Records set in Classic legs

Casimir Commotion etched his name into the record books as the fastest gelding over a five-eighths mile oval, notching a 1:48.3 victory in the $85,000 Classic Pace Monday at Dover Downs. The race was one of four for older horses in the second round of the Classic Series.

The 6-year-old gelded son of Camluck enjoyed a dream trip racing second behind Holborn Hanover cutting it out for George Brennan until deep stretch when Brian Sears scooted Casimir Camotion along the passing lane to get up at the wire in 1:48.3, breaking the mark for older horses held by Luckyisasluckydoes by three-fifths of a second.

Bruce Saunders trains Casimir Camotion for M&M Harness Racing of Suffern, N.Y. The win was the fifth of the season upping his seasonal earnings to $264,647 and more than $1.3 million lifetime.

Glowing Report edged closer to being a $2-million winner when David Miller steered the Artsplace 5 year old to a 1:50.2 success in the $85,000 Classic Distaff. Trained by veteran Jerry Silverman for longtime owner Marvin Rounick of Penn Valley, Pa., the victory by Glowing Report was her sixth in a row boosting her 2006 bankroll to 529,068. Burning Point and Ron Pierce closed strongly but had to settle for second while Illinois champion Loyal Opposition and Andy Miller took third money.

The $85,000 Trotting Classic also had a dramatic finish as 28-1 Sir Perseverance teamed with Brennan to close with a rush to best fast-finishing Mr. Muscleman and Ron Pierce at the wire in world-record time for a 4-year-old gelding of 1:52.4. The time smashed Vivid Photo's previous mark of 1:54 flat.

No stranger to the Dover Downs winner's circle are Mystical Sunshine and driver Pierce. The duo won the 2004 Matron final and returned to win the $85,000 Classic Oaks as Pierce streaked along the passing lane to score a 1:55 victory.

The Classic Series now moves to the Meadowlands for the third and final preliminary round. The top eight point getters return to Dover Downs on Monday, Nov. 27 for four $250,000 finals. (From Dover Downs)

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