by
James Witherite, Tioga Downs racing media
A
pair of $14,000 Open events headline the Saturday (May 3) program at Tioga
Downs, which begin their ninth season of live harness racing this weekend.
A
quintet of trotters contest the first race co-feature, with Jaipur (Fern
Paquet, Jr., 7-5 morning line) shipping in after scoring consecutive wins at
Vernon against top trotters there. Splitsville (Jim Marohn, Jr., 5-2) and
Grey Ice (Jim Meittinis, 3-1) are also in pursuit of repeat wins, returning
from Saratoga after front-end victories last week. Seven distaff pacers
comprise the other headline field of the evening in race six, with Rocks N
Bagels (Aaron Byron, 3-1) coming in off a dominant 1:50.4 score at Vernon.
First
post for Saturday's 10-race card is 5:00 p.m. EDT, with a break after the third
race for simulcasting of the Kentucky Derby from Churchill Downs. In line
with Derby Day festivities, Tioga Downs will offer mint juleps, live music
through the day, and will offer one lucky fan a $1,000 win wager on one horse
in the Derby--with the winnings theirs to keep.
Sunday
(May 4) afternoon's 13-race card kicks off at 1:30 p.m., with a $14,000 Open
pace serving as the afternoon's top event. Pompano standout Prairie
Jaguar (Jim Marohn, Jr., 3-1) will likely attract much attention in the
six-horse Open field, but won't be without competition. Fireyourguns (Aaron
Byron, 7-2) is 2-for-2 this year so far, most recently scoring a 1:50.2 win at
Vernon, while Real Flight (Brandon Simpson, 6-1) and Modern Day Clyde (Mike
Simons, 2-1) enter after competing in top conditioned events at Yonkers most
recently.
For
a complete racing schedule, handicapping resources including race analysis,
race replays, and trip notes, visit http://www.tiogadowns.com.
