Hometown Harness Rankings
The Best at Buffalo Raceway and Batavia Downs
Published: September 10, 2009, 2:14 pm
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Not to brag (well, maybe a little), but on Friday night (Feb. 5), two of our top 10 horses, Newberry Winner and A Work In Progress, won their races and paid $22.60 and $4.40 respectively. And Discover Gold, at the top of the "Horses To Watch" list, won the first race and paid $10.80.
A reader asks our pick in the "Niatross Series" that started Feb. 6 with eight divisions of pacers who have started for a claiming price of $4,000 or less since last June 1. That's a lot of cheap horses, but Whitewall Hanover (a former invitational pacer from Team Holliday), Forever Blue (winner against $7,500 claimers at Batavia last fall) and Up Front Northern (last year's Niatross winner, I believe) bring some class to the program.
Speaking of class, that season's best 1:55 2/5 mile by Allamerican Danube on Jan. 23 (a 12 1/2-length victory for a $4,200 purse) earned the Team Holliday pacer the far-outside post 7 assignment for Feb. 6 in the $9,000 Open/Invitational Handicap against the best pacers on the grounds. The 6-year-old son of Western Hanover, the 1992 champion 3-year-old colt pacer, responded with a narrow victory from off the pace in 1:57. His two impressive victories moved him to No. 1 in our rankings.
Here's one observer's opinion of the current pecking order at Buffalo Raceway (with local starts, wins, seconds, thirds, earnings, gait, fastest winning mile, trainer, driver and date of last race.) Horses are dropped if they haven't raced in a month. Your opinions and suggestions are always welcome by e-mail at rsummers@buffnews.com.
1. Allamerican Danube (2-2-0-0, $6,800, p, 1:55 2/5. Sherri Holliday, Ken Holliday, 2/6): 6-year-old gelding by Western Hanover, champion 3-year-old colt pacer of 1992, won the final race on Jan. 23 by 12 lengths in 1:55 2/5, the fastest mile of the meet so far. ... It was the first time competing on Lasix for the former Flamboro Downs campaigner. ... He followed up with a 1:57 victory in the $9,000 Open Handicap Pace on Feb. 6. ... Owned by Howard Ouriel of Rochester.
2. Nifty Prescott (3-2-1-0, $10,500, p, 1:56 3/5. Sherri Holliday, Ken Holliday, 1/30): 6-year-old gelding wired the $7,500 Open II Pace by 7 3/4 lengths while posting the fastest time of the night on a very sloppy track. ... Came back the next week to take the $9,000 Open Handicap from post 6 to become the richest horse of the meet. ... “This is a really nice horse,” Ken Holliday told Raceway publicity director Sam Pendolino. “He just needed Lasix, and he’s a totally different animal”. ... Owned by Betty Tauber of East Brunswick, N.J.
3. Newberry Winner (4-3-0-1, $13,650, p, 1:59 3/5. Neal Russo, Jamie Dunlap, 2/5): 6-year-old granddaughter of Three Wizzards (the sixth-place finisher in Buffalo Raceway's Hopeful Pace in 1990) won a $7,500 Fillies & Mares Open II Handicap in 1:59 4/5 in her 2010 debut as driver Dunlap got his second Hamburg winner after a five-year absence. ... Owned by Howard M. Ouriel of Rochester. ... Won third race of the season in 1:59 3/5 from post 7 in the $9,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace on Feb. 5.
4. A Work In Progress (3-2-0-0, $9,720, t, 2:00 1/5. Sherri Holliday, Ken Holliday, 2/5): 6-year-old gelding by SJ's Caviar pushed his career bankroll over the $100,000 mark with a win in the $9,000 Open Handicap Trot on Jan. 15. ... “His blood got all messed up at Batavia last year, so we gave him some time off,” Ken Holliday to Raceway publicity director Sam Pendolino. “It’s good to have him back to his old self." ... Owned by Betty Tauber of East Brunswick, N.J. ... Won from post 3 in the $9,000 Open Handicap Trot on Feb. 5.
5. Ryan's Caviar (4-2-0-0, $7,500, t, 2:00. Jim Graham, Ray Fisher Jr., 2/5): 6-year-old gelded son of SJ's Caviar has won two editions of the $7,500 Open II Trot. ...Owned by R. Lewis Hauber of Jewett, Ohio. Finished seventh from post 6 in the $9,000 Open Handicap Trot (Race 4) on Feb. 5.
6. Brandonsnorthrnluk (3-2-0-1, $6,496, p, 1:57 1/5. Sherri Holliday, Ken Holliday, 1/30): 9-year-old gelding is 2 for 3 against $10,000 claimers. ... Owned by Betty Tauber of East Brunswick, N.J.
7. Time By Sevens (3-3-0-0, $6,700, p, 1:59. Donna Riedel, Kevin Cummings, 1/29): 6-year-old mare is unbeaten while stepping up from $5,000 to $8,000 claiming competition. ... Owned by trainer Donna Riedel of Batavia.
8. Bankers Dream (4-1-0-1, $4,890, t, 1:59 1/5. D.J. Millner, Kevin Cummings, 2/5): After losing as the 9-5 favorite on Jan. 15, he came back and won in 1:59 1/5, the fastest trotting mile of the meet so far. ... Owned by Melinda Kash of Medina, Ohio. ... Finished fourth from post 1 in the $9,000 Open Handicap Trot on Feb. 5.
9. Clooney Drummond (1-1-0-0, $4,500, p, 2:02 1/5. Jose Godinez, Gregory Merton, 1/16): 6-year-old invader from the Meadowlands splashed home by 1 1/4 lengths in the first $9,000 Open Handicap Pace of the season. ... If the name is familiar, it's because he won at BR last January when he was trained and driven by Ron Beback Jr. ... Still owned by James T. Dunn of Singer Island, Fla.
10. Jack Sparrow (5-0-2-1, $6,030, t, NR. Jim McNeight, Jim McNeight, 2/5): Must give respect to the big guy even though he finished second from the outside holes, where he gets assigned because of his past success, most notably a victory in an $18,000 race at Yonkers in December. ... It's just tough to have a top 10 without this guy in it. ... Owned by Michael Calimeri of Falconer. ... Finished third from post 8 in the $9,000 Open Handicap Trot (Race 4) on Friday, Feb. 5.
Special Mention
Goal Cam (3-3-0-0, $6,500, p, 1:58 1/5. John Kina, Jason Thompson, 2/6): 10-year-old grandson of On The Road Again, the 1984 Pacer of the Year, is unbeaten since arriving from Michigan. ... Has stepped up the claiming class ladder from $4,000 to $5,000 to $10,000. ... Owned by Jennifer Carpenter of Onsted, Mich.
Clear For Flight (3-1-1-0, $3,050, p, 1:59. Laurie Patistas, Jimmy Whisman, 2/6): 6-year-old gelding by Presidential Ball posted the fastest win, by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:59, in the eight divisions of the first round of the "Niatross" Pacing Series for $4,000 claimers on Feb. 6. ... It was his 13th win in 33 career starts. ... Owned by trainer Laurie Patistas.
Gehrig (2-1-0-0, $2,000, p, 1:59 3/5. Lisa Lederhouse, Jim McNeight, 2/6): 13-year-old son of Cam's Card Shark won his "Niatross" division in 1:59 3/5 in a 3 3/4-length jogburger. It was his 50th win in 307 career starts and boosted his career bankroll to $964,859. ... Owned by William Hartt of Carmel, Maine.
Patch Adams N (4-3-0-0, $8,700, p, 1:59 2/5. Bob Gruber, Kevin Cummings, 2/6): 12-year-old gelding is king of the $10,000 claimers with three victories in four starts at that level. ... Owned by El Lobo and Jonathan Klee Racing of Long Island.
Jim (3-3-0-0, $4,500, t, 2:02 2/5. Dennis Millner, Ray Fisher Jr., 2/3): 8-year-old son of SJ's Photo, the 1995 champion male trotter, is cheap but consistent. He started the Buffalo Raceway season with three straight wins with a $4,000 claiming tag. ... On Feb. 3 he was one of 10 straight winning favorites on th e Hamburg card. ... Owned by David Phoenix of Valley City, Ohio.
Kermunn (4-0-4-0, $7,125, p, NA. Ron Beback Jr., Ron Beback Jr., 2/6): 6-year-old gelding has finished second in all four starts this year. ... He's been on the bottom of exactas paying $21.40, $154, $18.20 and $21.80. ... The grandson of Albatross, the Horse of the Year in 1971 and 1972, has been in the exacta in 41 of 99 caree starts and last August set a lifetime mark of 1:55 in winning a $9,000 Open Handicap at Batavia Downs. ... Owned by James T. Dunn of Singer Island, Fla.
Horses to Watch
Gabby Hayes: Came flying at the end to finish second in the slop on Jan. 16. ... Finished third on Jan. 27. ... Is 5-1 on the morning line from post 8 in Race 4 on Wednesday, Feb. 10.
Gatorslamsthedoor: Finished second as odds-on favorite on Jan. 27. ... Finished third on Feb. 3. ... Is the 3-1 morning line favorite from post 1 in Race 4 on Wednesday, Feb. 10.
Mysteriously Hot: Got beat by a half-length at 4-5 on Jan. 15 after cutting the mile for trainer/driver Rick Magee. ... Finished third as the 1-1 favorite on Jan. 27. ... Finished third on Feb. 3. ... Is 9-2 on the morning line from post 5 in Race 7 on Wednesday, Feb. 10.
Arm And A Leg: Last year's top horse set a strong pace (27 4/5, 57 1/5, 1:27) from post 5 in the Feb. 6 Open Handicap Pace before fading to sixth in the drive. That was just his second start of the year and should have served as a good tightener.
Byrd: Morning lined at 3-1, he went off at 3-5 and finished a disappointing third after getting parked out in the slop on Jan. 16.
Discover Gold: Odds-on trotter finished last from the rail with a $14,400 claiming tag on Jan. 22. ... Maybe needs a drop in class. ... Finished fifth with a $21,000 price tag from post 3 in the Open II Handicap Trot (Race 4) on Jan. 29. ... Won on Feb. 5 and paid $10.80.
Doc's Poker King : Led to the final strides against two-time winner Goal Cam on Jan. 27. ... Finished third on Feb. 6 and claimed for $5,000 by trainer Dennis Cummings.
Encil: "Niatross" leg winner (from post 7 in 2:00 1/5) claimed for $5,000 by Ben Drongosky, a client of trainer Alex Giuliani, on Feb. 6.
Hawaiian Alibi: Claimed by James Dunn for $4,000 on Jan. 27 after a dead-heat win in 2:01 3/5. ... Won on Feb. 3 and paid $11.80.
Hello Carlo: Disqualified from runner-up spot to last when he was the 4-5 favorite in the $9,000 Open Handicap Trot on Jan. 22. ... Finished second from post 4 in the $9,000 Open Handicap Trot on Feb. 5.
Hood River: Monticello invader was sent off at 3-5 but was not a factor after the first half mile on Jan. 16.
Izamillionare: Led for a half (58 2/5) but finished seventh as 4-5 favorite on Jan. 27. ... Finished fourth on Feb. 3.
Jack Sparrow: Classy trotter was runner-up at 3-4 on Jan. 15 and is due to break through against the top trotters.
Limousine: Finished first in 2:01 but was disqualified for interference on first turn on Jan. 27.
Long Live America $8,000 claimer maybe should drop a notch from his Jan. 23 class.
Regal: Disappointed at 4-5. Led from the rail, opened a two-length lead at the top of the stretch and was nailed at the wire on Jan. 16. ... Won at Monticello, paying $4.50, on Feb. 3. ... Completed a $516 daily double and topped a $67 exacta.
The Fonz: Came back from a long layoff with a handy win in 1:59 2/5 on Jan. 30. ... Finished second on Feb. 6.
Yukon Bobby: Finished sixth by 10 1/2 lengths in Open 3 Handicap, but he was entered with a claiming tag and was snatched for $12,500 by Richie and Jeff Myers, clients of trainer Alex Giuliani.
Zackor: Claimed for $8,000 by James Dunn on Jan. 27.
Season's Fastest Winning Pacers:
1:55 2/5: Allamerican Danube (Jan. 23)
1:56 3/5: Nifty Prescott (Jan. 23)
1:57: Allamerican Danube (Feb. 6)
1:57 1/5: Brandonsnorthrnluk (Jan. 23)
1:57 2/5 Triple Bars (Feb. 6)
Season's Fastest Winning Trotters:
1:59 1/5: Bankers Dream (Jan. 22)
2:00: Ryan's Caviar (Jan. 22)
2:00 1/5: A Work In Progress (Feb. 5)
2:01: A Work In Progress (Jan. 22)
2:01 1/5 Ryan's Caviar (Jan. 15)
Season's Richest Pacers
$13,650: Newberry Winner
$10,500: Nifty Prescott
$8,700: Patch Adams N
$7,650: Triple Bars
$7,125: Kermunn
Season's Richest Trotters
$9,720: A Work In Progress
$7,500: Ryan's Caviar
$6,900: Australian Stock
$6,300: Old Trafford
$6,030: Jack Sparrow
Season's Winningest Horses
3 wins: Time By Sevens , p, (Jan. 15, $4,200 purse, 1:59; Jan. 22, $4.200, 1:59 2/5; Jan. 29, $5,000, 2:01 4/5.)
3 wins: Jim , t, (Jan. 15, $3,000, 2:02 2/5; Jan. 22, $3,000, 2:04; Feb. 3, $3,000, 2:04.)
3 wins: Newberry Winner, p, (Jan. 25, $7,500, 1:59 4/5; Jan. 29, $9,000, 2:00 4/5; Feb. 5, $9,000, 1:59 3/5).
3 wins: Patch Adams N , p, (Jan. 16, $5,800, 2:01 3/5; Jan. 30, $5,800, 2:00; Feb. 6, $5,800, 1:59 2/5).
3 wins: Goal Cam ,p, (Jan. 16, $3,000, 2:02 3/5; Jan. 27, $4,200, 2:00 2/5; Feb. 6, $5,800, 1:58 1/5).
On The Mark Congratulations to the following horses and their connections for recently setting new lifetime marks.
Pacers
2:02 4/5, This Bud's For You: 4-year-old gelding by Dragon Again (lifetime mark 1:48 3/5) won $1,250 for his first win in three starts and increased his career bankroll to $1,726 on Jan . 27. Driver Ray Fisher Jr. took a pocket trip behind Sun Tan Nan (29 4/5, 1:00, 1:31 3/5) before pulling away by a half-length. ... Trained by Jim Graham for owner Ronald Viola of Pittsford.
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