by James Witherite, Tioga Downs
racing media
JK She'salady remains
perfect; track records fall in Graduate
Making her much-anticipated
return to the races off her 2014 Horse of the Year campaign, the 3 Brothers
Stables' JK She'salady ($2.10) sustained a first-over bid to beat seven New
York Sire Stakes ($110,000 added total purse) foes as part of an all-stakes
card on Monday (May 25) afternoon at Tioga Downs.
The 3-year-old daughter of Art
Major and Presidential Lady was in no hurry through an initial :55.2 half mile,
stalking from fourth as Single Me (Brett Miller) took command from Bettor N
Better (Yannick Gingras) with a circuit to go. On the backstretch, Tim
Tetrick moved the undefeated JK She'salady first-over, steadily closing in on
Single Me through three-quarters in 1:22.3, working up to the lead at the top
of the stretch. Off the corner, JK She'salady kicked clear by two
lengths, kept to task in a 1:51.2 victory over Single Me and a stalking Divine
Caroline (David Miller).
Nancy Johansson trains JK
She'salady, who improved her career record to 13 wins in as many starts.
The three other New York Sire Stakes winners on the
afternoon were Bettorhaveanother ($2.50, Jim Morrill, Jr., 1:51), Bettor Be
Steppin ($2.30, Corey Callahan, 1:51.2), and Rock Me Gently ($11.20, Scorr
Zeron, 1:52).
The Memorial Day program also
featured the first leg of the new Graduate series for 4-year-old trotters and
pacers, with two $37,500 divisions carded on each gait. Both pacing
divisions resulted in track records, as Doo Wop Hanover ($2.20) powered clear of
his six rivals on the backstretch en route to a 1:47.4 score. The
4-year-old Rocknroll Hanover entire drew off by 7-1/2 lengths after sustaining
his middle move, keeping clear of Rock Out (Scott Zeron) and Mattamerican (Mark
MacDonald), both of whom passed early pacesetter Lyonssomewhere (Andy Miller)
after the latter tired from dictating a :53.4 half mile.
Hall-of-Fame driver John
Campbell was in the bike for Doo Wop Hanover's mile, which knocked two fifths
of a second over the previous all-age pacing record at Tioga. Steve
Elliott trains Doo Wop Haover for owners Peter Blood and Rick Berks.
Not even 40 minutes later,
Rockeyed Optimist ($3.90) broke the track record for 4-year-old pacing
geldings, turning aside Three of Clubs (Brian Sears) in a 1:48.1 Graduate
win. Tim Tetrick drove the 4-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding, pushing
clear with a circuit to go before prevailing in an extended battle through the
far turn. Limelight Beach (Yannick Gingras) stayed on well from the
pocket to maintain third after pushing the pace early.
Another Elliott trainee,
Rockeyed Optimist is owned by Anthony Perretti, Virginia Berkner, the A and B
Stable, and Joseph Battaglia.
Four-year-old trotters
contested their Graduate divisions earlier in the afternoon, with distaffer
Shake It Cerry ($2.90) beating the boys in the five-horse first division.
After getting away at the back of the pack, the Donato Hanover mare steadily
advanced to the front through a :55.2 half mile, opening up at will for a
1:52.4 score over Sumatra (David Miller) and Datsyuk (Charlie Norris).
Trainer Jimmy Takter handled the driving duties aboard Shake It Cerry, who is
owned by Solveig's Racing Partners.
Likewise, Opulent Yankee ($6.20) drew clear of his rivals at head-stretch in the other Graduate division, edging clear of the late-rallying Madewell Hanover (Chris Ryder) and Resolve (Åke Svanstedt) in a 1:52.3 triumph. Andy Miller drove the Muscles Yankee gelding for trainer Julie Miller and owners Little E, LLC, Arthur Geiger, Jason Settlemoir, and David Stolz.
Likewise, Opulent Yankee ($6.20) drew clear of his rivals at head-stretch in the other Graduate division, edging clear of the late-rallying Madewell Hanover (Chris Ryder) and Resolve (Åke Svanstedt) in a 1:52.3 triumph. Andy Miller drove the Muscles Yankee gelding for trainer Julie Miller and owners Little E, LLC, Arthur Geiger, Jason Settlemoir, and David Stolz.
Tim Tetrick led all drivers on
the card, registering a grand slam on the 13-race program.
Live racing returns to Tioga on
Friday (May 29) evening, with first post scheduled for 6:15 p.m. Eastern
time. Horsemen are advised that this week's draw schedule provides for
Friday's races to be drawn on Tuesday (May 26) morning, while the Sunday (May
31) and Monday (June 1) programs will be drawn on Wednesday (May 27) morning.
