Fox Valley Smarty Upsets in Tioga Open

Fox Valley Smarty and Corey Braden

The 7^th race Open featured World Champion and multiple Dan Patch award winner Check Me Out as the heavy 1/4 favorite.

In the early going, Tioga Open regular Aruba Vacation left swiftly from the far outside and cleared easily to the front while posting a 26.3 opening panel. Check Me Out drifted from her outside starting position and settled in 4^th. As the open trotters passed the stands for the first time Ray Schnittker eased Check Me Out 1^st over and began a slow march to the front as Aruba Vacation led them past the half in 56. As the field turned down the Tioga backside and headed to three quarters, Check Me Out stalled 3^rd on the outside and had to be urged on by Schnittker, but to no avail as the field passed three quarters in 1:24. Check Me Out began to back thru the field and eventual upset winner Fox Valley Smarty eased out from the perfect pocket trip given to him by driver Corey Braden, locked horns with and wore down front runner Aruba Vacation to win by a half-length in 1:53.4. The win was the 4^th of the year for the David Duspiva trained Fox Valley Smarty and his 27^th career win.

Fern Paquet, Jr. and Mike Simons picked up driving doubles. Tioga Downs continues live racing action on Sunday, August 18^th with a post time of 6:50pm. For more information on Tioga Downs please visit us online at www.tiogadowns.com.