by Dustin Ross, regional racing operations manager, Tioga/Vernon Downs
Nichols, NY — A total of 13 3-year-old pacing colts and 11 3-year-old pacing fillies dropped their names into the box and will go postward for the eliminations of the Empire Breeders Classic on Sunday afternoon, May 23, at Tioga Downs.
Woodrow Wilson champion Windfall Blue Chip (Brian Sears) will face-off against New York Sire Stakes champion He’s Gorgeous (George Brennan), Malicious (David Miller), and American-National champion OK Commander (Doug McNair). Windfall Blue Chip and He’s Gorgeous both have one start on the year, while Malicious will be making his sophomore debut off two qualifying events in Canada.
In the filly divisions, New York Sire Stakes champion Hula’s Z Tam (Patrick Lachance) and runner-up Shaky Hanover (Jason Bartlett) have drawn in a five horse field against one another. Shaky Hanover is coming off a second place finish to Dancinwiththestarz in the Simpson Stakes, while Hula’s Z Tam will be making her sophomore debut.
Below are the fields for the Empire Breeders Classic eliminations.
$12,500 3-Year-Old Filly Pace-First Race
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Lady Major-Brian Sears-Sam Serianni
2-Love And Honor-D.R. Ackerman-D.R. Ackerman
3-Hula’s Z Tam-Patrick Lachance-Patrick Lachance
4-Galimony-George Brennan-Linda Toscano
5-Shaky Hanover-Jason Bartlett-Josh Green
$12,500 3-Year-Old Filly Pace-Third Race
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Ladybones-Brian Sears-Bruce Saunders
2-Rough Sketch-Jim Morrill Jr.-Ed Lohmeyer
3-Barks Like A Dog-Ray Schnittker-Ray Schnittker
4-Max’s Leading Lady-Jason Bartlett-Robert Horowitz
5-Tia Maria Hanover-Jim Marohn Jr.-Tim Lanpher
6-Truly A Treasure-George Brennan-Linda Toscano
$12,500 3-Year-Old Colt Pace-Fifth Race
HN-PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-2-Windfall Blue Chip-Brian Sears-George Teague Jr.
1A-7-I’m Gorgeous-Jim Morrill Jr.-George Teague Jr.
2-1-Jo Pa’s Fod-John Campbell-Jim Campbell
3-3-He’s Gorgeous-George Brennan-Linda Toscano
4-4-Malicious-David Miller-Ian Moore
5-5-OK Commander-Doug McNair-Gregg McNair
6-6-TGIF-Phil Fluet-Phil Fluet
$12,500 3-Year-Old Colt Pace-Sixth Race
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Dr Dreamy-Brian Sears-George Teague Jr.
2-Art Two D Two-Joe Pavia Jr.-Joe Pavia Jr.
3-Major Work Of Art-Phil Fluet-Phil Fluet
4-Freddy Day Hanover-Jim Morrill Jr.-Taylor Gower
5-S N P Bluechip-Doug McNair-James Dean
6-Flexjet-Dan Cappello Jr.-Chet Poole Jr.
Live racing resumes at Tioga Downs on Friday, May 21, at 6:50 p.m., and it will be Facebook Friday at both Tioga and Vernon Downs. For more information, visit www.tiogadowns.com.