Nichols, N.Y. – Scott Woogen’s K J’s
Caroline ($9.80) took full advantage of a pocket trip in Friday (September 9)
evening’s co-featured $13,500 Mares Open 1 Pace at Tioga Downs, only reaching
the lead in the last 15 yards of a 1:51.2 mile.
The 6-year-old Roddy’s Bags Again mare
was involved from race’s outset as she customarily does, repelling Northern
Beauty (Mike Simons) on approach to the first turn before yielding control to
Yes You Can (Aaron Byron) after a :26.3 first quarter. K J’s Caroline enjoyed a
clear pocket ride through middle sectionals of :55.1 and 1:22.4. Jim Taggart,
Jr. angled K J’s Caroline out of the pocket just above the eighth pole—but
another threat would emerge deeper out in the form of Northern Beauty, who
hooked three-wide off the turn once able to shake free. K J’s Caroline gained
the upper hand in the nick of time, just collaring runner-up Yes You Can by a
neck and likewise staving off third-place finisher Northern Beauty in a
three-way stretch battle.
Gary Messenger trains K J’s Caroline, now
a 28-time winner.
Brandos Muscle Man elevated to first in
featured trot
In the $13,500 Open Handicap Trot, 17-1
outsider Brandos Muscle Man ($37.40) was elevated to first after his stretch
bid from the pocket was interrupted by pacesetter Dragin the Wagon (Byron), who
bore out off the far turn and clipped Brandos Muscle Man amid their stretch
duel. Mike Merton drove the 8-year-old Muscles Yankee gelding to his 30th
career win in 1:53.3, albeit by default. Dragin the Wagon was relegated to
second for his upper-stretch foul, while Prairie Fortune (Jim Meittinis)
could only muster enough momentum to capture third from off the pace.
Rick Dane, Jr. trains Brandos Muscle Man
for the Rock and Roll Stable, Inc. and Monica Banca.
Live racing returns to Tioga Downs on
Saturday (September 10) evening, with the first of 13 pari-mutuel events due
off at 6:30 p.m. Eastern.
