by James Witherite, Tioga Downs racing media

Nichols, NY — Making her much-anticipated return to the races off her 2014 Horse of the Year campaign, 3 Brothers Stables’ JK She’salady ($2.10) sustained a first-over bid to beat seven New York Sire Stakes foes as part of an all-stakes card on Monday (May 25) afternoon at Tioga Downs.

JK She’salady won her sophomore debut in a time of 1:51.2.

The 3-year-old daughter of Art Major-Presidential Lady was in no hurry through an initial :55.2 half-mile in the $31,050 race, stalking from fourth as Single Me (Brett Miller) took command from Bettor N Better (Yannick Gingras) with a circuit to go.

On the backstretch, Tim Tetrick moved the undefeated JK She’salady first-over, steadily closing in on Single Me through three-quarters in 1:22.3, working up to the lead at the top of the stretch. Off the corner, JK She’salady kicked clear by two lengths, kept to task in a 1:51.2 victory over Single Me and a stalking Divine Caroline (David Miller).

Nancy Johansson trains JK She’salady, who improved her career record to 13 wins in as many starts.

The three other New York Sire Stakes winners on the afternoon were Bettorhaveanother ($2.50, Jim Morrill Jr., 1:51), Bettor Be Steppin ($2.30, Corey Callahan, 1:51.2) and Rock Me Gently ($11.20, Scorr Zeron, 1:52).

Doo Wop Hanover won his Graduate division in 1:47.4, the fastest pacing mile ever at Tioga Downs.

The Memorial Day program also featured the first leg of the new Graduate series for 4-year-old trotters and pacers, with two $37,500 divisions carded on each gait. Both pacing divisions resulted in track records.

Doo Wop Hanover ($2.20) powered clear of his six rivals on the backstretch en route to a 1:47.4 score. The 4-year-old Rocknroll Hanover stallion drew off by 7-1/2 lengths after sustaining his middle move, keeping clear of Rock Out (Scott Zeron) and Mattamerican (Mark MacDonald), both of whom passed early pacesetter Lyonssomewhere (Andy Miller) after the latter tired from dictating a :53.4 half-mile.

Hall of Fame driver John Campbell was in the bike for Doo Wop Hanover’s mile, which knocked two-fifths of a second off the previous all-age pacing record at Tioga. Steve Elliott trains Doo Wop Hanover for owners Peter Blood and Rick Berks.

Not even 40 minutes later, Rockeyed Optimist ($3.90) broke the track record for 4-year-old pacing geldings, turning aside Three Of Clubs (Brian Sears) in a 1:48.1 Graduate win. Limelight Beach (Yannick Gingras) stayed on well from the pocket to maintain third after pushing the pace early.

Tim Tetrick drove Rockeyed Optimist, a 4-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding, pushing clear with a circuit to go before prevailing in an extended battle through the far turn.

Another Elliott trainee, Rockeyed Optimist is owned by Anthony Perretti, Virginia Berkner, the A and B Stable and Joseph Battaglia.

Fred Brown photos

Jimmy Takter piloted Shake It Cerry to a 1:52.4 score in a Graduate division.

Four-year-old trotters contested their Graduate divisions earlier in the afternoon, with distaffer Shake It Cerry ($2.90) beating the boys in the five-horse first division.

After getting away at the back of the pack, the Donato Hanover mare steadily advanced to the front through a :55.2 half-mile, opening up at will for a 1:52.4 score over Sumatra (David Miller) and Datsyuk (Charlie Norris).

Trainer Jimmy Takter handled the driving duties behind Shake It Cerry, who is owned by Solveig’s Racing Partners.

Likewise, Opulent Yankee ($6.20) drew clear of his rivals at head-stretch in the other Graduate division, edging clear of the late-rallying Madewell Hanover (Chris Ryder) and Resolve (Ake Svanstedt) in a 1:52.3 triumph.

Andy Miller drove the Muscles Yankee gelding for trainer Julie Miller and owners Little E, LLC, Arthur Geiger, Jason Settlemoir and David Stolz.

Tim Tetrick led all drivers on the card, registering a grand slam on the 13-race program.

Live racing returns to Tioga on Friday (May 29) evening, with first post scheduled for 6:15 p.m. Horsemen are advised that this week’s draw schedule provides for Friday’s races to be drawn on Tuesday (May 26) morning, while the Sunday (May 31) and Monday (June 1) programs will be drawn on Wednesday (May 27) morning.