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Sunday, June 5, 2016

Oh No Three O stalks, strikes; Braden wins four


Nichols, N.Y. -- Charlene Long's Oh No Three O ($6.60) took advantage of the prevalent stalker-closer bias that developed early on Saturday (June 4) night's 10-race card at Tioga Downs, striking from second-over to capture the featured $9,000 Open 2 Trot.

Jeffrey Long pointed the 9-year-old second-over on the clubhouse turn, following live cover provided by Write That Down (Dan Clements) into a stout pace set by Brandos Muscle Man (Mike Merton). As Write That Down engaged Brandos Muscle Man in a final-turn duel following three-quarters of a mile in 1:24.4, Oh No Three O swung three-wide, sprinting off in deep stretch to a two-length win. Pocket Trip (Fern Paquet, Jr.) emerged from heavy traffic to just take second in the last yards, while a game Brandos Muscle Man saved third following his pressured journey.

Paul Long trains Oh No Three O for owner-breeder Charlene Long.

Corey Braden led all drivers with a grand slam on the 10-race card, rallying from off the pace with Blueridge Empire ($18.20, 1:58.1) and Swan For Dee ($14.60, 1:59.3), pouncing from the pocket with Red Zeppelin ($31.80, 1:56), and threading through up the pegs with Sweetasmusic ($7.80, 1:57.3).

No one hit the 50¢ Pick 5, resulting in a $327.60 carryover in the wager which spans the first five races of Sunday (June 5) afternoon's card. Post time for the first of 13 races is 1:30 p.m. Eastern.