After beating top company at Buffalo and Vernon,
Fireyourguns ($3.00) scored his third victory in as many seasonal starts in
Sunday (May 4) afternoon's $14,000 Open Pace at Tioga Downs.
The five-year-old American Ideal gelding floated to the
front early on, setting even fractions of :28, :56, and 1:23.4 while Mystical
Valentine (Jason Ryan) chased from the loose pocket throughout. On the
far turn, Aaron Byron called upon Fireyourguns to draw clear, and the response
was instant, as the 1-2 favorite opened up to a 3-1/2 length advantage before
reaching the top of the stretch. Prairie Jaguar (Jim Marohn, Jr.) angled
to the outside just off the turn to put in a late bid, rallying to be second,
while Mystical Valentine was a tiring third. Fireyourguns was measured in
the last sixteenth of a mile en route to a 1:51.4 win with plenty in reserve.
Trainer Terence McClory co-owns Fireyourguns with Jennifer
and Robert Lowe.
Earlier in the card, the Jeff Sorenson-trained Golden Gun
prevailed in the $11,000 Open II Pace, holding off a late challenge from the
pocket-sitting Bettorsluckystreak to win in 1:55.1 in rein to Jim Marohn, Jr.
Live racing resumes on Friday evening, with first post at
6:15 p.m.
