For Opinion, click here for View from the Racetrack Grandstand

Saturday, May 21, 2016

A Penny Earned invades, circles top Tioga trotters


Nichols, N.Y. -- Vernon invader A Penny Earned ($6.80) employed a change of tactics on Friday (May 20) evening at Tioga Downs, stalking cover and lunging to the line for a 1:55.3 triumph in the featured $11,000 Open Trot.

After a slow start, Mike Simons pointed the 7-year-old Conway Hall gelding second-over on the backstretch, drafting with the live cover of Its Payday Friday (Dan Clements) after Lucid Thoughts (Tom Jackson) rated a :57 initial half. The favored pacesetter accelerated en route to the far turn, reaching three-quarters completion in 1:25.3, but he would ultimately be headed off the far turn by the steadily advancing Its Payday Friday. A Penny Earned angled off cover at head-stretch, battling to a half-length win in the last yards. Its Payday Friday held second narrowly over B L Class Act (John Cummings, Jr.), who mounted a stand-side rally after being shuffled to last on the far turn.

Trainer George Ducharme co-owns A Penny Earned with the partnership of Ross, Fontaine, and Oliva.

Jeffrey Long and Jim Taggart, Jr. both recorded driving doubles on the eight-race card.

Live racing returns to Tioga Downs on Saturday (May 21), with the first of nine races slated for a 6:30 post time.