The Grand Circuit roared into Historic Track on Saturday (July 1) with Landmark Stakes for three-year-old trotters and pacers.
Cal Miles N Shell won the $12,000 Landmark for male trotters, defeating Chef Rocco by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:58.1 for driver Jordan Stratton and trainer John Calabrese. Snowman Hanover finished third.
A son of Trixton-Gillovny Hanover, Cal Miles N Shell is owned by breeder Calabrese Farms. The gelding has won five of 17 races lifetime and earned $37,139.
Stratton made it a double with the trotters when he guided Pembroke Moni to victory by nine lengths over HL Ballerina in 1:58.1 in the $6,425 Landmark for female trotters. Bingo Brain was third.
Pembroke Moni is trained by Mark Ford for owner Bill Varney. The daughter of International Moni-Possessed By Lindy was bred by Lindy Farms of Connecticut. It was the first victory of the season for Pembroke Moni, who was a Massachusetts Sire Stakes champion in 2022. She has won five of 22 career races and earned $173,002.
Johnny Sack captured the $17,800 Landmark for male pacers, beating Texas Town by 4-3/4 lengths in 1:55.2 with Mark MacDonald in the sulky for trainer Ray Schnittker. Tommy Manicotti finished third.
Schnittker owns Johnny Sack, a son of American Ideal-Worldly Treasure, with Ted Gewertz and Nolamaura Racing. The gelding was bred by White Birch Farm. He has won three of 16 lifetime starts and earned $73,840.
The $9,200 Landmark for female pacers went to Hurrikane Lady Lou, who bested Hallelujah Hanover by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:54.4 with Jason Bartlett driving for trainer John McDermott. B On The Hunt was third.
Hurrikane Lady Lou is owned by Jonathan Klee Racing, Justin Bolasci, Hurrikane Racing, and William Garofalo. The daughter of Sweet Lou-Hurrikane Empress was bred by Jonathan Klee Racing, Kuhen Racing, and Pegasis Investment Group. Unraced at age two, she has won three of 10 races and earned $34,120.
Historic Track hosts Landmark Stakes for two-year-old trotters and pacers Sunday. Racing begins at 1 p.m. (EDT).
Anthony Verruso ignited the heat early with his own trotter Call Me Thefireman and held his ground through to the finish to take the day's $5,000 CKG Billings Trot.
Starting from the pylon post, Verruso pushed Call Me Thefireman for the lead as the field aligned in post-position order to a :29.4 first quarter. Dagon Hanover (driven by Stephen Oldford) soon laid his attack after a 1:00.3 half and pressed Call Me Thefireman up the backside while Shoemaker Hanover (John Calabrese) loomed three-wide to make a three-high firing line by three-quarters in 1:29.4. Call Me Thefireman saved ground at the inside to regain a length lead spinning for home and built just enough cushion to keep a half-length up on Shoemaker Hanover to win in 1:59.3. Dagon Hanover finished third with P C Foreign Affair (Robert Ciavardini) fourth and Summer Storm (Charles Longo) completing the quintet.
Andrew Adamczyk trains Call Me Thefireman, a seven-year-old gelding by Wishing Stone.
Billings action is slated to continue later in the summer, with preliminaries still to come at Batavia Downs, Flamboro Downs and Woodbine Mohawk Park. The 2023 Billings season concludes in early October.
The Monticello-Goshen Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA) made its annual $4,000 donation to the world renowned harness racing track during the program.
Track president Steve Jones accepted the donation from chapter president Chris Tully and chapter Vice President-Secretary Janet Terhune.
“We can always count on the Monticello-Goshen chapter for their support, which this year included the production and funding of all our sponsorship signs," stated Jones. "The track is truly thankful for the many years of faithful support from our local harness writers.”
“Historic Track is one of my favourite places in the world," said Tully. "The stands were packed and the cheers from the racing fans were deafening. It was truly a sight to see. It is not only an honour, but also a privilege to continue to raise money for both Goshen institutions.”
The organization makes annual donations to both Goshen Historic Track and the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame, two separate and distinct entities that share the same hallowed ground and a mutual purpose of preserving and promoting harness racing.
The practice of raising money and donating funds to Historic Track and the Hall of Fame began in the mid-1970s with Monticello Raceway publicity icon John Manzi and has continued ever since. In just the last 20 years, the local Monticello-Goshen chapter has donated well over $120,000 to these important industry preservationists.
(With files from USTA, C.K.G. Billings and USHWA)