by James Witherite, Tioga Downs
racing media
Bettorsluckystreak resolute
in Tioga pacing feature
Nichols, N.Y. -- Narrowly
missing Fireyourguns in last week's top pacing event, Bettorsluckystreak
($13.00) sustained a first-over grind to just collar even-money favorite
That'll Be the Rei in Sunday (June 21) afternoon's $14,000 Open Pace at Tioga
Downs.
Jim Taggart, Jr. floated into
midfield with the 5-year-old Bettor's Delight gelding at race's outset,
out-sprinted up the pegs by Believe This Bob (Dan Clements) in the initial
stages. Believe This Bob subsequently ceded the lead to That'll Be the
Rei (Dan Clements) after a sensible :27.3 opening quarter mile. Just as
That'll Be the Rei pulled the pace back through a :56.3 half,
Bettorsluckystreak mounted his first-over rally, gaining steadily from fourth
to apply pressure at the midpoint of the backstretch. The two would duel
through the far turn and into the stretch, with Bettorsluckystreak just
collaring That'll Be the Rei by a neck in 1:53.4, also staving off a three-wide
push from the second-over Dreamlands Art (Brandon Simpson), who took third
placing.
Trainer Gary Messenger co-owns
Bettorsluckystreak with Kenneth Weckstein and Richard Rubin.
The 11-race program also
featured a pair of second-round Nichols True Value late-closing events, with
Let's Foal Around ($7.40, Mike Simons) and Jeneral Patton ($2.50, Jim Marohn,
Jr.) both parlaying pocket trips into victories.
Live racing returns to Tioga on
Friday (June 26) evening, with post time slated for 6:15 p.m. Eastern time.
-end-
