by James Witherite, Tioga Downs
racing media
Detroit Rapper circles Open
rivals at Tioga
Nichols, N.Y. -- Relegated to
last in the early stages, the Harmon Racing Stable's Detroit Rapper ($23.40)
circled four-wide to pass all six of his rivals in Saturday (May 23) evening's
featured $14,000 Open Trot at Tioga Downs.
The 4-year-old Jailhouse Jesse
gelding took no part in the pace-setting proceedings, situated well off
alternating leaders Sweet Justice (Aaron Byron) and B L Class Act (John
Cummings, Jr.) through a :56.4 half mile. As 2-5 favorite Zooming
(Brandon Simpson) applied steady pressure on B L Class act into the far turn,
Jim Meittinis angled Detroit Rapper three-wide to follow the live cover of My
Muscleman (Mike Simons), fanning four-wide at the head of the stretch and
showing immediate response. The Patti Harmon trainee kicked forward at
once, gobbling up ground and drawing clear by a length in 1:55.1 to defeat B L
Class Act and Zooming. Aruba Vacation (Tyler Freese), who was shuffled to
last on the backstretch, rallied five-wide in the stretch to save fourth.
Dan Clements and John Cummings,
Jr. both earned driving doubles on the eight-race card.
Live racing returns to Tioga
Downs on Sunday (May 24) evening, with the first of 10 races slated for 6:15
p.m. Eastern time.
