Nichols, N.Y. -- Favorites prevailed in both co-featured
$9,000 Open 2 pacing events on Monday (August 15) evening at Tioga Downs, as
Some Kinda Beach ($3.80) and Flying Cowboy ($5.00) lived up to their respective
billing.
Some Kinda Beach scored a repeat win off an open-length
1:50.1 triumph at Vernon, but utilized different tactics on the rise in class
to capture the evening's fourth event. Mike Merton slid the 6-year-old
Somebeachsomewhere entire second-over to track Vangura (Corey Braden) on the
clubhouse turn, stalking live cover through a :27 third quarter as Vangura
briefly headed pacesetter Winyard Hanover (Jim Meittinis). Merton abruptly
angled Some Kinda Beach three-wide on the far turn, losing momentum briefly as
Vangura faded sharply, but the pair quickly reset and lifted to a half-length
win in 1:51.2. Mariner Seelster (Scott Coulter) found a seam up the pegs to
claim second, while Winyard Hanover was an engulfed third, only beaten by
three-quarters of a length.
Patti Harmon trains the 18-time winner Some Kinda Beach for
the Harmon Racing Stable, Karma Racing, Inc., and Punctuality, LLC.
While Some Kinda Beach rallied off cover to prevail in his
Open 2 event, Flying Cowboy earned his third straight victory in pillar-to-post
fashion, capturing the eighth event in an identical time of 1:51.2. Mike Simons
wasted no time with the 6-year-old Brandon's Cowboy gelding, working clear of
Dragon Fever (John MacDonald) through a :27.1 first quarter. The 30-time winner
subsequently turned aside a stout first-over challenge from Dee's Rocketman
(Fern Paquet, Jr.) off the far turn before also repelling an inside bid from
Dragon Fever to prevail by 1-1/4 lengths. Dee's Rocketman faded to third.
Joe Skowyra trains Flying Cowboy for owner Wade Wyatt.
Live racing returns to Tioga Downs on Friday (August 19)
evening, with post time scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Eastern.
