by James Witherite, Tioga Downs racing media

Nichols, NY — A pair of 2-year-old trotters from the Ron Burke stable proved victorious in their respective Tompkins-Geers Memorial divisions on a rainy Thursday (Aug. 11) evening at Tioga Downs, both upending heavy favorites in the last yards.

Southwind Cobra scored in 1:56.4 for driver John Cummings Jr.

Southwind Cobra ($11.60) dueled gamely to a 1:56.4 victory in his $28,585 split for colts and geldings (race four), pulling the pocket on approach to the far turn to engage 3-2 favorite Bill’s Man (Andy Miller) after yielding with a circuit to go.

While Bill’s Man battled to a narrow lead off the far turn, the son of Muscle Hill and Caerphilly fought back stoutly at the pegs to prevail by a half-length over sloppy going. Cagey (Mike Simons) chased well through the far turn to finish a clear third off his clear tracking trip.

John Cummings Jr. drove Southwind Cobra to his maiden-breaking victory for the Burke Racing Stable, Jack Piatt II, Larry Karr and the Weaver Bruscemi partnership.

Burke’s other winner came in a $28,410 division for fillies (race five), as Romancing Rachel ($25.80) prevailed as the second-longest shot on the board. Mike Simons angled the daughter of Muscle Hill and Tady’s Comer off the pegs with three-eighths to go, catching the cover of odds-on favorite Southwind Prius (Andy Miller) on approach to the far turn.

At head-stretch, Romancing Rachel angled three-wide and swept clear to a two length victory in 2:00.2 as Southwind Prius and Morning Glow (Jimmy Takter) — second and third, respectively — dueled into defeat. The Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi share ownership of Romancing Rachel with Howard Taylor.

Fred Brown photos

Ice Attraction bested six fillies in 1:57.3 off a pocket trip.

In the other Tompkins-Geers events on the nine-race card, Ice Attraction ($9.40) and Fly On ($2.10) both prevailed. Ice Attraction bested six fillies in 1:57.3 off a pocket trip in the $28,410 second event, angling at head-stretch to collar Southwind Avanti by three-quarters of a length. Oskar Florhed drove the daughter of Muscle Hill and The Ice Queen for trainer Åke Svanstedt.

In the $28,085 sixth for colts and geldings, Fly On posted a pillar-to-post 1:58.2 triumph, drawing clear by 4-1/2 lengths after his first-over rival Deacon Tony (Scott Coulter) broke stride at the top of the stretch. Andy Miller drove the son of Muscle Hill and Calchips Finisher for trainer Julie Miller.

Six divisions of the Tompkins-Geers Stakes for 2-year-old pacers — three for fillies, three for colts and geldings — headline Friday (Aug. 12) evening’s 12-race card at Tioga Downs, with first post slated for 6:30 p.m. (EDT).