Tgdn5/8 - Cathy’s Princess captures Williams Auto Trot Final on Sunday at Tioga

Cathy’s Princess and Jim Meittinis captured the $39,200 Williams Auto trot final on Sunday afternoon at Tioga Downs. Leaving from post position number five in a field of six, Meittinis got away second as Ima Que T (Jim Marohn Jr.) led the field to the opening quarter in 27.4. At the quarter pole, Meittinis moved Cathy’s Princess to the outside and took control from Ima Que T and led the field through fractions of 56.3 and 1:25.1. Around the final turn, the second choice in the wagering Mistress Valentine (Corey Braden) moved first over to challenge the leader and was just a half of a length off in the final turn. As the field entered the stretch, Meittinis went to work on Cathy’s Princess and was able to hold off the late surge from Mistress Valentine in 1:53.4. It was the fourth win in six seasonal starts for the 5-year old daughter of Malabar Millennium – Mystical Woman who is owned by Paul Vance and Tom Haughton of Pennsylvania and Florida. Mistress Valentine (Corey Braden) finished second, while Ima Que T (Jim Marohn Jr.) hung on for third.

In the $16,000 open pace, Sheer Brilliance (Sean Bier) took on all challengers and parked May Day (Jim Taggart Jr.) throughout the mile to win in 1:49.4. It looked as though Sheer Brilliance was going to give way in the lane to a fast closing Eastend Eddie (Jim Marohn Jr.), but the tough 8-year old gelding fought back in the lane to score his thirty seventh career victory. Jeff Long trains and co-owns the 8-year old gelded son of Blissful Hall – High Roller Ash with Paul Long of Vestal, NY. 

Tioga Downs continues live racing action on Thursday, July 4^th with a post time of 6:50pm, and will feature fireworks immediately following live racing. For more information on Tioga Downs please visit us online at www.tiogadowns.com..