by James Witherite, Tioga Downs racing media
Mach It a Par surges late in Tioga distaff
Nichols, N.Y. -- Trailing her four rivals through a dawdling
pace, Mach It a Par ($3.00) made her move at the top of the stretch to pass all
four of her rivals in the final sixteenth of Friday (July 3) evening's $12,000
Mares Open Pace at Tioga Downs.
Owner/driver Dan Clements settled the 5-year-old Mach Three
mare into her customary early spot at the rear of the field, seven lengths off
pacesetter Dune in Red (Brandon Simpson) through tepid early fractions of :29
and :58.2. Mach It a Par remained at the back of the quintet even as
Sherkin Hanover (Corey Braden) commenced a first-over bid on the backstretch
and the pocket-sitting Southwind Trini (Jim Meittinis) chased the accelerating
Dune in Red through a :27.3 third quarter. In fact, Clements wouldn't
move Mach It a Par off the pegs until the top of the stretch, storming home
down the grandstand side as Dune in Red had reached her capacity in the final
70 yards. Mach It a Par passed all four of her rivals in deep stretch,
just prevailing by a head in 1:54.1. Southwind Trini made a late bid up
the pegs to tie Dune in Red for second, and K J's Caroline (Jim Taggart, Jr.)
was an out-kicked fourth, beaten by just a long neck.
Renaldo Morales, III trains Mach It a Par, who scored her
12th career win.
Private Interview sweeps Tioga State Bank series
The Friday program at Tioga also saw owner/trainer Robert
Gale's Private Interview ($3.10) complete a sweep of the Tioga State Bank
starter allowance series, holding clear of his eight rivals for a 1:52.4 triumph
in the $10,000 final. Corey Braden wasted no time securing the lead with
the 8-year-old Real Artist gelding, setting torrid early sectionals of :26.1,
:54.2, and 1:22.2 before drawing clear of his eight rivals on the far
turn. While he decelerated a bit late, he maintained a 3-1/4 length
winning margin over pocket rival Who Dat Love (Dan Clements). CF Sting
Rei (Aaron Byron) emerged from traffic in the final yards, rallying to just
miss second, while Remus Blue Chip (Mike Simons) was an even fourth off a
tracking trip.
Jim Taggart, Jr. led all drivers with three wins on the
evening's nine-race card, teaming up with Robert Lounsbury trainees Powerful
Love ($3.40, 1:55.1) and Purple N Gold ($4.90, 1:53.4) as well as Gary
Messenger trainee She's So Into Me ($6.50, 1:59.4).
Live racing returns to Tioga Downs on Saturday (July 4)
evening, with the nine-race Independence Day card kicking off at 6:15 p.m.
Eastern time. The Kirby Band will perform patriotic favorites trackside
throughout the evening, and a fireworks and laser spectacular will light up the
Southern Tier sky following the evening's races.
