by James Witherite, Tioga Downs
racing media
Believe This Bob leads Byron
grand slam at Tioga
Nichols, N.Y. -- Making his
local debut after chasing top pacers in Delaware, Mary Ann Larrimore's Believe
This Bob ($4.10) had no trouble keeping clear of his seven rivals in Sunday
(May 24) evening's $14,000 Open Pace at Tioga Downs, holding sway for a 1:50.3
triumph.
The 7-year-old Beach Romeo
gelding split fellow leavers Road Untraveled (Brandon Simpson) and Glass Prince
(Rick Dane) to assume the pacesetting duties, clicking off a :26.2 first
quarter and maintaining the lead through a :55 half mile. Believe This
Bob in fact controlled the terms throughout, edging clear from the
pocket-sitting Road Untraveled on the far turn. Upon encouragement from
Aaron Byron through the stretch, Believe This Bob dug in to maintain a clear
two-length margin over a late-rallying Glass Prince. Glass Prince, who
was locked in on the backstretch by Prairie Jaguar (Jim Marohn, Jr.), had room
to edge off the pegs at head-stretch, narrowly defeating Road Untraveled for
second. Prairie Jaguar faded to fourth off his uncovered bid.
Joe Skowyra trains Believe This
Bob, now a 27-time winner.
Byron kicked off a driving
grand slam in the featured event, reeling off two more wins immediately aboard
Oakmont ($4.30, 1:51.3) and NBA Pick ($8.10, 1:55.2) before capturing the
finale with Philana Chalice ($40.00, 1:55.2). Corey Braden and Jim
Marohn, Jr. both recorded driving doubles on the night, while Edgar
"Sparky" Clarke notched a training double on the 10-race card.
Monday (May 25) afternoon's all-stakes card
kicks off at 1:30 p.m. Eastern time, with first-round
