Nichols, N.Y. -- Trainer Julie Miller swept both $54,500 New
York Sire Stakes events for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings as part of a
Sunday (August 21) afternoon grand slam at Tioga Downs.
Devious Man ($3.10) proved most impressive among 2-year-old
trotters to negotiate sloppy going on the 14-race card, drawing clear at will
after rating a :59 first half in his Sire Stakes division, carded as race nine.
The son of Credit Winner and Miss Garland edged away from his four rivals on
the far turn, posting a 5-3/4 length win over Swell Chap (Tim Tetrick) and
Royal Casanova (John Campbell) in 1:55.3. Andy Miller drove Devious Man for
Stroy, Inc.
Devious Man's stablemate Money MacIntosh ($9.80) prevailed
three races earlier, but would have to work a good bit harder to do so. Andy
Miller angled the son of Credit Winner and Apple Plush first-over on approach
to the backstretch, working to wear down Stick With Me Kid (Jason Bartlett)
through a :28.1 third quarter before digging in to stave off the late-rallying
Zack's Zoomer (Marcus Miller) by a nose in 1:56.2. Another Chapter (Brett
Miller) saved third after being mired in traffic on the far side, while odds-on
favorite Such an Angel failed to catch the field after an early break in
stride.
The Millers also accounted for one of the four Empire
Breeders Classic eliminations on the card, posting a 39-1 upset with Redneck
Rally ($80.00) in the day's fifth event. The 3-year-old American Ideal ridgling
sustained first-over gains up the backstretch to force a :27.3 third quarter,
wearing down prohibitive favorite Roll Away Joe (Jim Morrill, Jr.) and holding
off a belated push from Artmagic (Campbell) in 1:52.1.
American Passport ($3.90) captured the other Classic
elimination for colts and geldings (race eight), brushing with a circuit to go
and parrying a stout challenge from Talk Show (Morrill) in 1:51. Scott Zeron
drove the American Ideal colt for trainer Tony Alagna.
In the Classic eliminations for fillies, No Clouds Bluechip
($3.80) and Penpal ($5.80) proved victorious.
No Clouds Bluechip had little trouble prevailing in the
day's fourth event, working to a clear lead, turning aside an extended
first-over push from Soft Idea (Zeron), and holding pocket rival Major Millie
(Jason Bartlett) at bay in 1:53. Brett Miller drove the Roll With Joe filly for
John Berger.
In the seventh, Penpal made perfect use of live cover
through a :55.4 middle half, drafting behind Dime a Dance (Matt Kakaley) before
swinging three-wide off the far turn. The daughter of American Ideal rallied to
collar both pocket rival Angels Rockn Pink (Mark MacDonald) and pacesetter
WIshy Washy Girl (Morrill) in 1:51.3 with trainer Patrick Lachance in the bike.
The fields for the Empire Breeders Classic finals, scheduled
for Sunday, August 28, are as follows (post position, horse, trainer, asterisks
denoting elimination winners), with final drivers to be available later in the
week:
EBC Filly Pace - $239,225
1 - Soft Idea - Toscano
2 - Wine Snob - Schnittker
3 - No Clouds Bluechip* - Berger
4 - Wishy Washy Girl - Brainard
5 - Penpal* - Lachance
6 - Angels Rockn Pink - Oakes
7 - Major Millie - Elliott
8 - Right Stuff - Toscano
9 - Dime a Dance - Burke
AE1 - Rock Me Baby - Lind
EBC Colt & Gelding Pace - $240,475
1 - Ideal Son - Fanning
2 - Missile J - Toscano
3 - American Passport* - Alagna
4 - Fresh Cut - E. Miller
5 - Redneck Rally* - J. Miller
6 - Fine Diamond - Burke
7 - Stolen Glimpse - Burke
8 - Craftship - Alagna
9 - Artmagic - Smedshammer
AE1 - Nox Vegas Bluechip - Foley
Live racing returns to Tioga Downs on Friday (August 26)
evening, with post time scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Eastern.
-end-
