Racing News

Sunshine Beach and Dedi’s Dragon, the only 3-year-olds in 2013 to defeat Pacer of the Year Captaintreacherous, plus all-star performer Apprentice Hanover, headline the list of 24 harness racing pacers that are eligible to race in the Hippodrome 3R’s revival of the prestigious Prix D’Ete.

Restricted to just 4-year-olds and now part of the prestigious Grand Circuit, the return of the Prix D’Ete will feature purses totaling C$250,000. The Prix D’Ete will be the richest race in North America for 4-year-old pacers with the final going for C$200,000 and the consolation race worth C$50,000. The top 16 lifetime money winning horses that enter will go in the two divisions by earnings.

“We are very pleased with the final nominees for the Prix D’ete,” said Hippodrome 3R’s General Manager Vincent Trudel. “I know that our track record will most certainly be in jeopardy with this high caliber of competition. The Prix D’Ete has a long history of being won by great horses and I think that will happen again with this renewal.”

The Saturday night (June 7) card at Scioto Downs will feature the Charlie Hill Memorial Trot for a purse of $200,000.

The cream of the crop has formed the full field of ten. The field includes a Kentucky Futurity winner, Hambletonian winner, Breeders Crown winners and the list of accomplishments goes on.

The entries for this Grand Circuit event are Arch Madness, Archangel, Market Share, Creatine, Undercover Strike, Modern Family, Fusion Man, Major Athens, Rompaway Beau and Dw’s NY Yank.

Wellsaidandone was victorious in the $15,000 final of the Spring Break Series on Tuesday (June 3) in Northfield Park’s 10th race.

The sophomore pacer is trained by Northfield Park Wall of Famer Tye Loy for owner Harry Locke. Keith Kash Jr. was aboard for the winning drive.

Jim Morand entered the record books Tuesday (June 3) at Harrington Raceway, becoming just the 15th driver in North American harness racing history to reach 9,000 wins.

Morand, 49, who drove three winners on the program, achieved the milestone win aboard Brenda Teague’s Remus Blue Chip ($17.80) in the 13th race.

Tuesday's (June 3) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows, Rosecroft Raceway and Hippodrome 3R.

After recovering from knee surgery and making it back into training, Dan Patch and O'Brien Award winning pacer I Luv The Nitelife has faced a second setback in her return to the races.

Richard Young, who co-owns the pacing filly along with Joanne Young, told Trot Insider that the 4-year-old Rocknroll Hanover mare suffered a spell of atrial fibrillation in training last week. After spending the weekend at Hogan Equine under the watchful eye of Dr. Patty Hogan and her staff, Young reports positive news.

"They made a few attempts to get her to convert back and it was successful (Monday) morning. She should be fine," said Young. "She will rest this week and go back in training next week."

Northfield Park's leading driver, Josh Sutton, drove seven winners on the Monday (June 2) program.

Sutton’s winners included Gale Force Hanover ($2.20) in race one, Jumpin Jack J ($4.40) in race two, Chase The Sun ($3.60) in race four, Dungeon Dragon ($4.00) in race seven, Forever Good ($5.00) in race nine, Fortune’s Jenna ($5.80) in race 13 and Cry For Cash ($3.60) in race 14.

Sutton, 32, began driving in 1998 and has since garnered 2,466 career victories and is approaching $14 million in purse earnings. He has posted 215 victories so far this year over Northfield’s Flying Turns, which tops the local driving ranks.

New Jersey’s Standardbred horsemen will celebrate June, the Month of the Horse in New Jersey, with donations of the new book,Standardbred Old Friends; a personal appearance by the retired racehorse Indy and an open house at Fair Winds Farm.

The Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey is donating 20 copies of Standardbred Old Friends, featuring the work of award-winner equine photographer Barbara Livingston and text by racing writer Ellen Harvey of Freehold, N.J., to New Jersey regional and consortium libraries as well as local libraries in communities located near racetracks and training centers.

JK Endofanera solidified his spot atop the Road to the Meadowlands Pace, with another impressive win, this time in theSomebeachsomewhere at Mohawk.

He has been perfect so far this season and the top spot is now his to lose. He headlines one of three North America Cup eliminations Saturday at Mohawk.

Meanwhile, He’s Watching made a statement that his performance at Yonkers was nothing more than an aberration as he dominated hisSomebeachsomewhere division at Mohawk as well. He moved right back toward the top of the leaderboard, now listed at No. 2 on this week’s Road to the Pace.

Currier & Ives filly division, The Meadows, Washington, Pa; Armbro Flight, Goodtimes, North America Cup, Fan Hanover and Roses Are Red eliminations, Mohawk Racetrack, Campbellville, Ontario; Charlie Hill Memorial, Scioto Downs, Columbus, Ohio; and Hanover Stakes (3-year-old colt and filly trot), Balmoral Park, Crete, Ill.

The finest 3-year-old colt pacers on the continent will go postward Saturday (June 3) at Mohawk Racetrack in three eliminations for the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup, Canada’s richest harness race, on June 14.
 
Each $50,000 elimination will qualify the top three finishers for the final, with one of the fourth-place finishers drawn by lot also advancing. In total, 22 Cup hopefuls will be competing as they attempt to reach the 31st edition of the Cup, the richest pacing event in North America.
 
The elim winners also earn their connections the right to select a coveted post position before the balance of the field is drawn at a media luncheon on Tuesday (June 10) at Mohawk, when Dave Bolland, Toronto Maple Leafs forward, will be the guest drawmaster.

Grand River Raceway kicked off its 2014 season on Monday (June 2) and the night was highlighted by Maddysonofagun in the fifth annual Local Biz Night race.

The popular event saw more than 120 people from 21 local businesses paired with a horse in race nine. Horizon Furniture scored its third consecutive Local Biz Night trophy, and shared Monday night’s triumph with Bensol Consulting Inc. and Beyond Rewards Inc. The three businesses received a trophy to display in their workplace and an equal share of a staff party for 20 at Grand River Raceway.

Older male pacer Sweet Lou won the Roll With Joe, his third consecutive victory of the campaign, and jumped into the top five, at No. 5, in this week’s Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll.

Trixton, a 3-year-old male trotter, captured the New Jersey Sire Stakes championship and vaulted three spots to No. 6 and stablemate Father Patrick, also a 3-year-old male trotter, landed in the top 10 at No. 8 after a 19-3/4 length Pennsylvania Sire Stakes triumph.

The top three positions remained unchanged, with older male trotter Sebastian K holding the top spot, followed by older female trotter Perfect Alliance and older female pacer Somwherovrarainbow.

In the immortal words of Lawrence Peter “Yogi” Berra it’s deja vu all over again here at the Mighty M. Just like last season when a pacing mare topped the North American leaderboard, again this year another pacing mare leads all other Standardbreds in races won thus far this year.

The current queen, Diamond Tiara, a 7-year-old daughter of McArdle, reeled-off her 13th seasonal victory and ninth consecutive here on Monday afternoon (June 2). Last year the industry was watching Tracys Song who also had a consecutive win streak and her seasonal triumphs also led North America at this comparable time.

Jimmy Taggart Jr. was once again in the sulky for trainer Mike Watson and he drove the mare perfectly, scooting to the lead (from post five) in a :28 first quarter and then coasting through a middle half before pouring on a :28.3 final quarter en route to a seasonal best of 1:56.4.