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

Hypnotic Blue Chip and Tim Tetrick soared to victory in the first elimination of the Empire Breeders Classic for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers on Sunday afternoon at Tioga Downs.

Leaving from post position one Tetrick and Hypnotic Blue Chip settled in third past the quarter in :27 with OK Braveheart and Jim Morrill Jr. controlling the early pace. As the field passed the three-eighths pole Tetrick fired Hypnotic to the front and cut through fractions of :55 and 1:22.4 before coasting home in :28 flat to win by more than fourteen lengths.

The mile of 1:50.4 established a new track record for 3-year-old colt pacers at Tioga Downs, which had been held by Kenneth J from his 2007 Empire Breeders Classic outing. The 3-year-old Art Major-A Traceofmagic colt is trained by Mark Harder, who also co-owns with Deena Frost, Stable 45, and Robert Murphy. The connections got to choose their post position for next Sunday’s $218,925 Empire Breeders Classic Final and opted for post position three. Also qualifying for next weeks final in the first elimination was (in finishing order): Bet The Town (Ray Schnittker), Redneck Outlaw (David Miller), and Seattle Moon (Jimmy Marohn Jr.). Mr Vitti was the fifth place finisher from the first elimination, but drew AE 1 for the final.

Fred Brown photography

Hay Goodlooking and Gates Brunet took the second elimination for 3-year-old colt pacers with a mile of 1:53.2.

Hay Goodlooking and Gates Brunet took down the second elimination for the colt pacers with a mile of 1:53.2 in his first start back as a sophomore. The duo took command of the field before the half and held off challengers late in the stretch. Gates Brunet also trains the Art Major-Moniques Legacy colt for Theodore Gewertz, Samuel Dotro, and Deborah Brunet. The connections have opted for post position two in next Sunday’s final. Also qualifying for next week’s final in official order are: Where’s Waldo (Tim Tetrick), Monkey Off My Back (David Miller), and Haroun Hanover (Jimmy Marohn Jr.)

Indulge Me and Mike LaChance stamped themselves as the one to beat in next Sunday’s $203,425 final of the Empire Breeders Classic for 3-year-old filly pacers. The 3-year-old daughter of Bettor’s Delight-Summer Child, took down the first start of her sophomore year with a mile of 1:55.2. It was the sixth win in sixteen career starts for Indulge Me who now sports a career bankroll of more than $234,000. Also qualifying for next week’s final from the elimination was: Stolly Up Bluechip (Jim Morrill Jr.), Up Front Kellie Jo (Jordan Stratton), and Twin B Treasure (David Miller). Finishing fifth in the elimination and drawing AE 1 for the final was JK Cameo (Tim Tetrick).

Fred Brown photography

In an elimination for 3-year-old filly pacers, Perfect Launch and Tim Tetrick posted a front end score in 1:55.2.

In the other elimination for 3-year-old filly pacers, Perfect Launch and Tim Tetrick posted a front end score in 1:55.2. It was the first win in two seasonal starts for the 3-year-old daughter of Riverboat King-Cambridge United. Linda Toscano trains the filly for Kenneth Jacobs of Baldwinsville, New York. Also qualifying for the final from the division was: Major’s Sweetheart (Jim Morrill Jr.), Allamerican Caress (Sam Schillaci), and Keep It Fair (Ray Schnittker). Finishing fifth and drawing into the race was Rumrunner Bluechip (Jeff Gregory).