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Sunday, June 23, 2013

Tgdn5/8 - Fans flock to Sunday’s camel and ostrich races, and Eastend Eddie captures the feature at Tioga.

Tioga Downs also held its second annual Camel and Ostrich races on Sunday afternoon in front of more than 5,700 eager fans. The ostrich race was held after race number four on the card, while the camels hit the track after race number eight. In the three entry ostrich event, Dixie Chick left alertly from the rail and never relinquished her lead.

In the featured four entry camel event, My Lovely Humps easily dominated after Lawrence Of Arabia refused and Humpty Dumpty and Pepi Lepew seemed to have a few steering issues. 

Eastend Eddie and Jim Marohn Jr. took home Sunday afternoon’s $16,000 open handicap pace at Tioga Downs. Starting from post position number seven in a field of eight, Marohn backed Eastend Eddie off to last as the field was led to the quarter in 27 by Sheer Brilliance (Aaron Byron). The 6-5 betting favorite Pence Hanover (Andrew McCarthy who was assigned the eight post, was parked and pressing on the leader by the half mile mark of the race in 55.2. Down the backside, Corey Braden pulled Fireyourguns three wide through a third panel in 27.3 but could not even move into the second position past Pence Hanover by three quarters in 1:23. Around the final turn Marohn was still sitting last as the field straightened up in the lane, and down the stretch Eastend Eddie exploded five wide to win by a length and three quarters in 1:51.2.

Ron Burke trains the 5-year old gelded son of Million Dollar Cam – Armbro Cinema for Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi of Pennsylvania. Eastend Eddie who was crowned pacer of the year last year at Tioga Downs, posted the fourth win in eighteen seasonal starts and with the win increased his seasonal earnings to more than $41,000.

Sheer Brilliance and Aaron Byron despite taking pressure the entire mile hung on for second, while May Day (Jim Taggart Jr.) finished third.

Tioga Downs continues live racing action on Friday, June 28th with a post time of 6:50pm, for more information on Tioga Downs please visit us online at www.tiogadowns.com.