Bourbon Bay topples Tioga
track record; Simons wins five
Nichols, NY -- Enjoying a solid
form spree in early-year stakes events on the Woodbine Entertainment Group
circuit, Bourbon Bay ($7.30) shipped south to Tioga Downs as one of six
entrants in the Opening Day (May 2) feature, leaving the other five in his wake
en route to a 1:52.1 score in the $14,000 Open Trot.
The four-year-old Sand Vic
gelding allowed Deacons Valley to clear the front early, powering to the fore
after a :27.1 first quarter and not looking back. After clearing the lead
and continuing through a :55.3 half, lessee-driver John Cummings, Jr. opened up
on the field with Bourbon Bay, amassing a three-length lead through a :27.1 third
quarter and holding that margin through the far turn. While 3-5 favorite
Twin B Spike Man (Mike Simons) mounted a rally off the far turn, he could only
gain into second, 1-3/4 lengths in arrears of Bourbon Bay's 1:52.1 track record
performance. Deacons Valley faded to third after chasing from the pocket.
Megan Wilson handles the training duties of Bourbon Bay, who
cored his 14th career win in 30 starts.
The 5/8-mile track, rated
"fast" for the Opening Day 10-race card, was truly fast, with seven winners
equaling or improving upon their lifetime marks.
While Mike Simons couldn't
prevail with Twin B Spike Man in the featured event, he registered five wins on
the program, scoring with My Muscleman ($6.00, 1:55), Lightning Paige ($3.90,
1:54), Twain Drive ($3.50, 1:57.2), Crazy Eyes ($5.50, 1:56.2), and J R Jazz
($9.30, 1:57.1).
Vernon, NY -- After mustering
just minor shares in recent tries against top Saratoga company, Panpero Firpo
($19.00) employed a change of tactics in tonight's $10,000 Open Pace at Vernon
Downs, closing the pocket behind dueling leaders before pouncing in deep
stretch for a 1:51.4 score.
The five-year-old No Pan
Intended entire drafted behind an extended duel between JK Panache (Chris Lems)
and Talking Blues (Frank Davis), sitting just off them through the first
three-quarters of the mile while boxed in by a second-over Damon Blue Chip
(John MacDonald), last week's Open winner. At the top of the stretch,
with Talking Blues beginning to fade, Brett Crawford made his move with Panpero
Firpo, taking over late and holding off Damon Blue Chip for a 1:51.4
triumph. JK Panache was a worn-down third after enduring steady pressure.
Trainer Jackie Rousse owns
16-time winner Panpero Firpo in partnership with Bill Reepmeyer.
Additionally, a pair of $4,000
second-round divisions of the Anthony Farina pacing series were contested, with
trainer Homer Hochstetler and driver John MacDonald teaming up on both
winners. Hot Lemonade ($2.40) pushed clear and turned aside a stiff
challenge from Flight Again (Truman Gale) for a 1:53.2 victory in the first
division, while Speaking Out ($5.80) sustained an uncovered bid to take the
second division in 1:55.1. The Anthony Farina series final is scheduled
for Mother's Day (May 10) along with the Catherine Burton trotting series
final.
Live racing returns at Tioga
Downs on Sunday (May 3) afternoon, with a 1:30 p.m. first post, while Vernon
Downs resumes racing action on Friday (May 8) evening at 6:45 p.m.
-end-
