Fool Me Once, Bet The Moon take NYSS Features at Tioga

The best 3-year-old pacers in New York took center stage at Tioga on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Two divisions of the NYSS and five divisions of the Excelsior were on display.

Fool Me Once rolls at 1/5 in the NYSS

The 1^st division of the NYSS featured Fool Me Once as the bettors' 1/5 choice and he did not disappoint. Sent to the front by regular pilot Scott Zeron, the Mark Austin trained son of Art Major-Fool That I Am rolled thru fractions of 26.4, 55.3 and 1:22. Second choice Sir Cary's Z Tam sat in the pocket waiting for an opportunity to pounce in the stretch but was only able to get to the wheel of Fool Me Once right as they crossed the wire in 1:50.2. Fool Me Once came into today undefeated in NYSS events and was 4^th in the standings with half as many starts as those above him. The win was his 7^th in 9 starts in 2013 pushing his lifetime earnings to just above $375,000.

In the second of two NYSS events, Bet The Moon made a little bobble behind the gate but was able to overcome it quickly to settle in 2^nd behind Mark MacDonald and Source Of Pride thru a spirited opening quarter of 26.1. Jim Morrill, Jr. and Bet The Moon waited patiently in the pocket as Source Of Pride rolled the field past the half in 55 flat before sprinting down the backside to a three quarter in 1:21.4, a 26.4 third quarter. From there the duel was on as Morrill pulled Bet The Moon from the pocket and up to challenge Source Of Pride. Bet The Moon looked like he was going to roll right past and clear the leader but Source Of Pride dug in and fought back to exchange the lead a few times thru the stretch. When they reached the wire, Bet The Moon placed his head in front and stopped the timer in 1:50 flat.

Bet The Moon inches by Source of Pride

The Bettor's Delight-Sun N Moon son won for the 2^nd time in 2 weeks at Tioga for trainer Ron Burke after last week capturing a division of the Tompkins-Geers. He may be putting his Tioga win streak on the line next week as he is one of several of today's NYSS horses that are eligible for the rich Empire Breeders Classic, a New York bred race for 3-year-olds. Eliminations are next Sunday and the final 2 weeks away.

Also on the card were five divisions of the Excelsior Series for NY-breds. The winners of those events were Royce Blue Chip (1:52.2), Leap Of Faith (1:53.3), Pull The Ripcord (1:54.3), Bettorsluckystreak (1:53.3), and Militia Man (1:52.4).

New York Sire Stakes action continues Monday night at Tioga with 2 year old pacing fillies. Post time is set at 6:50pm. For more information on Tioga Downs please visit us online at www.tiogadowns.com.