by James Witherite, Tioga Downs racing media
The 2014 stakes season at Tioga Downs kicks off tonight (May
23), as a pair of $62,400 New York Sire Stakes races showcase top
three-year-old trotting colts and geldings in the state.
The first division is carded as race 3 on the nine-race
card, with Martin Scharf's Flyhawk El Durado installed as the 8-5 morning line
favorite. Mark MacDonald drives the son of Conway Hall, who prevailed as
the two-year-old trotting champion on the New York Sire Stakes circuit last
year, holding off Credit Fashion to take the winner's share of the $225,000
final at Yonkers. Wayne Chrebet and Little E, LLC's Lukas Hall also
contests the first division, coming in off a runner-up performance to Trixton
in the $51,543 Simpson at the Meadowlands. Jim Morrill, Jr. handles the driving
duties.
John Grasso's Expressive Action headlines the second
division, which goes as race 6. Another son of Conway Hall, Expressive
Action was a late-gaining fifth in the Valley Victory last November at the
Meadowlands, ending a five-race freshman campaign against national stakes
competition. Mike Simons handles the driving duties on the 5-2 morning line
favorite. Ann-Mari Daley and JLRL, LLC's Daley Lovin will line up as the
3-1 second choice in the morning line, dueling with Flyhawk El Durado in last
year's two-year-old NYSS final before fading late. Trainer Dan Daley
handles the driving duties.
Post time for the Friday nine-race card is 6:15 p.m. EDT.
