Vegas Vacation and Shebestingin equal world records in EBC Finals

Vegas Vacation and Shebestingin both captured the Empire Breeders Classic finals at Tioga Downs, and both equaled world records in the process on Sunday afternoon.

Vegas Vacation and Brian Sears

Vegas Vacation (Brian Sears) got away fourth from post four as Sunfire Blue Chip (Yannick Gingras) took the field to the opening quarter in 26.4. As the field went by the stands for the first time, Sears was forced first over from fourth as the other part of the Takter entry, Source Of Pride, was moving on the outside. Vegas Vacation edged first over and got wheel to wheel with the leader by the half mile mark of the race in 54.4. The pair then powered head to head through a third quarter in 26.4 to reach the three quarter mile mark of the race in 1:21.3. Around the final turn it looked as though Vegas Vacation was still gaining on the leader and began to put away the leader Sunfire Blue Chip. Down the stretch, Sears and Vegas Vacation eased away from Sunfire Blue Chip to win by a length and a half in 1:48.3 which equaled the world record for 3-year-old gelding pacers on a five eighths mile track also held by Alsace Hanover and Beach Memories.

"That was actually the trip I was hoping for today because he is so good when he can come first over like that. He has been super all year long and has been knocking on the door in the big races all year long it is nice to get one today," said winning driver Brian Sears.

Casie Coleman trains the 3-year-old son of Bettor's Delight – Don’t You Smile for West Wins Stable, Adriano Sorella, Anthony Beaton, and Phyllis Saunders all of Ontario. It was the sixth win in 11 seasonal starts for Vegas Vacation, who with the win increased his seasonal bankroll to more than $463,000. Casie Coleman in a post race interview confirmed that Vegas Vacation's next start will also be at Tioga Downs in the Cane Pace elimination scheduled for Sunday, August 25^th.

Shebestingin and David Miller

In the $250,750 Empire Breeders Classic final for 3-year-old filly pacers, Shebestingin and David Miller moved to the front after an opening quarter of 26.1 with a big brush from fourth. The duo then controlled the fractions of 55 and 1:21.3 as Shebestingin began to march away from the field with ease. At the top of the stretch, the only question left was by how many and what the timer was going to say. Shebestingin captured the EBC final by 10 lengths in a world record equaling 1:49, which is also held by Big McDeal and Economy Terror. Joe Holloway trains the 3-year-old daughter of Bettor's Delight – Armbro Tussle for Val D'Or Farms, Theodore Gewertz, and L & L Devisser. The win was the seventh in 11 seasonal starts for Shebestingin, and increased her seasonal earnings to more than $300,000.

Tioga Downs track superintendent Adam Barger and his staff have done an impressive job on the racing surface this year at Tioga and this weekend recorded three separate world records.

Tioga Downs continues live racing action on Friday, August 16^th with a post time of 6:50pm, for more information on Tioga Downs please visit us online at www.tiogadowns.com .