GRANTVILLE, Pa.--Bernie Houghton had three winners, two of them in allowance races, while Keri  Brion also saddled three winners, two in maiden races.

Houghton Shuffle (Photo by Bill Denver Equi Photo)Houghton's most impressive winner was his sister-in-law Melissa Houghton's homebred Houghton Shuffle, who won his third straight race in three outings.

Houghton Shuffle won a $40,250, 6 furlong Allowance race at Penn National by 2 3/4 lengths on Feb. 7.

Houghton Shuffle won comfortably despite having to go five wide around the turn.

"He's a nice horse," said Houghton. "We liked him from the beginning. He didn't just win, he blew them away. I already have a race picked out for him. He'll run in an allowance, winners of two other than maiden or claiming. That's the next level up. The purses are so good at Penn National now."

Houghton had two winners at Penn National on Jan. 26.

 

JAMES ESHELMAN'S homebred Stassi won a $35,000, 6 furlong Allowance race for fillies and mares 4 and up by 1/2 length at Penn National on Jan. 26.

"She's a good filly," said Houghton. ""She won a Pa-bred allowance, and now she's won an open allowance. She almost always run first, second or third. She'll go next in an allowance other than two, too."

Stassi has run 10 times, never finishing worse than fourth, with three wins, three seconds, two thirds and two fourths.

Houghton's third winner was Harry Hoglander's Our Andrew B, who won an $18,000, 6 furlong Claiming race by 11/4 lengths, also on Jan. 26.

"Harry Hoglander always keeps one or two horses with me," said Houghton.

KERI BRION had three winners in four days in January.

She saddled Martine Britell's Palace Flirt to win a $50,000, 1 1/16 mile Maiden Optional Claiming race for fillies and mares 4 and up on the turf by 3 3/4 lengths at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 10.

Palace Flirt set the pace and widened in the stretch for the win.

Brion saddled Blue Streak Racing's Rumint to win a $70,000, 6 furlong Maiden Special Weight by 2 3/4 lengths at Aqueduct on Jan. 14.

Rumint battled with two rivals before edging clear under a drive for the win.

Three Diamonds Farm''s Chasing After You, trained by Brion, won a 28.000, 5 1/2 furlong Claiming race by 1 3/4 lengths at Gulfstream on Jan. 15.

GRAHAM MOTION had two winners, both at Tampa Bay Downs, in January.

Amerman Racing's Furiously won a $21,500, 1 mile Claiming race on the turf by a neck on Jan. 17.

Alex Campbell's homebred Heavenly Appointed won a $53,000,1 1/16 mile Allowance race for fillies and mares 4 and up on the turf by 1 3/4 lengths on Jan. 21.

Heavenly Appointed ran at the back of the field early, beginning to make her move around the far turn, and she kicked clear late for the win.