by James Witherite, Tioga Downs racing media
Pouncing from the pocket on the approach to the far turn,
Keith Pippi's Traverse Seelster ($3.30) recorded the fastest mile ever at Tioga
Downs for an older trotting gelding, taking Saturday (August 23) evening's
$15,000 Open Trot in 1:52.4.
Brandon Simpson settled into the pocket with the
six-year-old Angus Hall gelding, drafting behind Lutetium (John Cummings, Jr.)
through a :56.2 half before making his two-wide push with five-sixteenths to
go. Traverse Seelster responded at once, kicking clear to a three-length
lead on the far turn. Through the stretch, he was chased home by Twin B
Spike Man (Mike Simons), but last week's Open winner could only muster a
second-place finish, closing to within a length and a half. Spice It Up
Lindy (Jim Meittinis) rallied from last in the field of five to take third.
Oh No Three O (Corey Braden) was a non-threatening fourth, and early
pacesetter Lutetium faded to last after giving way.
Amber Buter trains Traverse Seelster, whose 1:52.4 mile
bested Tac's Delight prior record for older trotting geldings by a fifth of a
second. The overall track record for trotters stands at 1:52.3, most
recently achieved by Obrigado.
Sunday (August 24) afternoon's 13-race card kicks off at
1:30 p.m. EDT, with freshman trotters taking center stage in a quartet of
Kindergarten Classic preliminaries.
