by Dustin Ross, Regional Racing Operations Manager, Tioga Downs & Vernon Downs

Nichols, NY — Perfect Launch and Greg Merton posted the fastest mile of the three New York Fair Stake divisions for 3-year old pacing fillies on Saturday night at Tioga Downs. The mile of 1:53.1 established a new lifetime mark for the 3-year-old daughter of Riverboat King-Cambridge United.

Fred Brown photo

Perfect Launch and Greg Merton posted the fastest mile of the three New York Fair Stake divisions for 3-year old pacing fillies.

Merton sent the filly right to the front as the gates folded and cut through fractions of 27.1, 56.1, and 1:24 before coasting home a winner with a final panel of 29.1. It was the fourth win in twelve seasonal starts for Perfect Launch, who is owned by Ken Jacobs of Baldwinsville, New York and is trained by Linda Toscano. With the lion’s share of the $33,431 purse Perfect Launch increased her seasonal bank account to more than $105,000.

Jim Morrill Jr. steered Witch Is Bettor to victory in the first division for trainer/co-owner Robert Horowitz in a lifetime best equaling 1:53.2. The 3-year-old daughter of Bettor’s Delight-Witch Hanover chalked up her fifth win of the season, and increased her bankroll to more than $109,000.

The 1-9 betting favorite in the second division, All Spirit, did not disappoint her backers as Marohn sent the 3-year-old filly to the front past the quarter pole. The duo never had an anxious moment through fractions of 27.4, 56.4, and 1:25.3 before pacing home a final panel of 28.4 to stop the timer in 1:54.2. It was the sixth win in twelve seasonal starts for the 3-year-old daughter of Bettor’s Delight-Spirit Of Ivy, and with the victory increased her 2009 earnings to more than $125,000.