Richest card of year at Tioga on Sunday
August 17, 2018,from Tioga Downs
Nichols, NY — Tioga Downs will present the richest card of its 2018 season at the “Jewel of the Southern Tier” on Sunday (Aug. 19) offering nearly $1 million in purses on the day.
The featured stakes include the $550,000 Empire Breeders Classic 3-year-old pacing finals, the $161,000 Artiscape and $143,000 Roll With Joe for older mare and horse pacers, respectively, and the third leg of the $60,000 (divided) Miss Versatility for trotting mares.
The Miss Versatility split into a pair of six mare fields as they continue to accumulate points toward the $110,000 final at the Delaware County Fair on Little Brown Jug Day (Sept. 20). Broadway Donna, Celebrity Ruth, Ice Attraction and Barn Bella head up the contestants for Sunday’s races.
The EBC fillies (race seven) are led by Youaremycandygirl (Yannick Gingras) who continued her current form spree with an effortless 1:51 romp in her elimination last week. She leaves from post six for trainer Ron Burke and owner Bill Donovan in the $270,425 final.
Meadowlands Pace winner Courtly Choice (David Miller) has been tabbed as the morning line favorite in the $272,025 EBC colt pace final. He’s won seven of 10 starts including an impressive 1:49 elimination success last week and stands at nearly a half million dollars in seasonal earnings for trainer Blake MacIntosh who shares ownership with Hutt Racing, Daniel Plouffe and Touch Stone Farms. Courtly Choice starts from post five in the eighth race.
American History (Gingras) endured a long uncovered grind to win the other elimination, albeit two seconds slower than Courtly Choice. He’s been sharp recently and has landed post three for this race permitting the driver options to secure the type of trip needed to win. Tony Alagna trains American History, the fastest sophomore of the 2018 season by virtue of his 1:47 Meadowlands clocking in June for Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz and American History Racing.
All of the top older mares are in town for the Artiscape (race nine) with division leader Shartin N (Tim Tetrick) seeking to continue her season-long dominance over her rival distaffers. She has won 13 of 17 starts and collected more than $680,000 for owners Richard Poillucci and Jo Ann Looney-King with the Matchmaker, Roses Are Red and Lady Liberty on her seasonal resume. Jim King Jr. is the trainer.
The pacing horses number but five in the Roll With Joe and include last year’s winning pair in Dealt A Winner and driver David Miller. The now 6-year-old is rounding into form of late and recently eclipsed the $1 million mark in career earnings for owner Jeffrey Snyder. Mark Silva conditions Dealt A Winner who will face stiff competition from a pair of Ron Burke entries in Rockin Ron (Gingras) and the ageless All Bets Off (Matt Kakaley).
Post time for the big card at Tioga is 1 p.m. For Sunday’s complete entries, click here.
- Decisions ahead for Courtly Choice, but first EBC (Friday, August 17, 2018)
The owners of Courtly Choice have decisions to make regarding their colt’s future races, but might have a better idea of what they will do following Sunday’s Empire Breeders Classic for 3-year-old male pacers at Tioga Downs. Courtly Choice is the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the $272,025 EBC championship, starting from post five with David Miller driving for trainer and co-owner Blake MacIntosh.
- Courtly Choice establishes new track standard; numerous other stars shine at Tioga (Sunday, August 19, 2018)
Courtly Choice (David Miller) won the $272,025 Empire Breeders Classic final in a track record for 3-year-old colts of 1:48.3. It was just one of many big races at Tioga Downs on Sunday afternoon (Aug. 19). Winners of other events included Youaremycandygirl, Western Fame, Shartin N, Ice Attraction and Broadway Donna.