by James Witherite, Tioga Downs Racing Media
Mach It a Par kicks cover again; grand slam for Clements
Nichols, N.Y. -- Taking advantage of live cover and a
contested early pace, Mach It a Par ($3.80) passed all six of her rivals to
take Friday (June 26) evening's $10,000 featured distaff pace at Tioga Downs.
Dan Clements settled the 5-year-old Mach Three mare at the
back of the pack as Purity (Jim Meittinis) worked to clear fellow leavers
Smokin N Grinin (Mike Simons), K J's Caroline (Jim Taggart, Jr.), and Stormunn
(Aaron Byron) through a :26.3 first-quarter battle. With three-eighths to
go, Purity gave way to pocket rival Smokin N Grinin, and Mach It a Par moved
third-over to follow the cover of K J's Caroline and Stormunn on the
backstretch, swinging three-wide well past a 1:23.3 three-quarters split.
At the top of the stretch, Mach It a Par found her best stride, working clear
of K J's Caroline in the final sixteenth to prevail by a widening 1-1/2 lengths
in 1:51.4. K J's Caroline held second, while Arodasi (Brandon Simpson)
mounted a stand-side rally from the back of the pack to take third.
Clements owns Mach It a Par, and Renaldo Morales, III
handles the training duties.
In addition to his victory in the feature, Clements teamed
up with Purple N Gold ($3.60, 1:54), Shutthefrontdoor ($4.40, 1:51.4), and
Flashy ($13.40, 1:54.2) to lead all drivers with four wins on the 13-race card.
A pair of $6,000 second-round divisions of the Tioga State
Bank starter series were contested on the Friday evening program as well, with
Philana Chalice ($60.50) drawing clear off a first-over bid for a 1:53 upset
score in rein to Kyle DiBenedetto, and Private Interview ($2.50) living up to
odds-on billing for a handy 1:52.4 win under Corey Braden.
Live racing returns to Tioga Downs on Saturday evening, with
the first of 13 races scheduled for 6:15 p.m. Eastern time.
