by Dustin Ross, Regional Racing Operations Manager, Tioga Downs

Nichols, NY — Friday morning marked the draw date for the 59th annual Cane Pace, to be held for the first time ever at Tioga Downs on Monday (September 3) with post time at 1:30 p.m.

Cane Pace elimination winner Heston Blue Chip, who is a perfect seven for seven at Tioga Downs, will have his work cut out for him as he has drawn post position nine for the $322,716 final.

Meadowlands Pace winner A Rocknroll Dance, who is fresh off of his win in the $500,000 Battle of the Brandywine at Harrah’s Philadelphia, has drawn post position six. Jim Mulinix trains the 3-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover–Wichita Hanover for A RockNRoll Dance Stable, and usual pilot Yannick Gingras will be on hand Monday to do the driving.

A Rocknroll Dance has posted four wins, four seconds and a third in 11 seasonal starts, good for earnings of just over $900,000.

Below is the field for the $322,716 Cane Pace Final:

$322,716 Cane Pace Final, Race No. 9
HN-PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-4-Dynamic Youth-George Brennan-Aaron Lambert
1A-6-A Rocknroll Dance-Yannick Gingras-Jim Mulinix
2-7-Pet Rock-Brian Sears-Virgil Morgan Jr.
2A-8-Mybrothergeorge-Dan Noble-Tony O’Sullivan
3-1-Bettor’s Edge-David Miller-Linda Toscano
4-2-Time To Roll-Ron Pierce-Jimmy Takter
5-3-State Treasurer-Mark MacDonald-Ian Moore
6-5-Steelhead Hanover-Jim Morrill Jr.-Joe Pavia Jr.
7-9-Heston Blue Chip-Tim Tetrick-Linda Toscano

The female counterpart to the Cane Pace, the Shady Daisy, drew six entrants into this year’s $100,000 event. Major Look leads a field of sophomore pacing fillies for Monday afternoon’s eighth race with the field listed below:

$100,000 Shady Daisy, Race No. 8
HN-PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-1-Rockaround Sue-Yannick Gingras-Tony Alagna
2-2-Major Look-Jeff Gregory-Kevin McDermott
3-3-Blackjack Princess-Mark MacDonald-Mark Ford
4-4-Bettor B Lucky-Jim Morrill Jr.-Ron Burke
5-5-Persistent-David Miller-Casie Coleman
6-6-JK Fine Art-Ron Pierce-Linda Toscano

Tioga Downs will have a detention barn for the $322,716 Cane Pace final; horses must be in detention at Tioga Downs by 10 a.m. on Monday morning (September 3).

Also highlighting the Monday afternoon card will be two non-wagering exhibition events held during the races for under saddle racing. One field of seven and another group of six will go postward in between the third and fourth and fourth and fifth events on the racing card.

Tioga Downs continues live racing on Saturday (September 1) with a post time of 6:50 p.m.

For more information on Tioga Downs visit www.tiogadowns.com.