by Dustin Ross, Tioga Downs

Tioga Downs hosted the Tompkins-Geers stake races for 2-year-old colt & gelding pacers and 2-year-old trotting fillies Sunday afternoon.

Hall of fame driver John Campbell won three divisions of the Tompkins-Geers, two divisions for trotting fillies and one division for colt & gelding pacers. On Your Mach was Campbell’s first trip to the winner’s circle for trainer Peter Walsh. The 2-year-old son of Mach Three broke his maiden with a time of 1:56.4. Grampa Gus and Mike Simons finished second while March For Joy and driver George Brennan closed late for third.

Wendy Jo Rogue was win number two for Campbell in the third division for 2-year old trotting fillies. The 2-year-old filly was sitting fifth at the half and followed the outside cover flow to get up and win by 1¼ lengths in 2:01.2.

Pampered Princess, a $240,000 yearling, was Campbell’s third win on the card and is conditioned by trainer Jimmy Takter. The 2-year-old daughter of Andover Hall sat the pocket trip behind pacesetter Classical Mary, and then trotted her last quarter in :28.1 to win by ¾ of a length in 2:01. Classical Mary and driver Jim Meittinis held on for second while Ed Lohmeyer and Pacific Edge was third.

Doug Ackerman and Rhonda T set a new stakes record for 2-year-old trotting fillies on a 5/8th’s mile track winning in 1:59.4. The 2-year-old daughter of Credit Winner made a quarter pole move and never looked back posting a :29.2 final quarter to finish a length in front of Bee Wonderful and driver John Campbell.

Donald Dancer also recorded a driving triple on the afternoon card while Brian Sears, Cat Manzi, Mike Simons, Tim Curtin, Ken Holliday, and Doug Ackerman all found the winner’s circle once.

Tioga Downs broke $200,000 in total handle for the first time in its short racing career on Sunday with a total handle of $233,727.

The Tompkins-Geers Stakes will continue Monday night with a post time of 6:50 p.m. (EDT). Two divisions for 2-year old pacing fillies and two divisions for 2-year old colt & gelding trotters will go postward. Tune in to watch some of The Meadowland’s top drivers such as Ron Pierce, George Brennan, Brian Sears, and Daniel Dube battle it out in Nichols, New York!