Vegas Vacation and Sunfire Blue Chip capture Empire Breeders Classic eliminations

Vegas Vacation wins with Brian Sears

Tioga Downs held the Empire Breeders' Classic eliminations for 3-year-old pacing colts on Sunday afternoon.

Vegas Vacation and Sunfire Blue Chip each captured their respective $12,500 divisions sent off by the betting public as the heavy favorites.

In the first division, Vegas Vacation (Brian Sears) got away third as Odds On Equuleus (John Campbell) took the field by the opening quarter in 26.4. Campbell then got away with a second quarter breather of 28.4 to reach the half mile mark of the race in 55.3. At the half, Sears sent Vegas Vacation first over and at the three quarter mile mark he was head to head with Odds On Equuleus by three quarters in 1:22.2. 

Around the final turn, Vegas Vacation eased away from the leader to draw clear in the stretch and win by two and a half lengths on cruise control in 1:49.2.

"We had sort of an eased first up trip today and he finished very strong on the end of the mile. He is a major contender in the division this year, and he will get one of the big ones this year," said winning driver Brian Sears following the victory.

Sunfire Blue Chip and Yannick Gingras

In the second division, Sunfire Blue Chip fresh off of his Adios victory, quickly left the gate from post position number four and was in control by the quarter in 27.3. The duo then put up fractions of 55 and 1:23.2 before easily pacing clear of the field to win by a length and a quarter in 1:50.2. Jimmy Takter trains the 3-year-old son of American Ideal – Shot Togo Bluechip, who has won six of 10 seasonal starts good for more than $370,000 in earnings.

"He won real easy today and we saved a good bit for the final next week so I was really happy with him today," said winning driver Yannick Gingras following the victory. "He has been getting better all year long and I wouldn't trade him for anyone else going into the second half of the season, including Captaintreacherous."

Qualifying for next week's $257,250 Empire Breeders' Classic final were: Vegas Vacation, Sir Cary's Z Tam, Doctor Butch, Odds On Equuleus, Sunfire Blue Chip, Captive Audience, Bet The Moon, Olde Time Hockey, and drawing the last spot from the fifth place finishers was Source Of Pride, Swift As A Shadow will be AE1 for the final.     

Tioga Downs continues live racing action on Friday, August 9^th with a post time of 6:50pm, for more information on Tioga Downs please visit us on our website at www.tiogadowns.com .