Nichols, N.Y. -- Solar Sister
($9.50) stole the show in the final 150 yards of Sunday (August 28)
afternoon's stakes-laden card at Tioga Downs, dueling down prohibitive favorite
Lady Shadow for a 1:49.4 triumph in the $200,000 Artiscape distaff pace.
Favorites were upended in the Empire Breeders Classics as well, as No
Clouds Bluechip ($7.00) and Fresh Cut ($36.00) both took top honors in their
respective events for New York-sired 3-year-old pacers. On the undercard,
trainer-driver Åke Svanstedt swept a trio of W. N. Reynolds Memorial events for
2-year-old trotters.
Tasked with a second-row
start in a field of 10, Solar Sister sat just of a contested pace in the
initial stages of the Artiscape, working into fifth early as Lady Shadow
(Yannick Gingras) pushed clear of Table Talk (Andy Miller) after a :26.2 first
quarter. On approach to the clubhouse turn, Doug McNair angled Solar Sister
first-over, only offering mild progress into a :54 half mile. The 4-year-old
Mach Three mare did her best work up the far side, working to within a length
of Lady Shadow through a :27.2 third quarter and subsequently dueling with the
1-1/8-mile world record holder. The two drew off from a fading Table Talk, and
Solar Sister dueled to the fore in mid-stretch. Solar Sister's 1:49.4 mile time
gives her a share of the track record for 4-year-old pacing mares that was
established by Anndrovette five years ago.
Lady Shadow would have to
settle for runner-up honors as the 2-5 favorite, while Devil Child (David
Miller) sustained a massive three-wide bid off the far turn to capture third.
Gregg McNair trains the
homebred Solar Sister for Ontarians David Willmot and Clay Horner.
Favorites were upended in
both Empire Breeders Classic events as well, with No Clouds Bluechip and Fresh
Cut both prevailing off cozy stalking trips.
In the $239,225 Filly
Classic, Brett Miller pushed No Clouds Bluechip into play with just over a
quarter mile to go, overtaking a fading Angels Rockn Pink (Mark MacDonald)
before engaging Wishy Washy Girl (Jim Morrill, Jr.) on approach to the far
turn. The Roll With Joe filly edged clear authoritatively, sprinting off by
4-3/4 lengths en route to a 1:50.1 triumph as the second favorite. Wine Snob
(John Campbell) posted belated uncovered gains to take second at 59-1, while
even-money favorite Penpal (Pat Lachance) could only overcome stale early cover
enough to save third down the grandstand side.
John Berger trains No Clouds
Bluechip for owners Richard Carney, Farrell Carney, and Barbara Berger.
The development of the
$240,475 Classic for colts and geldings came as no surprise, but the outcome
stunned. Marcus Miller pushed forward early with Fresh Cut and ultimately
established a cozy pocket trip with a circuit to go after yielding to 1-4
favorite American Passport (Scott Zeron) at the winning post. While the shape of
the race held true to expected form, Fresh Cut's strong turn of foot from the
pocket in the final eighth of a mile proved plenty to reel in American Passport
and also stave off a late bid from 41-1 runner-up Stolen Glimpse (Yannick
Gingras) for a 1:51.1 victory. American Passport ultimately faded to third
after he was gathered in.
Erv Miller trains Fresh Cut,
a son of American Ideal, for the Bay Pond Racing Stable.
Svanstedt sweeps Reynolds
Already renowned for his mastery in the kingdom of trotting,
Svanstedt revealed why that contention possesses such veracity as he
conditioned and steered New Jersey Viking (Muscle Hill-Hall Of Wishes), Ice
Attraction (Muscle Hill-The Ice Queen) and Evelyn (Muscle Hill-Viva Las Lindy)
to victory in their respective splits. While both New Jersey Viking ($2.90) and
Ice Attraction’s journeys ($3.10) to the wire in their contests, which are
relegated solely to 2-year-old colts and fillies, were quite straightforward,
Evelyn’s ($5.20) provided a much more extensive amount of drama.
Commencing his mile from post position eight, New Jersey Viking
went right to the fore and was never threatened as he cruised around the
Nichols oval. Owned by Knuttson Trotting and Little E LLC, the colt collected
his second career triumph from five trips to the post. Two of his previous
engagements were fourth-place finishes in the Peter Haughton Memorial and New
Jersey Sire Stakes final.
New Jersey Viking tripped the timer in 1:55.1, which was a new
lifetime mark, and increased his bankroll to more than $69,268.
Southwind Moody (Yannick Gingras) and Bill’s Man (Corey
Callahan) were second and third respectively.
While not quite as dominant as her male counterpart, Ice
Attraction demonstrated why she merits respect. The public’s selection was
content to sit in the pocket while Overdraft Volo (Andy Miller) cut the mile,
until Svanstedt pulled his charge on the far turn. There was never a doubt who
would be appearing in the winner’s enclosure as the filly always had her rival
measured.
Owned by her trainer, Douglas Sipple, Mal and Janet Burroughs
and Little E LLC, Ice Attraction strode across the finish line in 1:56, a new
lifetime best, and scored her second career win to improve her resume to
6-2-1-1. Her earnings now stand at $35,300.
Overdraft Volo and Caviart Wonder (Matt Kakaley) came home
second and third, respectively.
Although Evelyn’s trip around the track was not without its
impediments, the filly persevered after being shuffled back to fourth from
second. Once pulled three-wide at the three-quarter pole, Evelyn passed her
dueling colleagues Southwind Avanti (Marcus Johansson) and Treviso (Charlie
Norris) to break her maiden in her sixth attempt.
The filly, owned by Svanstedt, Little E LLC, Borge Nasstrom and
JT45, equaled the track standard for her age, sex and gait with a final
clocking of 1:55.2. Her record now stands at 6-1-1-1 and she has earned
$47,310. Despite not winning prior to today, Evelyn had displayed talent with a
sixth in the James Doherty Memorial and a second in the New Jersey Sire Stakes
final.
Southwind Avanti outlasted Treviso for second.
