The Grand Circuit makes
its annual stop at Tioga Downs this week for the $500,000 Tompkins-Geers
stakes. On Thursday evening the freshman trotters are featured in three
divisions each of fillies and colts.
The girls open the card with Andy and Julie Miller
sending out the favorites in both ends the Daily Double. L Dees Scripture has
made but one start, however that was an impressive 1:58.4 open-length win in a
Meadowlands baby race. Lawrence Dumain and Carlo Lattinelli own the daughter of
Credit Winner and Graceful Way.
Annie’s List has a more extensive resume, winning all
three of her starts and going faster each time. The most recent was a dominant
10 length 1:57.3 win at Harrah’s Philly in an overnight. She is a Conway Hall
from Ann’s Promise and is owned by the Millers.
The third $25,257 division is led by Flyhawk Falina, a
Cash Hall filly from Nowerland Nanette racing out of the Dan Daley barn. She
won a NYSS division in 2:03 at Buffalo in her first money start for owners Joe
Pennacchio, Ann-Mari Daley and M F White.
The colts split three ways as well, with each division
for a purse in the $23,000 range. They begin in race four where Big Bang
Hanover, a Donato Hanover colt out of CR Calendar Girl makes his first start
for money after four qualifiers. The most recent of those was his best, a
1:58.2 win for trainer Jim Campbell and owner Shore Thing Stables. Matt Kakaley
is in for the drive.
Keystone Wasabi leads the contenders in race five. The
Cantab Hall x Womanly Image colt is already a PA Sires Stakes winner, taking
his 1:58.2 record at Pocono for the Kitefield Stable and Janice Connor. Jim
Morril, Jr will drive.
The Little E, LLC homebred entry of Opulent Yankee and
Starsaboveallerage is the oddsmaker’s choice in the last of the colt divisions,
race seven. Opulent Yankee, a Muscles Yankee from Opulent Bluestone, has been
third in both qualifiers, trotting a 1:59- mile in the more recent of those. He
is trained by Bob Bencal and will have the services of Andy Miller on Thursday.
Starsaboveallerage, a son of Angus Hall out of Starry Eyed,
acquitted himself very well in his first career start finishing third timed in
1:57.4 in an Ontario Sires event at Mohawk. Howard Okusko, Jr trains this one
and Paul Macdonell will drive.
The rare Thursday live race card begins at 6:45pm. Visit the Tioga Downs website for more information.
