by James Witherite, Tioga Downs racing media
Buen Camino captures lone NYSS event; races cancelled
after four
Nichols, N.Y. -- While a power outage forced the abandonment
of the last eight races on Sunday (June 28) afternoon's 12-race program at
Tioga Downs, the Purple Haze Stables, LLC's Buen Camino ($3.60, part of entry)
was able to capture his $61,300 New York Sire Stakes event in advance of the
mid-afternoon electrical issues.
The 3-year-old gelded son of Cash Hall and Baby Bella had no
trouble clearing the front, passing Wings of Royalty (Chris Lems) and Credit
Creation (David Miller) to achieve the lead through a :27 initial
quarter. After driver Jim Morrill, Jr. rated a :30.1 second quarter with
the Trond Smedshammer trainee, Buen Camino responded to mild first-over
pressure from Credit Creation, edging clear off the far turn and drawing off
for a 2-1/2 length win over Wings of Royalty. The Physician (Daniel Dubé)
swung three-wide off stalling cover at the top of the stretch, rallying to take
third.
Morrill won the previous race as well, taking a $12,000 Open
Pace with Believe This Bob ($6.00) in 1:51.3.
Earlier in the card, War Hero ($12.80) sustained a middle
move, holding off a late charge from Oh No Three O to take the $20,000 Normand
Fluet Memorial Invitational Trot. Chris Lems settled the 7-year-old Ken
Warkentin just off the pacesetters before brushing to the fore with just under
a circuit to go, working clear of Spice It Up Lindy through a :57.3 first
half. On the backstretch, War Hero braced for a first-over challenge from
Oh No Three O, accelerating to three-quarters in 1:26.1 and ultimately holding
sway by a length for a 1:56.1 triumph. Oh No Three O narrowly held second
over Spice It Up Lindy, who was hard pressed for racing room through the final
three-eighths of the mile.
Jessica Okusko trains War Hero for owner/breeder Howard
Gill.
With respect to the abandoned races (5 through 12), all New
York Sire Stakes and Excelsior Series events will result in an equal split of
purse money and standings points among all entrants in each race. The
Nichols True Value pacing series final (race 7) will carry over as already
drawn to next Sunday (July 5) afternoon's card, but trainers are advised to
contact the racing office with respect to driver nominations.
For punters who were live in the early pick three (ending in
race 5), the 2-1-all combination (Believe This Bob in race 3, Buen Camino in
race 4, and "all" in the canceled fifth race) returns $3.60 on the
50¢ base wager.
Live racing returns to Tioga Downs on Friday (July 3)
evening, with first post at 6:15 p.m. Eastern time.
