JK Molly sets track record in Tompkins-Geers at Tioga

by Dustin Ross, Regional Racing Operations Manager, Tioga Downs

Nichols, NY — The Tompkins-Geers Grand Circuit stakes for 2-year-old pacers took center stage at Tioga Downs on Friday night (July 19). Three divisions of filly pacers and three divisions of colt pacers were the co-featured events on the night’s 12-race card.

In the first $26,040 division of the night, the filly pacers showed off their stuff and Linda Toscano’s JK Molly opened some eyes in her second lifetime start.

Fred Brown photo

JK Molly was a winner in a track record time of 1:52.2.

Getting away in fifth from post five, driver Tim Tetrick settled JK Molly in as Expose (David Miller) cut through fractions of :26.4 and :55. As the field headed down the backside, JK Molly was positioned second over as Dottie Major (Marcus Miller) tried a first over assault through a third quarter in 1:23.

Around the final turn Tetrick tipped JK Molly three high off fading cover and the daughter of Art Major–Heather’s Western responded by pacing away from the field to win by three lengths. The mile of 1:52.2 eclipsed the previous track record of 1:52.4 that was set by Drop The Ball in 2010.

Linda Toscano trains JK Molly for the 3 Brothers Stable of New York, N.Y.

Other division winners for the pacing fillies were Anegada (Jim Morrill, Jr.-1:55.1) and Ravinia Hanover (Yannick Gingras-1:54).

On the colt side of the Grand Circuit stakes, it was a Linda Toscano sweep as she trained the winners of all three of the races, all for different owners.

Posting the fastest mile of the hot and humid evening for the colt pacers was Murder He Wrote, who is a perfect two-for-two in his young career. Tetrick moved to the front by the quarter in :28.3 and then reeled off fractions of :57.4 and 1:25.4 before sprinting home a winner in 1:53.1.

Toscano trains the son of Kenneth J–JK Dancing Queen for herself, as owner of the Camelot Stable Inc. of Freehold, N.J.

Other division winners included El Bloombito (Tetrick-1:54) and Winds Of Change (Tetrick-1:53.3).

Sophomore trotters take to the track in the Tompkins-Geers Grand Circuit stakes on Saturday night at Tioga. One division of ten colts race for $62,766 in the eighth race where trainer Noel Daley sends out a pair of Crazed prospects tabbed as the morning line choice.

Crazy About Pat has matured into a top NYSS performer this season with four wins from 11 outings for just shy of $100,000 in seasonal bankroll for the Patricia Stable. His latest win was in a career best 1:54 in a sires stake at Vernon Downs. His regular pilot Cat Manzi will be in for the drive.

Up Front And Crazy, out of Love’s Caress, is slightly less accomplished but strung three overnight wins together in Canada for owners Up Front Racing, Tres Amigos Stable and the trainer.

The fillies split two ways with a field of eight competing for $35,383 in each.

Andie Sophia comes in off of a 1:55.3 win in the Hudson Filly Trot at Yonkers. The ultra-consistent Like A Prayer-Promising Deal lass has won four of nine lifetime starts for over a quarter million dollars in earnings. Trainer Rob Harmon has managed her beautifully and owns the filly in partnership with Comfortably Numb Stable and and Adam Friedland. Manzi picks up the drive on Saturday.

Division two features the speedy Classic Martine. This Classic Photo-Drinking Days filly has won six of nine starts this year for $112,083 in earnings and has really been sharp since moving into the Chris Oakes barn in early June, winning a pair of PA stakes in 1:53.1. The Hauser Bros, Susan Oakes and Conrad Zurich share ownership and top Tioga reinsman Jimmy Marohn, Jr. has the drive.

Post time on Saturday is 6:50 p.m.

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