t a lock, something will have to go ing races since 2007. “I was awful at first, wrong for her to lose. but I would go in on my off nights and listen to the other DJ and I would go into Race 5 - $300,000 OHSS 3YO FILLY PACE - Another difficult race. If forced other clubs and listen to their DJs, and I to pick a horse it would be (4) CROWNTIMEROCKETTE, but this would mimic what I heard while driving is definitely a spread race for me with #’s 1, 3, 5, 6. in my car.” That music involvement has led Race 6 - $300,000 OHSS 2YO COLT TROT - (2) WINNING TICKET is clearly Vicroy to choose his post-race selec- the fastest of this group and he has been handy enough at times to tions quite carefully. When Little Rocket wait in the pocket or three-hole. Barry Vicroy Facebook Man recently won at Scioto, the veteran Scioto, Miami Valley and announcer played “Rocket Man” by Race 7 - $300,000 OHSS 3YO FILLY TROT - (8) GUINEVERE HALL has yet Dayton track announcer Elton John. to lose in six starts this year but might be vulnerable from the Barry Vicroy. “Driver Brady Galliers’ nickname is outside post. (4) DELOVELY HALL & (6) A FANCY FACE will Rocket Man, so that song used to be for also be on my ticket. him. I guess I’ll have to find him a new song,” said Vicroy. “I try to come up with a song for any horse but if I can’t I come up with one for Race 8 - $300,000 OHSS 2YO COLT PACE - The early speed and power is on the driver.” the inside of the gate. (1) FOUR-STAR FLASH showed what he can Other recent winners with songs you’ve certainly heard include: do last time and seems to be peaking at the right time, but (2) CHAR- “Come from the land down under” when Cyclone Kiwi N won or “Black LIE MAY and (3) HEART OF CHEWBACCA make the ticket. Hole Sun for the top 4-year-old Bllack Hole. On the driver front, Brett Miller gets “Kryptonite” since his nickname is “Super” Brett and Race 9 - $300,000 OHSS 3YO COLT TROT - (2) ACTION UNCLE has been Shawn Barker II’s song is “It Takes Two” since, well, he’s the second. untouchable against this group all year and the inside post gives Like a true professional, Vicroy mixes his music appropriately by driver Brett Miller plenty of options; clear single. genre. If a winning horse comes with a Rock song, the playlist will remain Rock until the next winner. If it is an Oldies song, he’ll ease into Race 10 - $300,000 OHSS 3YO COLT PACE - The group behind Stanford some Frank Sinatra as his next selection. Court may argue, but this is a two-horse race in my book between “I like all types of music, so you really could hear anything,” said (3) ELVER ROCK & (4) OCEAN ROCK. I can’t separate them. Vicroy. One big change at Scioto in 2020 has been less music and more .20 Ticket: 1,3,4,6,7 / 1 / 1,3,4,5,6 / 2 / 4,6,8 / 1,2,3 / 2 / 3,4 = $90 handicapping. That change was put in place by now Director of Racing for Caesars Entertainment Gabe Prewitt, and Vicroy feels it is a good change-of-pace. After the post parade, Vicroy will discuss his of Hurrikane Emperor, Springsteen and others. top picks or banter with Prewitt about the upcoming race in the few Off a win last weekend in the Roses Are Red, Warrawee Ubeaut will minutes prior to post time. take on the boys in the second #SENDITIN (race 14). Her main competi- “It is harder when I’m by myself. It is easier when there is a conver- tion includes None Bettor A and Workin Ona Mystery. sation and you can go back and forth,” said Vicroy about the handi- The action at Scioto should last close to midnight and when the music capping segment. is over, as Jim Morrison said, they’ll “turn out the lights.” In addition to calling good races and spinning some top music, Vicroy has been picking plenty of winners using a unique strategy. “I’ve Scioto’s $100,000 #SENDITIN Invitationals always been a ‘think long, think wrong’ guy, I work a lot on memory. I show up to the track about an hour before the races and I’ll spend about (Race 12 - 1st Div.) (Race 14 - 2nd Div.) 45 minutes looking over the program. I usually know all of the horses 1-Micky Gee N 1-Stars Align A and drivers’ styles, so I can put it all together in my head and it doesn’t 2-Bllack Hole 2-Warrawee Ubeaut take me long to work through a card,” said Vicroy. 3-Southwind Amazon 3-None Bettor A On Sunday, Vicroy will get another opportunity to call the Ohio-bred 4-Hurrikane Emperor 4-Escapetothebeach Championships for 2- and 3-year-olds. The 17-race program gets under- 5-San Domino A 5-Workin Ona Mystery way at 6:00 PM and the announcer is most looking forward to calling 6-Little Rocket Man 6-Jesse Duke N the 3-year-old colts, especially the speedy Ocean Rock, and the new 7-Brassy Hanover 7-Bechers Brook A $100,000 #SENDITIN Invitationals, which drew split divisions. The first division (race 12) features Midwest standouts Bllack Hole, 8-Springsteen 8-Sectionline Bigry Southwind Amazon and Little Rocket Man facing off against the likes 9-Our Majordan A

DRF Harness Weekend | 6 | September 3, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Papi Rob Hanover has the potential to be a perfect stallion

on the mark By Bob Marks @BobMarks3

In many ways, the recently injured Papi Rob Hanover can be likened to Bret Hanover and Secretariat in terms of his genetic proximity to the current positioning of the breed. Of course, his ultimate stature as a racehorse is pure conjecture at this point and he cannot be compared with those two superstars in terms of racing accomplishment. It might be possible to suggest he’s reminiscent of those two on a physical basis as an individual, but no more. Whereas he could be compared to the thoroughbred Raise A Native in terms of potential accomplishment based on a handful of starts, one of which (the last one) may have been as powerful a performance as the harness world has ever seen-especially since it didn’t look like he was reaching his “bottom”. It is recalled that Bret Hanover was by Adios from an excellent Tar Heel mare Brenna Hanover. At the time Adios was by far the ultimate sire in the pacing breed while Tar Heel was in the process of proving the ultimate broodmare sire. Thus Bret Hanover virtually epitomized the maximum in where the breed was at the time. He was as close to genetic perfection as one could imagine. In addition, Adios himself was not overly large, nor were many of his offspring. Bret Hanover, though nicknamed “The Big Bum,” was an imposing physical specimen given the size received from his dam’s side. Secretariat was by the ultimate speed horse and sire Bold Ruler, from an excellent Princequillo mare named Somethingroyal who had Hanover Shoe Farms Photo previously produced a top stakes colt in Sir Gaylord to Turn To. Trainer Brett Pelling brought Papi Rob Hanover to Hanover Shoe Bold Ruler was in the process of proving the ultimate speed sire of Farms on August 31. the generation while distance-loving Princequillo would provide the ability to handle a distance of ground through his excellent produc- ing daughter. Thus Secretariat virtually epitomized the maximum Secretariat were in their days. Certainly breeding of Somebeachsome- of where the thoroughbred breed was at that time, being as close to where on Panera Hanover, a well-bred Rocknroll Hanover mare, is genetic perfection as one could imagine. hard to beat, as was Adios on Brenna Hanover and Bold Ruler on Some- Of course the individuals come into play as well and both “The Big thingroyal in their day! Bum” Bret Hanover and “Big Red” Secretariat were as impressive indi- While some may question his handful of brief and shining moments, vidual specimens as could be found at that point in time. history has proven that it will not negatively impact his ability to sire. This brings us to Papi Rob Hanover. In his brief career he displayed Thoroughbred purists will cite Raise A Native, a son of Native Dancer signs of potential greatness as his Adios elimination performance was who broke down following a handful of record-shattering starts as a indeed one for the ages. Not only did it shatter the existing records for 2-year-old but still emerged as a milestone stallion, siring Mr. Prospec- The Meadows racetrack, but that he was pretty much on his own was tor, who along with Northern Dancer revolutionized the thoroughbred suggestive of more being in the tank. The previous start he was outside breed. and coverless virtually the entire mile in The Meadowlands Pace and Therefore the fractured coffin bone that tragically ended what could there’s some talk that his coffin bone problem may commenced in have been a legendary career for Papi Rob Hanover will not prevent deep stretch in that race. That too is speculation and conjecture as he him from becoming a milestone stallion if that is indeed his destiny in certainly looked sound until pulling up after his Adios elimination. the overall scheme of things. ‘Papi Rob’s’ sire, the late Somebeachsomewhere, a super-horse in his In that Papi Rob Hanover is returning to his birthplace at Hanover own right, has been considered the best pacing sire of this new millen- Shoe Farms to stand stud, he’ll be standing alongside another great nium and perhaps as great as any in the all-time roster. However, his Somebeachsomewhere stallion in Captaintreacherous, himself a bril- ultimate stature won’t be known for generations. His dam Panera liantly bred son of ‘Beach’ from Worldly Treasure, the full sister to Hanover is a well-bred daughter of the also late Rocknroll Hanover, Worldly Beauty from foundation mare World Order. Going in it was himself the leading sire until Somebeachsomewhere took over. Despite hard to consider Captaintreacherous the maximum of where the breed passing at the early age of 11, Rocknroll Hanover is in the process of was during his time given the uncertainty surrounding his sire Some- proving a remarkable second-generation sire. neachsomewhere at the time. Thereafter, someone could make a pretty Rocknroll’s sons, like Pet Rock and Rockin Image, etc. are proving good case for him as well. excellent sires in their own right, while his daughters tend to enhance Down the road it will be interesting to see the “Beach Boys” slug it the performances of whatever sires they wind up servicing. out in the stud ranks seeing as how the age differential prevented it Consequently, Papi Rob Hanover may well be the epitome of where from happening on the racetrack. the current pacing breed is in this day and age, as Bret Hanover and Stay tuned.

DRF Harness Weekend | 7 | September 3, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness

Entering September, Horse of the Year battle is wide-open

3: Gimpanzee

EDITOR’S EYE He lost his perfect record in the Crawford Farms Trot and that cost him some ground. Ramona Hill’s victory on August 21 knocked him By Derick Giwner @harnesseyeguy out of the top spot in the weekly Top 10 poll. Third in earnings and five-for-six in the win column, he’s one big win in the Maple Leaf Trot on Saturday from potentially regaining his former post.

Who is the best horse in right now? As a member 4: Shartin N of the media, that is a question that pops into my head on and off throughout the year. In 2020, it is not an easy one to answer. The reining Horse of the Year has an identical record to Gimpan- There are at least seven horses which at this point in the year could zee but was a conspicuous no-show in the Roses Are Red because her claim some hold on Horse of the Year honors. Of course there are many connections didn’t want her to travel without her groom or driver. Her more races to be contested and nothing firm will be decided in the chances of keeping the crown and becoming the first back-to-back coming weeks, but it will certainly be fun watching the drama build. winner since Moni Maker (1998-1999) will likely come down to her Let’s take a look at the contenders in the order I have them ranked: connection’s willingness to face the boys and her ability to beat them. 1: Tall Dark Stranger 5: Party Girl Hill

Chris Ryder trainee got a little scare in the Fan Hanover elimina- tions but erased any doubts with a 2 3/4 length 1:49 2/5 victory to move to 8-for-8 this year. Unblemished records are held in high regard by voters. Fillies JK She’salady (2014) and Bee A Magician (2013) are both recent Horse of the Year winners who went undefeated. 6: Ready For Moni

New Image Media Tall Dark Stranger won the North America Cup on August 29.

Nancy Takter trainee has six wins in seven starts and leads all horses in earnings. He’s already won the Meadowlands Pace and North America Cup, certainly the two top races contested so far in his division. Unless another 3-year-old colt gets hot during the fall, he Fotowon could end the season with just one or two losses. Ready For Moni won the Zweig and will be favored in Saturday’s Goodtimes Final. 2: Ramona Hill He came first-over into Ramona Hill and was a good second in the Hambletonian. An impressive Zweig win got him back on the right track and he looked every bit a champion winning his Goodtimes elimination on Friday at Woodbine Mohawk Park. He has some work to do to get near the top spot, but it is possible. 7: Reflect With Me

She is perfect in five starts and that is worth something. The problem is that she races in a division without a ton of big stakes and decided to skip the Fan Hanover. That’s going to make it tough for her to climb the ladder. Dark-Horse Options: Sorella: Hambletonian Oaks winner was in the picture before making a break in the Zweig Filly Trot. She’ll need to win out just to get back into the running. Manchego: She was looking good prior to recent defeats. She would need to beat the boys and go undefeated the rest of the year to have any chance. Derick Giwner Ramona Hill has already defeated the boys in the Hambletonian. American Courage: He’s 7-for-7 and the dominant 2-year-old pacer in New York. Will that translate on the Grand Circuit? Captain Corey: He moved his record to 3-for-3 and is being talked She beat the boys in the Hambletonian and then easily bested the about as the next great thing in trotters. Son of Googoo Gaagaa just girls in the Zweig Filly Trot. Daughter of Muscle Hill leads all horses may be that good! in earnings and sports a solid four wins in five starts. She will main- Macho Martini: Another 2-year-old trotter that has never lost. tain the top spot in many eyes until defeated again, but I lean to Maybe we’ll see a showdown between him and Captain Corey in the “Stranger” at this moment. Mohawk Million?

DRF Harness Weekend | 9 | September 3, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Spadaro thrilled to be racing Good news in New York as in Ohio Sire Stakes at Scioto casinos green-lighted to open

By Kimberly Rinker By Derick Giwner

Joe Spadaro has come a long way from his Queens, New York child- When Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Thursday (9/3) hood, working nearly his entire life in the harness racing industry, that New York casinos would be allowed to open starting Septem- first as a trainer, then as a racing commission executive and now has ber 9 at 25% capacity, it was just the news the harness racing an owner-breeder. industry needed in the Empire State. “Growing up in New York, harness racing was big time,” Spadaro, With Yonkers Raceway tentatively scheduled to close September 78, recalled. “Later, when I lived in Hicksville, Long Island-about 12 due to a depleted purse account and Monticello Raceway shut- three miles from Roosevelt Raceway-I started training horses. It took tered since March, owners and horsemen in the state were staring me a long time to get established as a trainer-back then you had to at dark times. The news on Thursday shifts the focus from when earn your way into getting stalls at Roosevelt and Yonkers based on will the casinos open and allow tracks to share in the profits for the quality of horses you had. I also bought and resold horses and did the purse accounts to how long will it take for them to open. a lot of traveling along the East Coast and throughout Pennsylvania Yonkers Raceway specifically has an agreement in place with and Ohio.” the horsemen stating that when the casino opens for business, the Spadaro trained from 1976 through 1989, competing track will open for business, according to Standardbred Owners mostly on the New York and New Jersey circuits. Association of New York President Joe Faraldo. “When Roosevelt shut down in 1989, I decided to move into a differ- “I assume MGM wants to open the doors as soon as possible,” ent area of racing and got a job with the New York Thoroughbred said Faraldo, who felt there was no reason why racing had to be Breeding and Development Fund,” Spadaro said. “I worked there interrupted for a lengthy amount of time, if at all. “We could toler- until I retired in 2007-moving up from field inspector to the Deputy ate a short break, but in my mind, the track would not close (after Director position.” Sept. 12). We can adjust the purse account for the short gap (until It was during those years that Spadaro became close friends with the casino money fuels the purse account). All we need to do is famed Thoroughbred announcer Tom Durkin and began purchasing delay the payment of purses for 10 days instead of five.” horses as an owner-breeder. According to MGM Yonkers Director of Racing Alex Dadoyan, “We became good friends, and the name Spaaaartners actually while the facility has been properly upgraded to acceptable stan- came about because Tom was the announcer at Saratoga, which dards for some time, it still has to wait for COVID-19 operational people refer to as ‘The Spa,’ and he used to draw out the word ‘spaaaaa’ guidelines from the state and re-staff furloughed employees. That when he was announcing there,” he explained. could delay any casino opening perhaps 7-to-10 days after Septem- “We purchased the Lindy Lane mare Electra Hanover from Albert ber 9 and possibly place racing on the sidelines for a few days, but Adams, at his farm Winterwood Farm in Bellville, Ohio, and she was not long. in foal at the time, so it was a package deal. We bred her to Conway Hall While 25 percent capacity may seem like a low number, Faraldo and the result was Coraggioso. It was Tom’s job to name the foals we said other states are showing strong returns despite restrictions. bred and as we both love Italy; he gave most of the foals Italian names.” “They are on restrictions in Ohio and Pennsylvania and haven’t Coraggioso, the Italian word for courageous, was foaled at Winter- lost a dime in revenue since re-opening,” said Faraldo. wood in 2009 and raced four years, becoming a New York Sires Stakes Perhaps the worst casualty in racing from the Pandemic has champion and taking a record of 5, 1:52 4/5 with earnings of $677,398. been Monticello Raceway. Shuttered since March 13, the New York “Coraggioso was a big horse and my goal was to show how, even Catskill-region track could be opening soon. “I would almost bet though as big as he is, that he could get around a half mile track,” on it,” said Faraldo when asked about the possibility. “My guess Spadaro stressed. “Ohio was just breaking out and it was the perfect is that the track made a commitment to the Gaming Commission time for him to be showcased there, but that didn’t happen as he that they would race when the casino opens.” pulled a suspensory. We waited a year to try to bring him back to the Despite most tracks running short on money, Monticello is races, and did everything we could, but it just didn’t happen.” in much better shape. Since the facility has been closed for six Since retirement, Coraggioso been standing in Ohio and has a trio months, horsemen have $1.25 million in the purse account and of youngsters that are likely starters in three $300,000 Ohio Sires another $2 million in an interest-bearing escrow account accord- Stakes Championships. ing to Faraldo. “He’s been standing at Cool Winds Farm in Lima for four years,” Vernon Downs in upstate New York announced in late August Spadaro noted. “He’s had 13 starters, and last year Lima Gold was his that it would close in mid-to-late September. When asked for first OSS contender to make the Championship.” comment, owner Jeff Gural said he wasn’t sure if the track would The now 3-year-old trotting filly Lima Gold, 2, 1:57h ($108,562) revert back to its original November closing date. currently sits seventh in the OSS standings with two third-place The timing of the casino announcement was not only a relief finishes, a fifth and second place finish in the OSS Legs. As well, the to horsemen and tracks in the state, but also for the breeding 2-year-old trotting colt Panzano, 2, 1:58 3/5h ($48,520) is fifth in the industry. The Goshen Yearling Sale is slated for September 14 in OSS standings. He won OSS Leg 3 in 1:58 4/5 and was second, fifth and New York and the New York Sire Stakes finals two days earlier at third in the other OSS Legs. Both youngsters are trained by Chris Yonkers Raceway. The Sire Stakes gets vital funds from the casi- Beaver for the Spaaaartners. nos to fund purses which also bolsters the breeding industry. New The 2-year-old trotting filly Incomeorexpenses, 2, 2:01 1/5h ($27,777) York Sire Stakes Executive Director M. Kelly Young called the is the other OSS Championship hopeful. Owned by Black Magic announcement a “morale boost” on her Twitter account. Racing, she is trained by Todd Luther, and had a pair of second-place finishes in two of the four OSS legs. “We’re thrilled to have Coraggioso standing in Ohio and even more so to have his babies racing in the Ohio Sires Stakes,” Spadaro concluded. “Racing in Ohio validates why I want my stallion stand- Follow ing in Ohio. Being here is refreshing because it is what we experi- enced back in the 1960s and 1970s at Roosevelt and Yonkers, before The Meadowlands came into the picture. There was so much enthu- siasm for the races back then and that same kind of enthusiasm is in Ohio now.”

DRF Harness Weekend | 10 | September 3, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness ROAD TO THE MOHAWK MILLION The inaugural Mohawk Million for 2-year-old trotters is scheduled for September 26 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Nine owners paid $110,000 each to own slots for the $1,000,000 race. Each slot-holder may enter their own horse in the Mohawk Million or make arrangements with another owner to use the entry. In addition, a tenth spot in the million-dollar race will be awarded to the winner of the William Wellwood Memorial on September 12 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Below are the Top 10 horses on the Road to the Mohawk Million (Week 4 - September 3) as rated by DRF Harness Editor Derick Giwner along with his comments.

No movement this week ahead of Saturday’s PA Sire Stakes finals at Pocono and the Wellwood/Peaceful Way eliminations at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Thursday. Those could drastically change the list for next week, with horses like Fashion Frenzie, Insta Glam, Arnold N Dicky, Plumville Prince, Gimmer Shelter, Anoka Hanover, Donna Soprano or others joining the Top 10. Horse Sex Sire Record/Best Win Time Trainer/Driver Last Start 1-Captain Corey C Googoo Gaagaa 3-3-0-0 (1:54 1/5 - Mw) Ake Svanstedt Won PASS by 7 3/4 lengths at Pocono on 8/23 Owner(s): SRF Stable, Knutsson Trotting, Midnight Sun Partners, Ake Svanstedt He already owns two track records and seems to be getting more powerful. Googoo Gaagaa colt has PASS final Sept. 5 at Pocono next (Race 9, post 3). Sources say ownership has been approached with offers to get into the Mohawk Million. No decisions have been made.

2-Macho Martini C muscle Mass 6-6-0-0 (1:54 4/5 - Wbsb) Luc Blais / Bob McClure Won Champlain at Mohawk on 8/27 Owner(s): Determination Another race and another win for this guy, who coasted to an easy wire-to-wire score on August 27 despite the seemingly short three-quar- ters of a length margin of victory. Owner already has a ticket to the Million in his pocket, but is entered in the Wellwood (Race 5, post 6).

3-Southwind Tyrion C muscle Hill 3-3-0-0 (1:54 - Med) Ake Svanstedt Won Garden State at Meadowlands on 8/7 Owner(s): SRF Stable, Ake Svanstedt, Knutsson Trotting Inc., Brittany Farms LLC Has done everything right & beaten talented horses, but hasn’t raced in four weeks. Starts Thursday (9/3) in the Wellwood (Race 2, post 2).

4-Darlene Hanover F Chapter Seven 5-3-1-0 (1:53 4/5 - Lex) Brett Bittle / Andrew McCarthy Won KYSS at Red Mile on 8/24 Owner(s): Yankeeland Partners LLP Waited off a fast pace and gobbled them up most recently. We still don’t know her ceiling.

5-Lady Chaos F Cantab Hall 4-3-0-0 (1:54 2/5 - Med) Linda Toscano / David Miller 4th in KYSS at The Red Mile on 8/24 Owner(s): Richard Gutnick, Tom Pontone, Joseph Lozito Jr, Enviro Stables Ltd Was rolling along with a perfect record prior to her most recent start where she went wicked fractions of 27 and 54 before tiring. She’s in-to- go on Thursday in the Peaceful Way at Mohawk (Race 1, post 4).

6-Dancinginthedark M C Readly Express 3-2-0-0 (1:52 3/5 - Lex) marcus Melander / Dave Palone Broke in KYSS at Red Mile on 8/24 Owner(s): Menhammar Stuteri Ab Missed Walner’s world record by a second in the fastest mile of the year while in-hand, but broke when angled on the final turn from third most recently. He’s fast. Will he behave?

7-Venerate F Love You 4-2-0-2 (1:52 4/5 - Lex) Julie Miller / Andy Miller Won KYSS at Red Mile on 8/24 Owner(s): Pinske Stables, Andy Miller Stable Inc. Debuts at #7 off a impressive wire-to-wire score in the second-fastest time of 2020 for a 2-year-old.

8-In Range C Bar Hopping 5-4-1-0 (1:55 1/5 - PcD) marcus Melander / Tim Tetrick Won PASS at Pocono on 8/23 Owner(s): Amg Stable Inc., Kenneth Kjellgren, Tomas, Asell, Rick Wahlstedt After suffering his first defeat due to chasing slow fractions, he took things into his own hands and went wire to wire in 1:55 1/5 last time. Sire Stakes finals on Sept. 5 at Pocono are next (Race 9, post 4) and he’ll get seriously tested against #1 ranked Captain Corey.

9-Zenith Stride C muscle Hill 4-1-0-0 (1:55 1/5 - Med) mark Harder / Brian Sears Won Peter Haughton at Meadowlands on 8/8 Owner(s): Emilio & Maria Rosati Paid $177 to win in the Haughton while stamping himself as an up-and-comer. When will we see him next? No starts since August 8.

10-Flawless Country F Southwind Frank 5-3-2-0 (1:54 1/5 - PcD) Ake Svanstedt Won PASS at Pocono on 8/17 Owner(s): Ake Svanstedt, Wolfganf A Stable Inc., Borje Nasstrom Hardly blew away her competition last time out but did beat a nice field in a career-best mile. Has post 4 in race 11 on Saturday in PASS final.

DRF Harness Weekend | 11 | September 3, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Did you ever want to know more about the people involved in the harness industry? Editor Derick Giwner combs the harness landscape each week to profile a new personality from the sport.

Conrad Photo Driver peter wrenn Peter Wrenn has over 10,000 driving wins and 1,000 training wins in his career. What kind of car do you drive? You have over 1,000 training wins but stopped in 2014 Jeep rag–top. and your wife Melanie took over, why? Favorite dinner meal? Snack? She took over most of it. I was on the road and she was there, so she started to list herself as trainer. We are both involved pretty Good Italian meal; Bananas and almonds. equally. What is your favorite track to race at? You are one of a few drivers with over 10,000 wins. What Now, the closest one (Hoosier Park) because I don’t like driving does that number mean to you? anymore. I liked the old Meadowlands the best. That was by far my favorite. It means I lost a lot. It is a huge accomplishment, but when you think about having lost 40,000 or 50,000 races, that is a big ac- What is your favorite big event in racing? complishment also. That’s a lot of traveling around the track. Any of the big stakes. I missed out on going to the North Ameri- Is it harder to be a successful trainer or top driver? ca Cup this year. Any time you go up to Toronto area for the big races like the Breeders Crown or NA Cup or the Hambletonian One goes with the other. Every top driver needs to be involved at The Meadowlands, it is always great. with a top trainer. For me being involved with both, I have to be hard on myself as a trainer. If the stats aren’t going good on the How often is racing on your mind? training end, it definitely isn’t going good on the driving end. Seems like a lot because we have a lot of horses racing now, but I What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten about harness always try to shut it off for a few hours. racing? What is your favorite thing to do outside of racing? Be humble and respect your success, because it can change in one day. Going out on the lake, biking, snow skiing; staying active with outdoor activities. What was your favorite moment in harness racing? What is your favorite sport to watch? My first Breeders Crown win in Toronto with Yankee Cashmere (1994). That was my old stomping grounds and I still had my Harness Racing. father on my mind. He used to like racing up that way. What is one thing about you most fans/bettors don’t know? Is your family originally from Canada? I don’t really think much about myself, so I really don’t know. I I’m not but my parents were. do think that some people who get to know me are surprised. Which is the best horse you’ve ever driven? What is one word that describes harness racing for you? It is hard to compare one horse to another. My most memorable Change. The sport changes so much over the decades. If you week-in and week-out that I enjoyed a lot was Hi Ho Silverheels. don’t change with it, you fall behind. We were involved personally and he was just a fun horse to put in the trailer and go race. How did you get started in the sport? Which horse is/was your favorite? I grew up in it. My dad was involved with horses long before I was born and I carried it on because I enjoyed it. Main Street. He was a cheap purchase as a yearling when I was younger and helped me win a lot of races that I dreamed of as a Was there ever a chance you were going to do something kid. He was a cool horse. else? CONTINUED ON PAGE 13 Not in my mind.

DRF Harness Weekend | 12 | September 3, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

What’s the one race that you haven’t won but really want to win? There are plenty of them. The Little Brown Jug. I won the Juggette but never the Jug. Also the Hambletonian. How many horses do you and Melanie have in the barn? Somewhere between 32 and 34. Guinevere Hall has dominated among 3-year-old fillies in the Ohio Sire Stakes. How confident are you going into the final on Sunday? Conrad Photo Naturally we have to be confident with a filly Guinevere Hall, who is undefeated in 2020 for the team of Peter & Melanie Wrenn, going in that is six-for-six. She is definitely the starts from post 8 in Sunday’s $300,000 Ohio Championship for 3-year-old filliy trotters. one to beat, but she is also a filly trotter and things can happen. I realize that and just try to cover all of the bases. How did COVID-19 affect your life and business? Is she a Grand Circuit horse? I didn’t think much of it at first, but the longer we were in it the worse it became. I had horses in the north and Florida. I was in She’s a world champion. She wouldn’t be ashamed by the Grand Circuit Florida and felt like we were on an island and couldn’t go any- horses and she’ll have her chance against them. She could line up with where. It changed our training program after a while because any of them, maybe not beat them, but she deserves to be in the race. we didn’t know when we would return to racing. As ready as we thought we were, I think we fell behind or got horses bored, be- What does Guineverie Hall have next? cause it took a while for everything to get into shape. Mentally not knowing when racing was going to start was the hardest thing. After this week she has the Breeders Championship (Delaware Coun- ty Fair), then the Crossroads at Hoosier. She also has the Matron. If you had the power to change one thing in the sport, what would it be? You also have Odds On Pick Six in the 2-year-old colt pace. What about his chances? I think our sport could go a long way if the right buttons are pushed. I think we need to look at the big picture. It’s an exciting sport, we He’s a very good colt that was on a good roll but a little immature just need to figure out a way to make the pools bigger. mentally in his mouth. We were just starting to get past that and he ended up with an abscess in his foot, so his last six weeks his pro- A commissioner could help. Whether it is to look at bad race calls gram has been really messed up. It put us on delay. I raced him the or whatever. If everything could go through a commission like in other day in Lexington because he needed to race. He’s a good colt, so football, that would be good. A person betting multiple tracks doesn’t I hope he comes back around quickly. know what they are going to get from track to track, whether it is when a horse breaks or a recall or whatever. How happy were you with Odds On Osiris finishing fourth in the North America Cup? How do you view the future of harness racing? I think it can go as deep as it needs to. We have a lot of horse owners Afterwards I was very happy. Going in I thought he could’ve been and breeders that love this game. They have invested a lot of money a little better. He just got away in a lot of traffic starting from the into the future, whether it be broodmares, yearlings or stallions. We second-tier. I thought he raced tremendous considering he gave Tall have a good product. The breeders are doing their job and hopefully Dark Stranger a 15-length head start at the quarter. one day the whole industry will follow. What is next on his schedule? Time for the stretch drive: He came back good. He’ll have this week off and then we’ll figure out Best Horse You Ever Saw: Niatross. As a kid, maybe I was 19 at his schedule going forward. He has some good races here at Hoosier, Windsor, they had him roped off and if you knew someone you could so he won’t have to travel much. go visit him. I got to know the night caretaker and I’d take friends If you could choose any horse in history to drive, which horse over to see him. would it be and why? Best Race you ever saw: Most of the time it is a the Jug. It is always exciting. Maybe the race where Art Official beat Somebeachsome- Somebeachsomewhere. He was awfully impressive to watch. His where in the Meadowlands Pace. speed was ahead of its time and his gait was like no other. It would’ve been a cool ride sitting behind a sports car like him. Lasix – Yes or No?: Yes. It’s therapeutic. It is definitely better than having horses hemorrhage from stress. How did you get involved with Dana Parham of Odds On Racing? Favorite TV Show?: I don’t watch much TV. I was in Ohio and he was looking to get involved in that state. He is a Trotters or Pacers?: Trotters are a little more challenging, or at very good client. Not only is he good, he’s easy to get along with. Like ev- least they used to be. A good attitude is everything whether it is a eryone else, he’s looking for good horses and has put a lot of money into trotter or a pacer. it, but it is hard to come up with good horses no matter how much you spend. We’ve had a little luck and I think we have a good relationship.

DRF Harness Weekend | 13 | September 3, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness INDUSTRY NEWS Reflect With Me continues string of perfection in KYSS

Three-year-old pacers competed in two $40,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes divisions at the Red Mile on Tuesday afternoon (9/1). Reflect With Me was an impressive winner in the girls split while Fortify At DRF Harness we strive to provide the best handicapping posted a victory versus the boys. information in the sport. Each week we’ll use this space to bring READ MORE you some of our handicappers’ best bets, value plays and horses to watch. Use this information as one of your tools when wagering or simply click on the link above and head to DRF Bets to wager now. Huge stakes card at Mohawk Park on Saturday Happy Handicapping!

Fresh off a record-setting Pepsi North America Cup, Woodbine Thursday, september 3 Mohawk Park continues “Grand Circuit Month” with an all-star $2 million stakes-filled card this Saturday night (September 5). RACE 2 The C$560,000 Maple Leaf Trot and C$540,000 Canadian Pacing Derby bring the best older horses in the sport to Mohawk Park. Both (2) SOUTHWIND TYRION events received a format change this year, removing eliminations and has been perfect so far and taking the 10 horses with the highest lifetime earnings. his superior late speed sticks READ MORE out. He likely completes the Gingras early double. Goshen Yearling Sale alumni dominant in 2019 NYSS -Garnet Barnsdale Friday, september 4 The 2019 Goshen Yearling Sale had a record session last fall as the auction that produces winners continues to grow. Each year quality RACE 6 horses offered by top breeders have changed hands at this sale and have gone on to great success. This was never more evident than in 5 - WET MY WHISTLE the 2019 New York Sire Stake finals. sprinted off powerfully on READ MORE the far turn in her local debut, and looks to do the same at the same class. Lexington Selected catalog now available Easily the one to beat. -James Witherite The catalog for the annual Lexington Selected Yearling Sale is now available on the sales company’s website, lexingtonselected.com, and Saturday, september 5 on the Equineline Sales catalog app. Those not already on the mailing list but who would like a print RACE 7 catalog should fill out the order form on the website. READ MORE (8) WESTERN FAME recently switched barns to Mark Silva’s and won in his North America Cup card generates record handle second start for him. This horse has a whole pile of back- Tall Dark Stranger’s dominant performance in the 37th Pepsi class, so I think he’s well-spot- North America Cup highlighted a record-setting evening for Wood- ted and can wire these. bine Entertainment. -Greg Reinhart The 13-race Pepsi North America Cup card on Saturday, August 29 generated a handle of $5,619,396, the highest wagering handle in the RACE 7 57-year history of racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park. READ MORE (10) BILLY LINCOLN N lands in a bad post but a great spot versus a field he seems Hen Party equals Darlin’s Delight’s Saratoga record faster than at this point. -Derick Giwner Wednesday evening’s program featured the final installment of the New York Sire Stakes for the summer at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Three-year-old pacing fillies took center stage with races of $74,500 and $75,900 highlighting the card on an evening in which the track full card analysis / past performances record for sophomore fillies got matched. READ MORE Harrah’s Philly (FRI) Analysis Meadowlands (SAT) Analysis Meadowlands racing returns Saturday Mohawk Park (FRI) Analysis Mohawk Park (SAT) Analysis Yonkers (FRI) Analysis Pocono (SAT) Analysis It may have only been four weeks since Ramona Hill beat the boys in a thrilling Hambletonian where wagering soared to heights not seen in some time, but for impatient Meadowlands fans, the wait for DHP PPs harness eye PPs trackmaster PPs free PPs racing to return to the top track in the game is finally over, as live action at the mile oval resumes Saturday (Sept. 5) at 7:15 p.m. READ MORE Want full-card analysis? Visit DRF.com/harness

DRF Harness Weekend | 14 | September 3, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness