by James Witherite, Tioga Downs racing media

Nichols, NY — Many top 3-year-olds have pointed to Sunday (Aug. 17) afternoon’s Tompkins-Geers Stakes at Tioga Downs as part of their summer campaigns, including top trotter Father Patrick and North America Cup winner JK Endofanera.

Jimmy Takter trainee Father Patrick looks to rebound from the break he made as the 2-5 Hambletonian favorite and has every chance to do so as the 3-5 morning line favorite in Sunday’s $36,036 ninth race. The son of Cantab Hall won all six of his other races on the season, including a 1:50.2 triumph in the Beal Memorial at Pocono and a 1:51.3 score in the Dancer Memorial at the Meadowlands. The 16-time winner, looking ahead to the Zweig Memorial at Vernon Downs to propel him into the sport’s fall championship season, will be joined by usual driver Yannick Gingras from post four.

Fellow Hambletonian contender Datsyuk drew into the same division and has been installed as the 5-1 second choice from post three. Unraced at two, the Explosive Matter gelding earned wins in the first three of his eight races, finishing in the money in all save the Hambletonian. Trainer Charlie Norris will handle the driving duties once again.

A third Hambletonian starter, Resolve, drew into the first division, starting from post six in the $36,536 sixth race as the 7-2 morning line second choice. Corey Callahan remains in the bike behind this Muscle Hill colt for trainer Nancy Johansson after a fifth-place finish in the Hambletonian.

While two divisions were necessary for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings, 3-year-old pacers will contest their Tompkins-Geers Stakes in a lone division for each sex.

JK Endofanera headlines the $54,072 seventh race for pacing colts and geldings as the 8-5 morning line favorite, teaming up with Yannick Gingras from post seven. The North America Cup winner enters off a strong second-place effort behind He’s Watching in last week’s Empire Breeders Classic for trainer Ron Burke.

The top filly in last week’s Empire Breeders Classic, Precocious Beauty, has been installed the even-money morning line favorite in the $50,572 fifth race, which could shape up to be a duel with Fan Hanover winner Uffizi Hanover. Precocious Beauty, the Gregg McNair-trained daughter of Art Major, took the Empire Breeders Classic last week in 1:51.1, drawing clear in the final yards after sustaining an uncovered bid. Usual driver Doug McNair is back in the bike after last week’s triumph and the pair will start from post two. Uffizi Hanover, a Jimmy Takter-trained Well Said filly, has been installed the 9-5 second choice on the morning line and will retain the driving services of David Miller from post one.

Sunday’s 11-race pari-mutuel card carries a 1:30 p.m. (EDT) first post, with a non-wagering $46,572 event for 3-year-old trotting fillies slated for 20 minutes earlier.