by Dustin Ross, regional racing operations manager, Tioga/Vernon Downs

Nichols, NY — Tioga Downs kicked off its fifth year of live harness racing on Saturday night, May 1, in front of a packed house of racing fans.

Fred Brown Photography

A large crowd was on hand for the 2010 opener at Tioga Downs.

The day began with Derby Fest III, that included a Mint Julep Jamboree, Derby Day Hat Contest, and plenty of live entertainment for more than 14,000 fans that visited Tioga on Saturday.

Three divisions of the Kenneth J Pacing Series were co-featured on the ten race card, with Northmedo Cruiser and Phil Fluet posting the fastest division of the night. The Northmedo Stable sent the 3-year-old colt by Yankee Cruiser-Northmedo Tam to the Fluet stable to compete in the series and received instant results.

Fluet sent Northmedo Cruiser to the front through fractions of :27, :55.2 and 1:24 before pacing home in :29.4 to capture his first sophomore start in a new lifetime best of 1:53.4.

Posting wins in the other two divisions of the Kenneth J Pacing Series were Harmony Oaks Rengo (Bruce Ranger) in 1:54 and Mystery Island (Gareth Dowse) in 1:55.4 after Trevor Win For Us (Jim Marohn, Jr.) was disqualified for failure to maintain a proper pace going to the half, therefore causing interference.

Yankee Nola and Jimmy Marohn, Jr. picked up where the duo left off in 2009, by winning the $14,000 Class A Handicap Trot. The duo were caught three wide through an opening quarter of :27.2 and never saw the rail until going past the three-quarter pole in 1:27.1.

Marohn just kept the attention of Yankee Nola through the stretch and posted an easy victory, 3-1/2 lengths in front of Ten Yard Penalty (Phil Fluet) in second, while Blazing Winner (Corey Braden) hung on for third.

Jimmy Marohn, Jr., Corey Braden, and Phil Fluet each posted driving doubles on the night’s ten race card, while Maria Rice had two training victories with Affaro Hanover and Clearly Possessed.

Tioga Downs continues live racing action on Sunday, May 2, with a post time of 1:30 p.m. For more information visit www.tiogadowns.com.