Tgdn5/8 - Southwind Trini upsets in Tioga’s Saturday night feature

Southwind Trini and Jim Meittinis were dismissed by the betting public on Saturday night’s first race at Tioga Downs, the $16,500 fillies and mares open handicap pace.

Oceans Motion (Chuck Connor Jr.) was made the overwhelming favorite and was assigned post position number six in a field of six. Connor quickly put Oceans Motion on the front through fractions of 26.4 and 55.4. As the field headed towards three quarters, Meittinis moved Southwind Trini to the outside and made a hard first over bid on the leader past the three quarter mile mark of the race in 1:23.2.

Around the final turn, Meittinis was able to get Southwind Trini to the front and hold off a late charge by For All We Know (Keith Kamann) to win in 1:52.1. It was the sixth win in twenty nine seasonal starts for the 4-year old daughter of Rocknroll Hanover – Tattoo Hanover for trainer Rob Harmon.

Tioga Downs continues live racing on Sunday, September 2 with a post time of 6:50 pm, for more information on Tioga Downs please visit us on our website at www.tiogadowns.com .

 

 

Nfld - Ohio Sires Stakes Freshman Filly Results

Ohio Sires Stakes racing highlighted Northfield Park’s Friday (August 31) program where two-year-old filly pacers and trotters squared off.  The fillies raced in their final leg of the 2012 juvenile match-ups, presenting their last chance to earn points for the Ohio Sires Stakes Championships. The championships will be held at Scioto Downs in Columbus on Saturday, September 8.

The trotters took to the stage in Race 1 for the $17,000 first division.  Contessa Leigh (Full Count-Howl-Overcomer) posted a gate-to-wire performance to win by 1¼ length.  The partnership of G&B Racing of New Wilmington, Pennsylvania and Patricia Wollam of Vienna, Ohio are the owners.  Northfield Park Wall of Fame inductee, Marty Wollam, trains and drove the filly through quarters of 29.1, 1:01.1, 1:30.2 and 2:00.  The victory was the third win in five starts for Contessa Leigh, who now has career earning of $29,824.  Finishing behind the winner were Royal Fricassee, Diplomats Mistress, Ima Count and Whizzy Izzy.  Contessa Leigh returned her backers $3.00 for a $2.00 win wager. 

Trainer Marty Wollam’s barn struck again in Race 3, when Sheza Lavec (Master Lavec-Balmira CC-King Pine) took the $17,000 second division for two-year old filly Ohio-bred trotters.  Sheza Lavec started from post-two and led her rivals from start to finish through fractions of 29.4, 1:01.2, 1:31.2 and 2:02.2.  Kurt Sugg drove for owner Bob Troyer of Middlefield, Ohio.  Sheza Lavec has six prior starts but was winless entering tonight’s event.  Tonight’s victory raises her earnings to $16,533.  Completing the race were Look At Count, TT’s Megapixel, Trainer Dunn, Tiffany’s Victory and Pinehall Lady.  Sheza Lavec paid $27.20 to win.

The final Ohio Sires Stake of the evening, Race 10, was the $25,000 4^th leg for two year-old filly pacers. Igottafeelinfran (Feelin Friskie-Fran Anna-Expensive Scooter) sat chilly through early fractional times of 29 and 58.1, before coming first over and brushing to the front.  Igottafeelinfran tripped the ¾ beam in 1:25.4 and held on to win by a neck in 1:56.3.  Dan Noble drove Igottafeelingfran for owners Jerry Zosel of Columbus, Ohio, Kathy Ratcliff of Orient, Ohio and Kimberly Dailey of Mechanicsburg, Ohio.  Jim Dailey trains Igottafeelingfran, who now has three career victories in seven lifetime starts and earnings of $40,200.  Crossing the line after her was a hard-charging Cating Around, One Naughty Lady, Norma Jean, Cosswind Colleen, Always D Lady, Melissa L and Happy N Memphis.  Pink Camo was scratched.  Igottafeelinfran returned $3.80 to win. 

YR - BRENNAN SWEEPS FRIDAY NIGHT 44G CO-FEATURES WITH P NOTE BLUE CHIP, "BLACKTUX"

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

YONKERS, NY, Friday, August 31, 2012--Yonkers Raceway's usual Friday night pair of $44,000 co-featured Open Handicaps--for distaff pacers and either-gender-welcome trotters--were won by P Note Blue Chip (George Brennan, $12.80) and Blacktuxwhitesocks (Brennan, $8.50).

In play from post position No. 2, "P Note" worked around Shaky Hanover (Brian Sears), making the lead before a :27.4 opening quarter-mile. From there, a rated 29-second next intervals (:56.4 half) before Breakheart Pass (Jason Bartlett) made her second move of the performance. Ticket to Rock (Cat Manzi), the 13-10 choice, was gapping from second-over.

However, Breakheart Pass was rebuffed in and out of the 1:23.4 three-quarters as P Note Blue Chip took a length-and-three-quarter lead into the lane. From there, she needed only hold off a "Shaky" stalker, which "P Note" did by three-quarters of a length in a season's-best 1:52.2. Third went to Ticket to Rock, with Breakheart Pass and All About Kisses (Eric Goodell) grabbing the small change.

For P Note Blue Chip, a 5-year-old daughter of Western Ideal co-owned by Ross Warriner and Steve Calhoun and trained by Casie Coleman, it was her seventh win (as the fourth choice) in 21 '12 tries. The exacta paid $47.60, with the triple returning $172.50.

It was a perfect, second-over trip for Blacktuxwhitesocks. Overcoming the always-appreciated eight-hole, "Blacktux"--who shares the all-age track record (1:54.1) with Archangel--watched from sixth as H and M's Hit (Jordan Stratton) put up early fractions of :28.1 and :58,.

Looking Hanover (Yannick Gingras), the 3-2 favorite. then moved from fifth, engaging the leader through a :28.3 third quarter. (1:26.3). Turning for home, one could sense "Looking" was about to win the battle, but lose the war. He put away H and M's Hit, but was powerless to stave off the trotter in his back. It was Blacktuxwhitesocks, as the third choice, edging away late, winning by three-quarters of a length in 1:56.

Bastille (Manzi), Master Pine (Jim Pantaleano) and Son of Nordic (Goodell) earned the minor spoils    

For Blacktuxwhitesocks, a 5-year-old Credit Winner gelding trained by Trond Smedshammer and owned by Purple Haze Stables, it was his sixth win in 17 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $20.60, the triple returned $84.50 and the superfecta paid $460.50.

The Raceway continues its normal five-night-per-week live schedule, with first post every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:10 PM. Evening simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with afternoon simulcasting available around the NYRA schedule