Tioga Downs’ 2013 racing season
came to a finish on Saturday night (September 14) with 2-year old pacers in the
Reynolds Stakes, and yet another open pace victory by 2013 pacer of the year at
Tioga Downs, Eastend Eddie.
Two divisions of 2-year old colt
and gelding pacers in the Reynolds Stakes were captured by Stratos Hanover –
Andy Miller (1:54.1) for trainer Joe Holloway, and Beat The Drum – Jim
Meittinis (1:53.3) for Staffan Lind.
The fillies also drew two divisions
in the Reynolds, and were taken by: Ali Blue – Jimmy Takter (1:53.4) also
trained by Jimmy Takter, and Instant Respect – Jimmy Takter (1:54.1) to
complete the Takter sweep of the Reynolds filly pace.
In the $16,000 open handicap pace,
Eastend Eddie continued his dominating ways and even did it against free for
all pacer, Hurrikane Kingcole, who was shipped in to Tioga Downs for closing
night by trainer John Mc Dermott. Driver Matt Kakaley settled Eastend Eddie in
fifth as Aaron Byron hustled Hurrikane Kingcole to the front, but was unable to
clear until past the opening quarter in 26.4. From there Byron tried to rate
the 4-year old son of Cam’s Card Shark on the front getting by the half mile
mark in 54.2. Down the backside Eastend Eddie was underway from the back of the
pack by Kakaley and by three quarters in 1:22.1, Kingcole was under attack on
the front end as Andy Miller had pulled the pocket with Panesthetic.
Around the final turn it was
apparent that Hurrikane Kingcole had enough and Eastend Eddie was charging
three wide eating up ground with every stride. In deep stretch Eastend Eddie
had put the field away once again to win by two lengths in 1:51.2.
It was the tenth win of the season,
nine of which have come at Tioga Downs for Eastend Eddie who was named the 2013
pacer of the year at Tioga Downs making it two years in a row for the Ron Burke
trainee.
The 2013 year end awards were given
out on Saturday night at Tioga Downs wrapping up its eighth racing season and
the 2013 driver of the year was: Jimmy Marohn Jr (76 wins) for the second
consecutive year, trainer of the year: Jamie Paquet (24 wins), trotter of the
year: Aruba Vacation, and pacer of the year: Eastend Eddie (2nd
consecutive year).
Tioga Downs would like to thank all
of its fans and horsemen for their support in making 2013 another successful
year of harness racing in Nichols, NY. For more information on Tioga
Downs please visit us online at www.tiogadowns.com
.
