Sinclair trainees one-two in Gail's Diner Series Final

Nichols, N.Y. -- Owner-trainer Mike Sinclair's Heavenly Bet ($4.60, part of entry) overcame post 8 and controlled the terms through the middle of the race en route to a 1:55 score over her stablemate Winners Over in the $23,700 Gail's Diner Series Final on Sunday (May 22) afternoon at Tioga Downs.

While Winners Over (Dan Clements) was away most sharply in the field of eight, Scott Coulter gradually worked Heavenly Bet forward through a :27.3 first quarter mile before clearing with just over a circuit to go. The two would continue at the head of the field throughout, with Heavenly Bet spared of pressure due to a failed first-over bid by Ghost Runner (Tom Jackson). After intermediate fractions of :56.4 and 1:24.4 over good going, the 3-year-old Bettor's Delight filly faced a challenge from her stablemate on the far turn. Heavenly Bet proved superior of the Sinclair pair, holding sway by 3/4 length.  Well Shaded (Fern Paquet, Jr.) emerged out of traffic to take third, while Shesgotthebeat--a winner in both her preliminary events--only could manage a fourth-place finish after she was compromised by badly stalling cover on the far turn.

The afternoon's other three featured events--an $11,000 Open Pace and two $7,500 second-round divisions of the Nichols True Value Series--all went to driver Tom Jackson, who led all drivers on the 13-race program with that natural hat trick. Meadows invader Nitro Seelster ($4.40) sustained a first-over push to reel in Believe This Bob for a 1:52 Open win, while Fresh Cut ($44.80, 1:54.2) and Le Gambe ($4.30, 1:54.1) prevailed in their respective Nichols True Value splits.

No one hit the 50¢ Pick 5, resulting in a $208.67 carryover to Friday (May 27) evening's program.

Tioga Downs offers four programs next week, with a 6:30 p.m. EDT first post on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and a 1:30 p.m. EDT Memorial Day card on Monday.

VERRUSO; HECHKOFF; BILLINGS WINNERS AT FREEHOLD ON SATURDAY

Harness racing’s greatest traveling road show, the CKG Billings Amateur Driving Series, moved back to Freehold Raceway for two trots in the eastern division of the series and when the judges hung the official signs Tony “the Capo” Verruso and Bob “the Headhunter” Hechkoff each emerged victorious in their respective splits. Verruso scored with Sam’s Honeybee in 1:59.4 while Hechkoff won with The Franchise in 2:01.

No trotter has recently been more prolific in the Billings than Sam’s Honeybee,  a 10-year old daughter of  Victory Sam.  Beside her victory on Saturday night, her fifth of the season, Sam’s Honeybee has had two wins and a second in her last three starts and has vaulted Verruso near the top of the Billings leaderboard thus far this year.

After getting away softly from post five Verruso decided to go first-up with Sam’s Honeybee as the field approached the halfway point which proved to be a winning move when favored Shanghai Jack made a break while traveling along the pylons which caused some confusion and allowed Verruso and his charge to gain command as the field headed for the three quarters. Once clear on the lead Sam’s Honeybee opened daylight on the field and she cruised home an easy six-length winner over 24-1 shot High Flying, driven by James “Jimmy Boy” Marshall IV. Blazin Delores, in rein to “Mighty Matt” Zuccarello, took home the show dough.

“She's been real good and the light rain made the track very much to her liking,” Veruso said after his driving victory. “I knew there was a lot of speed so I just sat back and came first up and she was so up in the riggin’ I just gave her a tap and she went by and took off.”

After being sent off as a longshot in her last three starts today Sam’s Honeybee wore the favorites crown and returned a $3.60 win mutuel. She’s owned by her driver and is trained by Carl Gillespie.

Sent off as second choice in his split Hechkoff gave The Franchise a perfect journey.

When “Bullet Bob” Davis gunned Wygant Prince to the lead from the three-hole Hechkoff  left the gate swiftly with his trotter and fell into the two- hole behind Davis.Wygant Prince then cut the fractions and when the field approached the halfway point they rebuffed a challenge by Maurel N Hardy who was driven by “Hurricane Hannah” Miller. Davis then proceeded to keep Miller on the limb as the field approached the three quarters.

Meanwhile Hechkoff, cruising along  in the two-hole, bided his time and followed the leaders and when the field rounded the final turn Miller’s trotter showed signs of tiring which allowed Hechkoff  to rally The Franchise in the lane and collar Wygant Prince and go on to a length triumph. Maurel N Hardy finished third. 

Owned by his driver and trained by Kyle Spagnola The Franchise paid $7.00 for win..

Billings action continues with a western region trot on Wednesday, May 25, at Northfield Park followed by two non-wagering eastern region contests on Thursday, May 26 at Yonkers Raceway.

Boston Red Rocks scores at Big M

by Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Boston Red Rocks may have been given a bit of a scare at the wire, but ended a trend of high-profile beaten favorites on Saturday night at the Meadowlands, scoring in his 2016 debut in a division of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers.

The Steve Elliott trainee, who is pointing toward the Meadowlands Pace, was permitted to set tepid fractions of :28, :56.2 and 1:24.1 while unchallenged. Ideal Rocky, who sat the pocket throughout, stayed with the 1-9 favorite and sprinted home during the final sixteenth to come up just a head short of pulling off the upset. Katies Rocker was third.Boston Red Rocks went the mile in a lifetime-best equaling 1:50.3 with Tim Tetrick in the bike and paid $2.20 to win for owners Peter Blood and Rick Berks.

Earlier on the card, chalk players took two big punches to the chin.

Maestro Blue Chip stayed perfect in 10 starts this season, winning a division of the Graduate Series for 4-year-old trotters in a lifetime-best 1:51.3.

Pinkman, the 2015 Hambletonian champion who was upset a week ago in his first start of the year, tasted defeat for a second straight outing as the 3-5 public choice. Like last week, Pinkman had a clear lead at three-quarters but could not maintain his advantage to the wire, settling for third as Crescent Fashion closed to get the place spot, 1½ lengths behind the winner.

Facing by far the stiffest task he’s had this year, Maestro Blue Chip was sent off at odds of 30-1 and returned $63.20 to his backers. David Miller drove the Jo Ann Looney-King trainee for owner Richard Poillucci

In a division of the Graduate for 4-year-old pacers, another short favorite went down as Confederation Cup winner Rockin Ron lost for the first time in 11 starts this year, coming up a half-length short to Artistic Major, who scored for the team of Elliott and Tetrick in 1:48.1, a lifetime best.

After grabbing the early lead, 1-5 shot Rockin Ron was shuffled back after several lead changes and had to overcome a three-hole trip. As Artistic Major was tipping off cover and storming home to victory, Rockin Ron was desperately seeking room to race and did not find a clear path until the sixteenth pole. He had explosive pace from there to get second. Split The House was third.

Artistic Major returned $20.40 to win for owners Van Dusen, Cimaglio, Elliott and Patel.

THE CLIMB CONTINUES: The 12th race 20 cent Jackpot Super High Five once again did not have a single-ticket winner, meaning that the carryover for the next program has now swelled to $231,017.66. … All-source wagering on the card totaled $2,778,867. … The Meadowlands is back with live racing Friday at 7:15 p.m.