by James Witherite, Tioga
Downs racing media
Nichols, N.Y. -- A trio of
prestigious pacing events share top billing on Sunday (August 28) afternoon at
Tioga Downs, with over $650,000 on the line in the Empire Breeders Classics for
New York-sired 3-year-olds and the Artiscape for top distaffers.
In the $239,225 filly division
of the Empire Breeders Classic, carded as the seventh of nine races on the
afternoon program, elimination winners Penpal and No Clouds Bluechip square off
against seven others. Penpal (post 5), a daughter of American Ideal, vaulted
off the cover of Dime a Dance en route to a narrow 1:51.3 victory over sloppy
going. Trainer Pat Lachance is once again listed to drive the 4-time winner,
whose greatest success on the national stage came in her runner-up performance
in the Mistletoe Shalee. No Clouds Bluechip (post 3) captured the other
elimination in pillar-to-post fashion, earning her sixth career win in 1:53.
Brett Miller was aboard for last week's odds-on win, and he is again nominated
to drive the Roll With Joe filly for trainer John Berger.
Colts and geldings square off
in a $240,475 final, programmed as race eight. American Passport (post 3) found
new life in two recent Southern Tier appearances after failed bids in the Adios
and the Cane Pace. The Tony Alagna-trained American Ideal colt repelled
pressure en route to a 1:51 triumph in his elimination last week, and Scott
Zeron is once again nominated to drive (also listed on Craftship). The 5-time
winner faces the likes of Rooney winner Missile J (post 2, Tim Tetrick) and last
week's other elimination winner Redneck Rally (post 5, Andy Miller), whose 39-1
upset over the likes of the heavily favored Roll Away Joe stunned.
A full field of 10 pacing
mares are due to line up in the $200,000 Artiscape, the afternoon's finale. Despite
the presence of millionaires Venus Delight (post 2, Jason Bartlett nominated)
and Anndrovette (post 5, Tetrick), Ontario-based Lady Shadow has taken the
distaff division by storm with wins in the Golden Girls and the Lady Liberty.
The 5-year-old Shadow Play mare's 2:00.3 victory in the Golden Girls earned her
the overall world record for pacers at the 1-1/8-mile distance. Yannick Gingras
is nominated to drive the 22-time winner for trainer Ronald Adams.
While the three top-dollar
events bring the Sunday card to a close, a trio of W. N. Reynolds Memorial
Stakes divisions provide for a healthy undercard. An octet of 2-year-old
trotting colts and geldings vie for $55,780 in the Judge Moore (race 1), while
ten trotting fillies contest a pair of $29,190 Meda splits (races 3 and 5).
Post time for the Sunday card
at Tioga Downs is 1:30 p.m., with full coverage on the Tioga Downs Racing
Network due to begin at 1:05 p.m.
