Tioga Downs moves qualifiers to Friday mornings at 11:00am

Tioga Downs would like to inform all horsemen racing at Tioga Downs that qualifiers will be changing to Friday mornings at 11:00am.

Entries for qualifiers should be phoned into the Tioga Downs race office by 10:00am on Wednesday mornings at (607.699.7688).

Tioga Downs continues live racing action on Friday, June 21^st with a post time of 6:50pm. For more information on Tioga Downs please visit us online at www.tiogadowns.com.

Double Dribble captures Tioga Monday feature

Double Dribble and Jonathan Drury captured Monday evening's featured $5,200 condition pacing event for trainer Joe Agostino.

The duo left the gate from post position number three in a field of nine and controlled all of the fractions through 27, 57, and 1:24.3 before drawing off in the stretch to win by four in 1:53.3.

It was the fourth win of the year for the 7-year-old son of Allamerican Ingot – Lills Dream who is owned by Ferne and Jack Frydman of Canada. Erichs Best (Fern Paquet Jr.) finished second, Jo Willy (Corey Braden) closed late for third, and Trottown King (Mike Simons) rounded out the $42.00 3-4-7-6 ten cent superfecta.

Greg Merton posted a driving triple on the evening's 11-race card, while Mike Simons and Mike Merton each recorded doubles.

Tioga Downs continues live racing action on Friday, June 21^st with a post time of 6:50pm. For more information on Tioga Downs please visit us online at www.tiogadowns.com.

Tioga Downs hosts 3-year-old Historic Stakes, Heston Blue Chip sets track mark

Tioga Downs hosted all four divisions of Historic Stakes for 3-year-olds on Sunday afternoon.

Corky (right) holds off Jacks To Open in the Historic

Opening up the day in race one, Corky and David Miller wired four other rivals for $59,300 in the 3-year- old colt trot division in 1:54.4. It was the first win in five starts for the 3-year-old son of Muscles Yankee – Clarice Marie for trainer Jimmy Takter. Here is a link of the $59,300 “Historic-Dickerson Cup” captured by Corky and David Miller.

In the 3-year-old colt pace division, only four took a shot to be crowned champion of the "Jersey Cup", but that honor went to Don't Ya Know and David Miller. The pair got away third in the short field and used a first over move down the backside to take home the lion's share of the $52,800 purse in 1:51.3. Joe Holloway trains the 3-year-old son of Western Ideal – Caviart Vegas for Bluestone Farm, Kitty Hawk Stable, and Val D'Or Farms.

Andie Sophia wins The Coaching Club Trotting Oaks in 1:54.4

Andie Sophia and Tim Tetrick used a two hole trip behind True Day Dream to capture the $57,300 "Coaching Club Trotting Oaks" in a new lifetime best of 1:54.4. Rob Harmon trains the 3-year-old daughter of Like A Prayer – Promising Deal for Harmon Racing, Comfortably Numb, and A. Friedland.

In the most well attended stakes event of the afternoon, Give Me An Amen (Andy Miller) captured the $65,900 "Ladyship Stakes" for trainer Linda Toscano in a lifetime best of 1:52.2. The win was the first of the year for the 3-year-old daughter of Art Major – Tina Blue Chip who is owned by Stake Your Claim, Martin Sternberg, and Fred Wallace. Trainer Linda Toscano had four of the seven entries in the Ladyship Stakes on Sunday afternoon, all separate betting interests due to separate ownership, and the four Toscano horses finished first through fourth. The Linda Toscano 6-5-4-2 ten cent superfecta returned $12.57.

Heston Blue Chip sets a new track record in 1:49.2

Heston Blue Chip made his return to the races on Sunday afternoon in the $16,000 open handicap pace. Tim Tetrick guided the 4-year-old son of American Ideal – Shot Togo Bluechip through fractions of 27.1, 55.3, and 1:22.4 before Tabago Cays (Brian Sears) pulled in the lane from the two hole to give Heston a run for his money in 1:49.2. The mile established a new track mark for 4-year-old pacing stallions at Tioga Downs. Here is the video replay of Heston Blue Chip's win.

Tioga Downs continues live racing action on Monday, June 17^th with a post time of 6:50pm. For more information on Tioga Downs please visit us online at www.tiogadowns.com.

Tui captures Tioga Saturday night feature

Tui beats the boys in the Saturday Open Trot

Tui (Greg Merton) shipped into Tioga Downs for the first time this year on Saturday night and captured the $16,000 open handicap trot.

Leaving from post position number three in a field of seven, Merton settled Tui in second behind Aruba Vacation (Fern Paquet Jr.) as the field reached the quarter in 27.1. From there Paquet controlled the fractions of 56.4 and 1:24.3 and as the field rounded the final turn Merton edged Tui out of the pocket and to the outside. Down the stretch Tui struck the front but would have one final push from Flex The Muscle (Phil Fluet) but would hang on to win by half a length in 1:54.

It was the third win in 10 seasonal starts for the 5-year-old daughter of Windsong's Legacy – Four Starz Glide for trainer and co-owner Donald Wiest. Flex The Muscle (Phil Fluet) finished second, while Aruba Vacation (Fern Paquet Jr.) hung on for third.

In the fillies and mares miracle mile II pace, Tracy's Song came to Tioga Downs putting her 18-race win streak on the line.

Out of the gate, the mare found herself in an unusual spot sitting third through some swift fractions of 27.1 and 56.1. As the field reached the half mile mark Merton pulled Tracy's Song first over but could not even move into the second position and faded badly through the last quarter mile to finish ninth as the 6-5 betting favorite in a field of nine. The race was won by Kendyl (Aaron Byron) in 1:53.2 from the nine hole and returned $72.00 for the win.

Tioga Downs continues live racing action on Sunday, June 16 with a post time of 1:30pm featuring the Historic Stakes for 3-year-olds. For more information on Tioga Downs please visit us online at www.tiogadowns.com.

Historics at Tioga on Sunday

The Historic stakes for all divisions of three-year-olds will be raced on Sunday at Tioga Downs for total purses of nearly $250,000. 

Sophomore trotting colts lead off the card with a field of five vying for the winner's share of $59,300 in the "Historic-Dickerson Cup".

Corky is the odds maker's choice here, opening at 2-1 for the Takter barn. The Muscles Yankee colt was the NJSS final winner at two but has been held winless thus far in four outings. David Miller is his regular driver and will be at the lines on Sunday for owners Christina Takter along with John & Jim Fielding. 

Four pacing colts chase the $52,800 prize in the "Jersey Cup", carded as race three. Sky Is The Limit is a slight favorite in this one for the Erv Miller barn. The Western Ideal colt is a four time winner for owners Lombardi, Fielding, Strachan and the Erv Miller Stable. Erv's boy Marcus will be the driver. 

Race five will field a quintet of trotting fillies in the $57,300 "Coaching Club Trotting Oaks". True Day Dream is the morning line choice here, off a pair of wins in her only 2013 starts. She won a division of the Simpson Memorial at The Meadowlands for Sunday's driver Jim Meittinis in early May. The Infinitif filly sports nine wins in 13 career starts for owner Joseph Hess and trainer Dan O'Mara. 

Track record holder Heston Blue Chip returns on Sunday

The "Ladyship" stakes for pacing fillies is the seventh on Sunday and Linda Toscano trains four of them, including the favorite JK Black Beauty. This Bettor's Delight filly has three wins in just five starts, among them the $117,000 Lismore stake at Yonkers a few weeks ago. Brian Sears is to drive for the 3 Brothers Stable of New York City. 

Also on the big Sunday card is a $16,000 Open Pace (race 6) featuring Kenny Jacob's track record holder Heston Blue Chip. 

Post time is 1:30 and you can get even more information on the races by visiting the Tioga Downs website.

Tioga Downs wraps up fourth annual Scholarship Race

This past Sunday afternoon at Tioga Downs, five local area high school students got the opportunity of a lifetime in the fourth annual Tioga Downs Scholarship Race.

The students representing five local area high schools were: Megan Wright of Newark Valley High School, Billy Gilbert of Tioga Central High School, Kennedy Erickson of Elmira South Side High School, Alexander Goodrich of Owego Free Academy, and Kaushik Nagarur of Vestal High School.

The five students had participated in training sessions with some of the Tioga Downs horsemen over a three-week period in preparation for Sunday's race.

Helping assist the students, and also riding in the double seated jog carts with them for the race were Jason MacDougal, Tim Lanpher (driven by James Kennedy), Corey Braden, Fern Paquet Jr., and Phil Fluet.

The students raced once around the racetrack in between the second and third race on Sunday afternoon and it was a tight finish on the wire in 1:15.

Billy Gilbert of Tioga Central High School with Fern Paquet Jr. won the event and earned $3,000, Kennedy Erickson of Elmira South Side High School got up to finish second with Corey Braden and took home $2,000. Finishing third and earning $1,200 was Megan Wright of Newark Valley with Jason Macdougall, taking home $800 for fourth was Alexander Goodrich of Owego Free Academy with Phil Fluet. Finishing fifth, but still taking home $500 was Kaushik Nagarur of Vestal High School with James Kennedy.  

The sponsors helping support the third annual Scholarship race are the Harness Horse Breeders of New York State, Southern Tier Harness Horsemen's Association, New York Sire Stakes, and Tioga Downs.  

For more information on Tioga Downs please visit us on our website at www.tiogadowns.com .  

Pet Rock and Camille victorious in Roll With Joe and Artiscape Stakes

Sunday afternoon at Tioga Downs featured the best free for all pacers in the country in the $184,000 Roll With Joe and $156,000 Artiscape Pace.

Pet Rock wins the Roll With Joe with David Miller

When the curtain fell it left a tough argument for advocates against trailing horses in stakes races as both were captured from horses in the trailing position (post position 10).

In the $184,000 Roll With Joe pace, Golden Receiver got his typical jump off the wings and was in front by the quarter mile mark in 26. However, Sweet Lou and Yannick Gingras were parked and pressed on to the front clearing Golden Receiver by the three eighth's mile mark of the race. As the field headed by the half mile in 53.2, George Brennan and Betterthancheddar were forced first over from third by Pet Rock (David Miller).

Down the backside Sweet Lou and Betterthancheddar raced in sync through a third panel in 26.4 reaching the three quarter mark in 1:20.1. Around the final turn it looked as though Betterthancheddar had gotten the best of Sweet Lou, but looming on his back was Pet Rock and as the field reached the stretch David Miller and Pet Rock quickly grabbed control of the field. The lone threat to Pet Rock in the stretch was a fast closing Foiled Again (Matt Kakaley) who was looking for room in the stretch but had to settle for second for the second straight year. Pet Rock stopped the timer in 1:48.1 establishing a new track record for 4-year-old stallions at Tioga Downs, equaled the all age track record, and was just a fifth of a second off of the world record held by We Will See and Betterthancheddar. Rockincam (Brian Sears finished third, while Betterthancheddar (George Brennan) hung on for fourth. 

Camille celebrates her 1:48.3 world record matching win

In the $156,000 Artiscape Pace however a world record was equaled by what was probably the most overlooked horse in the four horse Burke entry, Camille. Anndrovette and Tim Tetrick left the gate and put up some serious fractions of 25.3 and 52.3 in the first half mile. Down the backside, Jody Jamieson had Big McDeal in the pocket and pulled at the five eighths mile mark trying to clear Anndrovette by three quarter in 1:19.4, but was unsuccessful. Matt Kakaley had Camille in the outer flow seventh at three quarters and was following his stablemate Rocklamation (Yannick Gingras) who was gobbling up ground around the final turn. In the stretch Kakaley tipped Camille, off of Gingras' helmet and quickly paced by her stablemate Rocklamation to win in 1:48.3.

 The mile equaled the world record for aged mare pacers held by Southwind Tempo from Chester in 2009. 

Ron Burke trains the 5-year-old daughter of Camluck – Art Of Design for Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, M1 Stable, and Jack Piatt III all of Pennsylvania. Rocklamation finished a half a length back in second, Anndrovette (Tim Tetrick) went a big mile to hang on for third, while Drop The Ball (Corey Callahan) closed late for fourth.

Camille rallies widest of all to win The Artiscape

Tioga Downs would like to thank Bluechip Farms for sponsoring the Roll With Joe pace. Roll With Joe earned more than $1.8 million on the racetrack while taking a mark of 1:48.2 and his yearlings hit the sale rings in late 2013.

Brittany Farms Management sponsored the 2013 Artiscape Pace, Artiscape earned more than $1.4 million on the racetrack and took a mark of 1:49.3 in his racing career. He is a proven stallion, who has foaled winners of more than $83 million including Maltese Artist, Escape The Wind, Rainbow Blue, and Yankee Cruiser.

Tioga Downs also held the Yannick Gingras' – Binghamton Mets jersey auction in between races on Sunday. 

All proceeds of the auctioned jerseys will go to Pancreatic Cancer Research, and when the public and silent auctions were over, $5,000 was raised. Tioga Downs would like to thank all of those who participated in the auctions on Sunday afternoon.  

Tioga Downs continues live racing action on Saturday, June 15^th with a post time of 6:50 pm, for more information on Tioga Downs please visit us online at www.tiogadowns.com.

Aruba Vacation shines in Tioga Saturday night co-feature

Aruba Vacation and Fern Paquet Jr. were all business on Saturday night in the $16,000 open trot at Tioga Downs.

Aruba Vacation posts a lifetime best in Saturday's Open Trot

For the past two starts Paquet had sat the two hole with Aruba Vacation and could do no better than fifth and seventh. On Saturday night Paquet was in no mood to take the two hole trip and fired Aruba Vacation off of the gate from post three to trip the quarter mark in 27.1. Aruba Vacation then controlled the field of nine trotters by the half mile mark in 56.1 before stepping on the gas and delivering a 27.4 third quarter to reach three quarters in 1:24. Around the final turn, Paquet still had a length and a half jump on his biggest competitor Gaelic And Garlic (Greg Merton) who was sitting on his back.

In the stretch Gaelic And Garlic could not make up any ground and Aruba Vacation went on to win by a length and three quarters in a new lifetime best of 1:53.2. Gaelic And Garlic finished second, Spice It Up Lindy (Jim Meittinis) closed late for third, while Walltocousins (Bruce Clarke) rounded out the superfecta. 

Guy Howard owns, trains, and bred the 6-year-old son of Dream Vacation – Dixie Hit who picked up his fifth win in 14 seasonal outings, good for more than $53,000 in earnings.

In the $16,000 Open pace, Western Trademark and Mike Simons were coming off of back to back second place finishes but would turn the table on his competitors on Saturday.

Simons brushed Western Trademark to the front and cut through fractions of 26.4, 55.1, and 1:22.4 before being challenged in the stretch by a wall of horses. However, Western Trademark would not relinquish the lead and hung on tough at the wire to win by a length in 1:50.4.

Western Trademark takes Saturday's Open Pace

Joe Cordisco trains the 8-year-old son of Western Hanover – Tyber Song for Holly Cordisco of Binghamton, NY. The win was the third of the year for Western Trademark and increased his seasonal earnings to more than $36,000.  

Corey Braden and Mike Simons each posted driving triples on the night's 12-race card, while Greg Merton and Jimmy Marohn Jr. recorded doubles.

Tioga Downs continues live racing action on Sunday, June 9^th with a post time of 1:30pm and will feature the $184,000 Roll With Joe and $158,000 Artiscape Pace. For more information on Tioga Downs please visit us online at www.tiogadowns.com.

All Spirit strong in Tioga Friday night feature

All Spirit and Jimmy Marohn Jr. got back to business on Friday night capturing the $16,000 fillies and mares open pace.

All Spirit (Jimmy Marohn, Jr) take the F&M Open Pace

Marohn left alertly from post position number three in a field of six getting away second behind Odds On Aventure at the quarter pole in 26.4. By the fans and stands for the first time, Marohn moved All Spirit to the front and controlled the half mile mark of the race in 55.3. Down the backside and headed towards three quarters Aaron Byron pulled Little Santamonica first over from third and raced head to head with All Spirit by three quarters in 1:23. Around the final turn it was clear Marohn still had plenty left in the tank and quickly dismissed the strong bid from Little Santamonica and opened up on the field to win comfortably by a length and a half in 1:51.3.

Brownsville Bomber (Fern Paquet Jr.) paced home late to finish second, while Little Santamonica (Aaron Byron) held tough for third.

The win was the second of the season and established a new seasonal best for the 7-year-old daughter of Bettor's Delight – Spirit Of Ivy for owner Larry Lanpher and trainer Judy Lanpher.

Greg Merton posted a driving triple on the night's 12-race card, while Jim Taggart Jr., Corey Braden, and Aaron Byron each recorded doubles.

Tioga Downs continues live racing action on Saturday, June 8^th with a post time of 6:50pm, for more information on Tioga Downs please visit us online at www.tiogadowns.com.

Sweet Lou – Foiled Again entry morning line favorites in Roll With Joe

Sunday afternoon at Tioga Downs (post time 1:30pm) will feature the $184,000 Roll With Joe open pace and the $158,000 Artiscape open mare pace.

In the Roll With Joe, the Ron Burke entry of Sweet Lou and Foiled Again have been installed as the 5-2 morning line favorites.

The most noteworthy story line behind the powerful entry is that for the first time since the Burkes purchased Foiled Again, Yannick Gingras will be in the race, but will be sitting behind someone else. Gingras has opted to drive Sweet Lou in the Roll With Joe on Sunday at Tioga, leaving the driving duties on quadruple millionaire, Foiled Again, to Matt Kakaley.

Sweet Lou narrowly wins the Meadowlands Maturity in May

Kakaley is no stranger to the winner's circle however, and captured the 2012 edition of the Roll With Joe with Clear Vision for Ron Burke over his stable mate Foiled Again. Clear Vision however is not back to defend his title this year, but a field of ten, and quite possibly the best field of ten ever assembled at Tioga Downs will go to the post in race 8 on Sunday afternoon.  

Golden Receiver, who makes his way back to Tioga Downs where his racing career began under the care of Nina Simmonds of Binghamton, who still co-owns part of Golden Receiver. The 8-year-old son of Village Jove-Royal Gold has been given the nod as 3-1 second choice after a disappointing 7^th place finish in last week's TVG Free For All series.

Usual pilot, Tim Tetrick, will do the driving for Mark Harder and one would highly doubt that early speed is not in the cards for Golden Receiver.

Betterthancheddar and George Brennan will make their Tioga Downs debut on Sunday after the duo finished second in the Molson Pace at Western Fair. He has been listed as 5-1 on the morning line, but anyone who watched the Molson Pace last week will certainly be filtering some money his way.

The pair was locked in the two hole in the Molson and never had any racing room in the stretch, but had plenty of horse left right through the wire. The 5-year-old son of Bettor's Delight – Lady Ashlee Ann won nine of 11 starts last year and $800,000 before being sidelined for the year in mid-September.

Race 8

$184,000 Roll With Joe Open Pace

#          PP                    HORSE                                  DRIVER                    TRAINER

1          5          Sweet Lou                                Yannick Gingras           Ron Burke

1A       6          Foiled Again                             Matt Kakaley               Ron Burke

2          1          A Rocknroll Dance                   John Campbell             Jim Mulinix

3          2          Golden Receiver                       Tim Tetrick                   Mark Harder

4          3          Betterthancheddar                    George Brennan           Casie Coleman

5          4          Rockincam                               Brian Sears                   R Nifty Norman

6          7          Aracache Hanover                    Doug McNair               Gregg McNair

7          8          Warrawee Needy                     Jody Jamieson              Carl Jamieson

8          9          Sapphire City                           Ron Pierce                   Paul Blumenfeld

9          10        Pet Rock                                  David Miller                 Virgil Morgan Jr.

A field of 10 has also been assembled for the $158,000 Artiscape pace, but has been whittled down to just six betting interests. Ron Burke sends a quartet of the best pacing mares in the business, and also picks up Economy Terror as an entry mate due to the common ownership on Ginger And Fred.

The powerful five horse entry has been installed as the 8-5 morning line favorite with Blue Chip champion, Feeling You (Tyler Buter) marked as the 5-2 second choice.

Race 5:

$158,000 Artiscape Open Mare Pace

#          PP        ML      HORSE                                  DRIVER                    TRAINER

1          3          Bettor B Lucky                                    George Brennan           Ron Burke

1A       4          Ginger And Fred                                  David Miller                 Ron Burke

1B        7          Rocklamation                                      Yannick Gingras           Ron Burke

1C       9          Economy Terror                                   Jim Morrill Jr.               Chris Oakes

1D       10        Camille                                                 Matt Kakaley               Ron Burke

2          1          Feeling You                                          Tyler Buter                   Amber Buter

3          2          Big McDeal                                          Jody Jamieson              Ben Wallace

4          5          Anndrovette                                         Tim Tetrick                   P J Fraley

5          6          Drop The Ball                                      Corey Callahan            Ross Croghan

6          8          Royal Cee Cee N                                 Ron Pierce                   Mark Harder

  

Also, on Sunday Tioga Downs will hold an auction for the game worn and autographed jerseys that the Binghamton Mets wore replicating Yannick Gingras' driving colors with all proceeds going to pancreatic cancer research. Fans at the races on Sunday will also receive one free replica jersey t-shirt while supplies last.

Tioga Downs continues live racing action on Friday, June 7^th with a post time of 6:50pm, for more information on Tioga Downs please visit us online at www.tiogadowns.com.