by James Witherite, Tioga
Downs racing media
Nichols, N.Y. -- Friday
(September 16) evening's harness racing program at Tioga Downs will feature a
probable preview of the $225,000 New York Sire Stakes final for 2-year-old
pacing fillies, as eight precocious distaffers will square off in a lone
$110,200 Sire Stakes event as the centerpiece of a 15-race card.
Susan Oakes and Chuck Pompey's
Tequila Monday will look to remain undefeated after a pair of dominant wins at
Harrah's Philadelphia and an 8-3/4 length domination in her lone Sire Stakes
effort at Yonkers last week. David Miller retains the driving duties on
the daughter of American Ideal and Margarita Monday, and the pair will start
from post 7 for trainer Chris Oakes as the 3-1 morning line second choice.
Among the seven fillies
looking to hand Tequila Monday her first career defeat are six-time winners
Planet Rock and Robin J, both from the Linda Toscano stable. Planet Rock, the
5-2 morning line favorite from post 6, began her career with six straight wins,
including a 1:53.1 victory in her Geers Stakes division at Tioga on August 12.
John Campbell assumes the lines on the daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven and Villa
Hanover.
Planet Rock's stablemate Robin
J was a no-match second to Tequila Monday at Yonkers last week, but won six of
seven prior events including, like Planet Rock, a Geers Stakes division over
the local oval. Mike Simons is slated to drive the daughter of Roll With Joe
and Mommy Robin Q from post 3 as the 4-1 third choice.
In addition to top New
York-sired 2-year-old pacing fillies, Tioga Downs will play host to the
Maine-Endwell (NY) Little League baseball team, as they will be honored at the
races for their Little League World Series title in a special ceremony
following the evening's third race. Post time for the penultimate card of the
2016 season is 6:30 p.m. Eastern.
