Meadowbranch Ricky upsets Tioga feature
May 28, 2022,Nichols, NY — Not often do Mike Deters trainees go unnoticed at Tioga Downs, but on Saturday night (May 28), Meadowbranch Ricky flew under the radar and played upsetter in the Tioga feature.
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Meadowbranch Ricky and Jim Taggart Jr. surge to win the Saturday night feature at Tioga. Fred Brown Photo.
Saturday’s penultimate race, the non-winners of $7,801 in their last five starts, featured eight trotters targeting their share of the $10,000 purse. Driven by Jim Taggart Jr, Meadowbrach Ricky, the seven-year-old son of Muscle Massive-Meadowbranch Jill, was taken back to last at odds of 7-1, trailing the field to the opening quarter mile marker.
Castyourcrown (Byron/Deruntz) lead to the opening quarter in :27.3, and clipped the half-mile marker in :57.4. The race favorite, Spotlessreputation (Jones/Weidman), made a break just before the half mile point. Taggart was patient with ‘Ricky’ allowing him to trail the field while moving third-over with three-eighths to trot. Down the backstretch, Castyourcrown separated himself from the field by two lengths, getting three quarters in 1:26.3.
In the final turn, Beguin Dugoutier F (Merton/Lareau) found his best stride and accelerated from second-over, towing Meadowbranch Ricky into contention. ‘Ricky’ moved four wide and timed his stretch-rally correctly, hitting the wire first in 1:57. Beguin Dugoutier F finished second. Castyourcrown dug in to hold on for third.
The betting public may have been surprised, but trainer Mike Deters was not. “I made a bunch of changes,” Deters said. “He had been very pacey and he couldn’t function. Thankfully, I made the right changes.”
Meadowbranch Ricky paid $16.20 to win. This was his twenty-third win from 138 career starts.
THROUGH THE SHADES: Tioga Downs’ hosts the New York Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotting colts tomorrow, Sunday May 29. The fourteen-race card begins at 1pm. Every Sunday at Tioga Downs is “Family Day,” featuring bounce houses, $1 food specials, free coloring books, fan participation games for prizes and more.