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Saturday, July 25, 2015

Tioga Racing Recap - Friday, July 24, 2015

by James Witherite, Tioga Downs racing media

Mach It a Par extends win streak to four

Nichols, N.Y. -- Tracking live cover on the backstretch, Dan Clements's Mach It a Par ($3.00) showed immediate response at the top of the stretch once again, taking Friday (July 24) evening's $12,000 Mares Open Pace at Tioga Downs in decisive--and well-measured--fashion.

Getting away last in the field of six, John Cummings, Jr. angled the 5-year-old Mach Three mare second-over to track the live cover of Shutthefrontdoor (Vern Smith) well off a :55.4 half mile.  Mach It a Par was towed into midfield on the backstretch as Shutthefrontdoor turned up the pressure on leader K J's Caroline (Jim Taggart, Jr.) past three-quarters in 1:24.  K J's Caroline ultimately gave way midway on the far turn, but Shutthefrontdoor's new-found lead was in jeopardy at head-stretch.  Mach It a Par tipped off cover just upon cornering, and surged to the fore in mid-stretch.  She was taken in hand with 70 yards to go, and she prevailed by a measured half-length in 1:52.2.  Shutthefrontdoor held second, and K J's Caroline checked in a worn-down third.

Renaldo Morales, III trains Mach It a Par, now a 14-time winner.

Cummings led all drivers on the evening, notching three wins on the 10-race card.

Live racing returns to Tioga Downs on Sunday (July 26) afternoon, with first post scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Eastern time.