Campbell’s good deed returned five times over

Scarborough, Maine --- Call it karma, call it comradeship or simply call it good horsemanship, but Scarborough Downs’ leading driver, Drew Campbell, possesses it in spades, and was aptly rewarded for an exceptionally unselfish good deed on Friday afternoon with an outstanding day on the racetrack.

Michael Newman

Drew Campbell captures the loose horse Sids Drama during race three at Scarborough Downs on Friday -- while still at the helm of his own pacer, Goodgirlgonebad

In the early going of the afternoon’s third race, driver Kevin Pillsbury was unseated heading into the first turn. While uninjured in this mishap, Pillsbury was unable to rein-in his horse, and the now driverless pacer Sids Drama continued up the backstretch, still in hot pursuit of the field.

Rounding into the paddock turn, Campbell’s horse, Goodgirlgonebad, veered wide, effectively taking herself out of contention. Campbell then quickly turned away from his misfortune to don the garb of the Good Samaritan and concentrated his sole attention toward corralling the still-loose Sids Drama.

“I never really thought about,” Campbell explained. “I was pretty much out of the race and I heard the loose colt coming up behind me. I just decided to try to catch him and was able to grab him by the rein. I got him delivered to track security just before we got to the finish line.”

That finish line would become a familiar place for Campbell during the remainder of the card, as the top-rated driver then began a near unprecedented assault on the wire, securing five trips down victory lane with wins aboard Drollinger, Diamond Deal, Mr D B, Par One and JJs Pocket, while extending his meet-leading win tally to 179.

Campbell now trumps his nearest rival, Rob Dinning, by a seemingly insurmountable margin of 44 wins, but more importantly perhaps now knows that Karma is firmly on his side.

Truly no good deed goes unrewarded -- especially at the races.

-- Mike Sweeney

Doug’s Fame handles Open Handicap pacers at Pocono

Wilkes-Barre, PA --- Doug’s Fame kept his winning streak alive by moving up in class to win the featured Open Handicap pace on Friday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. The race carried a purse of $30,000.

Leaving as a 2-1 second choice from post position four in a field of seven, Doug’s Fame and driver Anthony Napolitano took over the lead shortly after coming around the first turn. He was challenged constantly on both the backside and in the homestretch, but he turned away all foes to win in the slop, in 1:50:3. Sky Tantrum finished one length back, in second, while Cheyenne Knight got the show.

The win was the third-straight at Pocono, all on sloppy tracks for the 4-year-old stallion sired by Apaches Fame. Dougs Fame, owned by Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi of Pennsylvania and JJK Stables and Walter Haas, Jr. of Florida, and trained by Ron Burke, won for the seventh time in 34 starts in 2009, and picked up his 12th lifetime win, pushing his career earnings past $251,000.

-- James Beviglia

A dream comes true at Vernon

Vernon, NY --- Baileysirishdream became a reality in Friday night’s $5,500 featured eighth event at Vernon Downs.

Fotowon

Baileysirishdream and Jimmy Whittemore sped home in the off going

The track’s leading dashwinner, Jimmy Whittemore, did the driving for trainer Ray VanDreason as Baileysirishdream ($4.10) took the scenic route from third at the quarter to gain the lead in the far turn and then surged to a three-length triumph, in 1:56.4, over a rain-soaked track rated “good.”

The convincing win was the fourth this season and 21st all-time for the 4-year-old daughter of Matchem Hanover--Lady Isabeau, who is owned by Richard and Barbara Bailey. The strong score increased her lifetime earnings to $202,496.

Driver-trainer Dan Daley earned his first triple of the meet, scoring with the trotters Winbak Half, in 2:01 for lessees Joe and Joann Thompson, Dillar A Dollar, in 1:57 for Ann-Mari Daley, his wife, Robert Pergament, Robert Brooks and Richard Lombardo, and Spin Spanky Spin, in 1:57.4, for Ann-Mari Daley, Charles Iannazzo and Richard Lombardo.

Leading provisional reinsman Leon Bailey, who has recorded 22 tallies, celebrated his 24th birthday with a double, winning with the trotters Justine Colleen, in 1:58.1 for owner Donn Lewandrowski, and Star Delivery, in 2:01 for trainer Tom Mulcahy and owner Wendy Mulcahy.

Trainer Mulcahy also sent out the pacer CJ’s Nutcracker, who earned a 1:57 victory with Ruel “Dude” Goodblood, Jr. driving for owners Wendy Mulcahy and Joan Johnson.

-- Jim Moran

A narrow win for Gale Warning at Pompano

Pompano Beach, FL --- A thrilling Open Handicap trot went right down to the wire on the Friday evening, Oct. 23 program at The Isle Pompano Park, with the veteran gelding Gale Warning just edging the strong mare Diva Diva for the top prize.

Under another perfect weather setting -- 82 degrees -- Diva Diva was sent through fractions of :27.4, :57,and 1:25.3 by trainer-driver Andy Santeramo. They were confronted at the top of the stretch as Gale Warning, with Tom Sells at the controls, rated his charge first-over in the final half and drew even late in the final eighth of the mile.

At the wire it was Gale Warning, about a head to the good in 1:55, as the Strong Gale--Liz's Promise stalwart notched his 32nd career win. His life earnings now stand at $299,700 for trainer Michile Lorenzo and owners Rod Lorenzo, Ciro Gentile and Pomtambo Stable.

The other $13,000 purse co-feature on the Friday night card was the Mares Open pace. Alice Springs, with Bruce Ranger up, blazed a wicked opening half pace of :27.3 and :54.2 to repel a second-quarter challenge by Shytown Lightning, with Andy Santeramo.

In the final half, Alice Springs was forced into another confrontation when M A Jackie was served up first-over by Fern Paquet, Jr., with Lucy Lucy and Wally Hennessey following second-over cover, stoutly.

Early in the stretch, Alice Springs was out of weapons and the outcome was apparent when Lucy Lucy was shown clear track to score in 1:51.4 with Nillabomb and Ray Vizzi closing up for second and M A Jackie holding third.

Lucy Lucy thus earned her 26th career win for owner Jay Sears and trainer Kim Sears. It was the first start back following a pair of qualifiers for the Tough Sir--Small Change mare Lucy Lucy, who last competed in a betting race on Aug. 26th, when she took her life mark of 1:51.2 in the Mares Open at Pocono Downs.

Prior to the Friday evening program, a pair of $4,500 purse divisions went to the gate in the second round of the Orange Blossom Series for Florida-bred 2-year-old pacing fillies. Black Diamond Girl won the first division in 1:57.2 for her fourth win in seven trips this year for owners Jay Sears, Penny Kelly and William Kelly. Wally Hennessey rated the Six Of Diamonds--Money For Munchkin miss to a three-quarter pole clocking of 1:29.3.

The pocket-sitter, Perfect Design with Bruce Ranger in tow, would never get close as Black Diamond Girl had a handy :27.4 closer in reserve for the wrapped-up win.

The other division went to Diamond Chip, who pulled the pocket coming out of the final turn to catch the pacesetting Lady Luck Le Ru and Wally Hennessey, in 1:58.3. Bruce Ranger drove Diamond Chip to her second career win in seven starts. The Six Of Diamonds--Stanwyck Blue Chip filly is co-owned by trainer Kim Sears, in partnership with Jay Sears. It went down as a life mark for Diamond Chip, as she paced her own final quarter in :28.2.

-- Frank Salive

Mach You And Me, Beach Nut Brand win Hilltop features

Yonkers, NY --- Mach You And Me (Jason Bartlett) and Beach Nut Brand (Jeff Gregory) shared the Friday night glory, winning Yonkers Raceway's pair of $40,000 Open Handicaps.

Mach You And Me (5) closed with a rush in the filly and mare feature

Mach You And Me, after gapping her cover in the weekly distaff derby, was able to get her act together when it counted. Assigned post position number five, she moved second-up behind Eagle Hilarious (Jeff Gregory). The former went up and over the early leader, Saymynamesaymyname (Jordan Stratton), taking a 1-1/4 length lead of her own into the lane.

However, Eagle Hilarious began to tire, and Mach You and Me -- as the even money favorite -- found her best stride in time. She defeated a pylon-skimming, 30-1 Chris Cross (Cat Manzi) by one-half length in a "good" 1:56.1. Hannah Isabel (Pat Lachance), Eagle Hilarious and Monochromatic (Daniel Dube) completed the cashers.

For Mach You And Me, a 5-year-old daughter of Mach Three co-owned by trainer Josh Green and Scott Dillon, she returned $4.10 for her fifth win in 22 season’s starts. The Exacta paid $65.00, with the Triple returning $913.00.

Mike Lizzi photos

Beach Nut Brand (8) moved first to last during the course of the featured trot

Beach Nut Brand, last early, worked out a third-over trip in the week's featured trot. After early leader Titan Park (Dube) called it night, the 3-2 choice, Napoleon (Jason Bartlett), grabbed the lead. Classic Lane (Manxi) and Beach Nut Brand were right behind, with Beach Nut Brand closing widest and fastest. He defeated Napoleon by one-half length, in 1:57.1, with Classic Lane, Victor's Vicky (Jordan Stratton) and Russell Hill (Yannick Gingras) grabbing the minor moolah.

Beach Nut Brand, a 7-year-old Branded gelding trained by Mark Harder for co-owners Stable 45 and Scott Kurzrok, returned $15.00 as the fourth choice for his ninth victory in 31 season’s starts, and has not won more than $810,000. The Exacta paid $56.50, with the Triple returning $113.00.

-- Frank Drucker

Pablo Angus wins again at Saratoga

Saratoga Springs, NY --- Another Friday night, another Open Trot win for Pablo Angus at Saratoga as the classy trotter recorded his tenth win of the year.

-- Scott Ehrlich