by Nick Salvi, for Tioga Downs
Nichols, NY — The Historic stakes for all divisions of 3-year-olds will be raced on Sunday (June 16) at Tioga Downs for total purses of nearly $250,000.
Sophomore trotting colts lead off the card with a field of five vying for the winner’s share of $59,300 in the Historic-Dickerson Cup. Corky is the oddsmaker’s choice here, opening at 2-1 for the Jimmy Takter barn. The Muscles Yankee colt was the NJSS final winner at two but has been held winless thus far in four outings. David Miller is his regular driver and will be at the lines on Sunday for owners Christina Takter and John and Jim Fielding.
Four pacing colts chase the $52,800 prize in the Jersey Cup, carded as race three. Sky Is The Limit is a slight favorite in this one for the Erv Miller barn. The Western Ideal colt is a four-time winner for owners Anthony Lombardi, Jim Fielding, Richard Strachan and the Erv Miller Stable. Erv’s son Marcus will be the driver.
Race five will field a quintet of trotting fillies in the $57,300 Coaching Club Trotting Oaks. True Day Dream is the morning line choice here, off a pair of wins in her only 2013 starts. She won a division of the Simpson Memorial at the Meadowlands for Sunday’s driver Jim Meittinis in early May. The Infinitif filly sports nine wins in 13 career starts for owner Joseph Hess and trainer Dan O’Mara.
The Ladyship stakes for pacing fillies is the seventh on Sunday and Linda Toscano trains four of them, including the favorite in JK Black Beauty. This Bettor’s Delight filly has three wins in just five starts, among them the $117,000 Lismore stake at Yonkers a few weeks ago. Brian Sears will drive for the 3 Brothers Stable of New York City.
Also on the big Sunday card is a $16,000 Open Pace (race six) featuring Kenny Jacobs’ track record holder Heston Blue Chip.
Post time is 1:30 p.m. and you can get even more information on the races by visiting the Tioga Downs website.