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

Nichols, NY — Handsome Harry posted the fastest mile of the evening in the New York State Fair Stakes at Tioga Downs on Friday night.

Fred Brown photo

Handsome Harry posted a 1:52.1 win in the New York State Fair Stakes at Tioga Downs.

Jim Morrill Jr. was in the sulky as he sat in third through an opening quarter of 28.1. As the field passed the three-eighths pole Morrill throttled Handsome Harry to the front and cut through fractions of 56.1, and 1:23.4. Morrill never lifted a line or brought out the whip and Handsome Harry paced a final quarter in 28.2 to draw clear in 1:52.1. The 3-year-old son of Dream Away-Princess Jocelyn is owned by breeders Ralph Del Priore and Harry Doyle, and is trained by Mark Ford. It was the eleventh win in sixteen seasonal starts for Handsome Harry, who with the win increased his seasonal earnings to more than $151,000.

“He is such a professional racehorse already, he is two fingers to drive, and we were on ease through that last quarter” said Morrill in the winner’s circle following his victory with Handsome Harry.

Morrill also captured the first division of the New York State Fair Stakes for 3-year-old colt pacers, with OK Braveheart for trainer Chris Oakes. It was the seventh victory in nineteen seasonal starts for the 3-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight-Color Me Beachy. OK Braveheart cut through fractions of 27.1, 55.3, and 1:23.3 before sprinting away from pocket sitting Hay Goodlooking to stop the timer in 1:52.4.

“He’s a real nice horse, a good New York Sire Stakes horse; I would say that he is one of the top five in the state. The track has a great cushion on it tonight, you will see that this was a very nice mile tonight. This track is great for these young horses to race over” said Morrill following his victory with OK Braveheart.

Howard Okusko Jr. captured the middle division for 3-year-old colt pacers with Diamond Stick Pin in 1:53. Capturing the divisions for 2-year-old trotting fillies was Tuesdays With Mom (Peter Arrigenna) 2:00.2, and Madam Hooch (Mike Simons) 1:59.3.