Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Notes From Around The Ovals

April 8, 2007

Ranger Wins Seven at Pompano
Driver Bruce Ranger visited the winner’s circle seven times at Pompano Park today with victories in seven of the first eight races on the program. Ranger’s winners on the Saturday card included Ginnies Best in the opener, Paper Exchange in race two, Professoralbright in race four, Paper Luck in race five, Graebuck in race six, Tutor Hanover in race seven, and Touch of Steel in race eight.

Ranger holds the record for most wins by a driver in a single day at Pompano Park after scoring nine times on the September 18, 2004, program that featured a total of 18 races including five non-wagering events.

Four Levy Divisions Contested
Yonkers Raceway featured four $50,000 divisions in the second (of six) legs of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series Saturday night. Special Report turned in the fastest performance of the series witth a 1:52.2 clocking.

Larry Stalbaum drove for owner Hugo Iodice and trainer Kim Asher. It was Special Report's third win in four tries at Yonkers. For the season, the track record-holder (aged geldings) has won seven of his nine tries and more than $98,000.

Mister Big won another Levy division with Greg Grismore at the lines, pacing in 1:53. Virgil Morgan, Jr. trained the winner for owner Joe Muscara. Mister Big now has seven wins in nine tries this year, including three in succession.

Tarver Hanover, a six-year-old by Ball And Chain won another Levy for owner the Wiz Kids Stable, trainer Roy Dinges, and driver Pat Berry in 1:54.1.

Cheyenne Hollywood, a five-year-old son of Western Hanover, took the last division in 1:56.1 with Pat Lachance at the lines for lessee The Cheyenne Gang and trainer Robbie Siegelman.

Live racing is currently offered at Yonkers with six programs per week -- Monday through Saturday nights at 7:40 p.m, EST.

Shark Gesture Back in Action
One of the more anticipated racetrack returns this spring is that of Breeders Crown winner Shark Gesture. Having won the Breeders Crown last year and being a son of Cams Card Shark gives him potential to be a candidate for some stud farm next breeding season but he will need to accomplish more for trainer Erv Miller.

The four-year-old surfaced on Tuesday at Spring Garden Ranch in Florida qualifying with a 1:54.4 mile. Owners Norm and Gerald Smiley along with TLP Stable sent the horse north to Miller’s Illinois training camp where the horse will be qualified again before beginning his 2007 campaign. The horse concluded his season on a disappointing note in the Messenger Stakes but still finished with winnings of $677,000 on the season. His best winning time is 1:49.1.

Among the early possible tests for Shark Gesture is the $200,000 Dan Patch at Hoosier Park on April 28.