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

Nichols, NY — Judge Joe and D.R. Ackerman lead a list of 16 sophomore trotting colts as Grand Circuit racing returns to Tioga Downs this weekend with the Tompkins-Geers stakes. Grand Circuit racing begins on Friday, July 17, and goes through Monday, July 20. Friday, Saturday, and Monday will begin at 6:50 p.m., while racing on Sunday, July 19, holds a 1:30 p.m. post time.

Fred Brown Photography

Judge Joe (#4) held off Russell Hill by a neck in last week’s $151,670 Zweig Memorial division at Tioga Downs.

Judge Joe has been drawn into race number nine on Sunday afternoon and leads a field of eight as he looks for two wins in a row at Tioga Downs. The 3-year-old Credit Winner-Judge Judy colt won his division of last Friday’s Zweig Open Trot in a new lifetime best of 1:55.1 to stay a perfect five-for-five on the year. Doug Ackerman owns and trains Judge Joe, who has never been worse than third in 17 lifetime starts, with 12 wins and more than $455,000 in career earnings. He is headed for the $1.7 million Hambletonian at The Meadowlands with eliminations on Saturday, August 1.

The high sticker priced yearling colt Carbon Footprint will look for his first victory on Sunday afternoon. The 2-year-old Credit Winner-Lookout Victory colt was purchased at the 2008 Lexington Selected Sale for $190,000. Lookout Victory took a mark of 1:54.3 and earned more than $1.9 million in her racing career. Erv Miller trains Carbon Footprint for Mystical Marker Farms, Shim Racing LLC, Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld.

In the first start of his career in last week’s Reynolds at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, Carbon Footprint came first over and cleared, but got picked up late in the mile and finished second. He was timed in 1:57.4, with a final panel of :29.2, as the 1-2 betting favorite. Jim Morrill, Jr. has been listed for the driving assignment on Sunday afternoon.

In $30,903 second division for 3-year-old pacing fillies, McGibson will look for her second victory in a row after last week’s 1:51.2 score in the Reynolds at Pocono. The daughter of McArdle-Armbro Althea showed her talent last week by pacing away from the field on the front end and then posted a back half in :54.1. McGibson has won six of 11 starts in 2009 for earnings of more than $142,000. She was purchased by Camelot Stable Inc., The Bay’s Stable LLC and William Jacobowitz for $18,000 out of the 2007 Harrisburg Sale, and is a half sister to Rudy Rednose. Linda Toscano trains the filly and Jim Morrill, Jr. has been listed for Sunday’s driving assignment.

The Tompkins-Geers kick-off on Friday night with three events for 2-year-old filly trotters with a post time of 6:50 p.m. For more information on Tioga Downs visit www.tiogadowns.com.