Nichols, N.Y. -- Tim Tetrick and Linda Toscano teamed up to
capture all three divisions of the Geers Stakes for 2-year-old pacing fillies
on Friday (August 12) night at Tioga Downs, while Cougar Bait ($6.10) led
2-year-old pacing colts and geldings with a track-record performance in his
Geers split.
Tetrick and Toscano wasted no time finding the winner's
enclosure, teaming up with Robin J ($2.10) in the $26,356 third event. The
daughter of Roll With Joe and Mommy Robin Q worked clear of Haviture Way Honey
(Marcus Miller) with a circuit to go and used a :26.3 last quarter to repel a
first-over push from runner-up Touchamatic (Mike Simons) by 2-3/4 lengths in
1:54.
They teamed up again with Planet Rock ($2.10), who kept her
undefeated record intact in the $26,856 fifth race. The daughter of Rock N Roll
Heaven and Villa Hanover settled off a contested pace, brushed out of midfield,
and sprinted off to a 5-1/2 length margin of victory over Kiss Kiss (John
Cummings, Jr.) in 1:53.1 for her fifth triumph in as many career starts. Robin
J and Planet Rock also would give owner Kenneth Jacobs a stakes double on the
night.
World Apart ($2.60) completed the sweep of the filly
divisions for Tetrick and Toscano in the $26,856 ninth, chasing live cover
provided by Pleasant Roll (Marcus Miller) on the backstretch before continuing
to the fore in upper stretch after losing cover. The daughter of Art Major and
Polar Opposition posted a 1:53 win for the South Mountain Stables, The Bay's
Stable, LLC, Little E, LLC, and the Radio Racing Stable.
Of the three Geers divisions for 2-year-old pacing colts and
geldings, Cougar Bait stole the show with his 1:52.2 track-record performance
in the $24,640 fourth race. Mike Simons slid the Western Terror-No One Is Alone
gelding second-over to track favorite Epic Union through the middle stages of
the race, but lost cover on approach to the far turn as Epic Union cleared.
Cougar Bait ultimately dueled to the fore at head-stretch, drawing off by 2-1/2
lengths over Beyond Delight (Jim Marohn, Jr.), who rallied to save second. John
Butenschoen trains Cougar Bait for the Harmony Oaks Racing Stable, Jeremey Day,
Tangie Massey, and the VIP Internet Stable, LLC.
Ocean Colony ($23.60) prevailed in the $24,640 sixth,
dueling clear of R J P (Marcus Miller) in 1:53.3 after being left uncovered on
the far turn. Brett Miller drove the son of Somebeachsomewhere and Amora
Hanover for trainer Jimmy Takter and the partnership of Takter, Fielding, Katz,
Libfeld, Goldband, and the Hatfield Stables.
In the $24,640 eighth race, Every Way Out ($2.50) accounted
for his fifth career win in as many starts, and Tetrick accounted for the third
leg of a stakes grand slam. The If I Can Dream-Every Play colt responded to a
late push from Bettor's Western (Brett Miller), holding sway by three-quarters
of a length in 1:51.1 for the fastest mile on the night. Dylan Davis trains
Every Way Out for Howard Taylor, Abraham Basen, Edwin Gold, and Thomas Lazzaro.
Live racing returns to Tioga Downs on Sunday (August 14)
afternoon, with post time at 1:30 p.m. Eastern.
