Nichols, N.Y. -- Empire Breeders Classic winner Non Stick
was handed defeat for the second time of her career in a $40,600 New York Sire
Stakes event on Sunday (July 10) afternoon at Tioga Downs, unable to make any
impact behind Fad Finance ($7.20), the very filly who evaded Non Stick at
Vernon last month.
Fad Finance made an early push to the fore, clearing Earn
Your Wings (Jason Bartlett) upon straightening after a :27.4 first quarter. The
3-year-old Credit Winner filly faced no pressure to speak of through the final
circuit, edging away after rating a :57.1 middle half. Fad Finance evaded her six
foes en route to a 1:54.3 mile, keeping two lengths clearance on Earn Your
Wings up to the winning post. Gin and Lindy (Scott Zeron) rallied off cover to
take third in the last yards, while Non Stick failed to make any impact from
first-over, finishing fourth.
Jim Morrill Jr. drove Trond Smedshammer trainee Fad Finance,
now a 6-time winner, for the Purple Haze Stables, Marc Goldberg, and the Rojan
Stables.
In the other $40,600 Sire Stakes events, odds-on favorites
prevailed. Swinging Royalty ($3.20, Chris Lems) made all the pace en route to
an easy 1:56.2 win, and Open Access ($3.40, Matt Kakaley) dueled clear of
Goosebump Hanover (Morrill) before holding off a belated three-wide bid from
Monarchs Sequel (Mark MacDonald) to prevail in 1:56.
In the afternoon's sub-featured $11,000 Open Pace, Believe
This Bob ($9.50, Mike Simons) held sway of Clear Vision's late push for a
narrow 1:50.2 triumph, while Its Payday Friday ($3.90, Dan Clements) outlasted
a late bid from Prairie Fortune in the $11,000 Open Trot.
Racing returns to Tioga Downs on Friday (July 15) afternoon,
with first post slated for 6:30 p.m. Eastern.
