by Dustin Ross, for Tioga Downs

Nichols, NY — Tioga Downs will host a trio of race cards in Nichols, New York this weekend. The fun will begin with 10 races on Friday, August 3, at 6:50 p.m., 11 races on Saturday, August 4, at 6:50 p.m., and 10 races on Sunday, August 5, with a post time of 1:15 p.m.

Two late closing series finals will be contested on Saturday night with the $28,800 Tioga Twister for trotters and the $26,800 Tioga Blast for pacers.

American Lane will look for his fourth straight victory and his second series final at Tioga Downs. The 5-year-old son of Primrose Lane is owned by David Scharf and Jerry Silva of New York, while Carl Cito, Jr. does the conditioning. American Lane has won eight of his 25 starts this year with earnings of more than $122,000.

The Tioga Blast Pacing Series should show plenty of speed in the ninth race on Saturday night. South Park Hanover and Chuck Connor, Jr. will leave from post position six in the seven-horse field. The 5-year-old son of Artsplace carries a seasonal mark of 1:51.1 at Tioga Downs with earnings of over $50,000 in 19 starts in 2007.

However, Mike Simons and Real Mystical will look to repeat their winning performances from the first and third legs of the series for trainer Jim Ray.

EZ will head west from The Big M to Tioga Downs on Sunday afternoon and take his shot at the $15,000 Open Handicap Pace. EZ has been enjoying his time in East Rutherford where he established a new lifetime mark of 1:49.2 in a $60,000 claiming event on July 14. Mike Simons has been listed to drive for the Summersby Stable of Del Mar, California and trainer Jamie Sullivan.