by the USTA Communications Department

Nichols, NY — Dan Patch and O’Brien Award winning Marion Marauder returned to racing in style, by capturing a $50,000 third leg of the Graduate Series on Sunday, (June 10) at Tioga Downs. The trotting Triple Crown victor and his regular pilot, Scott Zeron, stopped the clock in 1:52.4 with a one-length victory, which illustrated despite an extended vacation, he is prepared to resume his career with exactly the same type of power displayed by fellow Graduate winners Trolley, who set a new track record, and Dr J Hanover, the swiftest horse ever to pace a mile in Canada.

Trolley sets a new track record of 1:51.2 at Tioga Downs on Sunday afternoon.

Trolley was the first of the trio to display his talents as the lightly raced 4-year-old son of Donato Hanover, conditioned by Erv Miller, left from post position three with Marcus Miller in the bike in the third race on the card. After allowing Double L Lindy (Ake Svendstadt) to set the early pace with a first quarter of :27, Trolley was given his cue to take over the front shortly before the half-mile marker and the even-money favorite readily responded to Miller’s instructions.

After establishing fractions of :54.4 for the half-mile and 1:23.4 for three-quarters, Trolley pulled away after mild pressure was placed upon him in the stretch by second choice Tight Lines (Jeff Gregory). Trolley and Miller, however, were well in control of the mile and hit the wire in 1:51.2, which established a new track standard and equaled the all-age and gender track record of Bourbon Bay. Tight Lines checked in second with Double L Lindy in third.

Owned by Paymaq Racing, Leland Mathias, Greg Gillis and Louis Willinger, Trolley, who suffered a nose defeat to Dayson, in his most recent series contest, improved his record to 11-4-2-1 and has now banked $223,437 in his career.

Despite certainly providing the Tioga Downs crowd with a extremely entertaining mile, fans and participants of the sport were anxiously awaiting the return of Marion Marauder in the second event of Graduate Series action and the 4-year-old stallion, trained by Paula Wellwood, did not disappoint those witnessing his performance.

Content to sit in fourth while race favorite Dayson (Yannick Gingras) cut the early stages of the mile, Marion Marauder received his cue after the half-mile marker and advanced first-over to take control after his rival had established a time of 1:23.4 for three-quarters. Once he was firmly in command, the son of Muscle Hill easily held the bid of long-shot Dia Monde (Jody Jamieson) at bay to collect the 12th win of his career. Cufflink Hanover (Jason Bartlett) rounded out the trifecta.

Owned by Marion Wellwood and Devin Keeling, Marion Marauder now sports a resume of 29-12-8-3 and has banked just shy of $1.8 million. It appears the remainder of his schedule for the 2017 season will be solely determined by his future aptitude for competing and circumstances.

“We will have to examine the rules and see if we can slip into the final for the Graduate Series,” said Wellwood’s husband Mike in the winner’s circle. “Then we will see where we go from there.”

Fred Brown photos

Dr J Hanover, once again holds off Boston Red Rocks, to collect a victory in the third leg of the Graduate Series.

The third and final Graduate contest of the afternoon, which had a purse of $75,000, was reserved for pacers. Although their trotting counterparts put on quite the show, Dr J Hanover followed up his record-breaking 1:46.4 mile in the second leg of the Series by once again fending off a game Boston Red Rocks to triumph in 1:48.3.

With Doug McNair once again holding the lines, the 4-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere left from post two and took no prisoners by laying down a sizzling :26.3 first quarter, followed by a :54.4 half-mile and a 1:21 three-quarters. While Boston Red Rocks and Tim Tetrick vehemently stated their claim to possess the winner’s circle, the world champion would not be denied as he completed a :27 final quarter-mile to defeat his colleague by three-quarters of a length. Check Six (Gingras) engaged in a belated rally to snatch third.

Tioga Downs will feature live racing on Friday (June 16) with a post time of 6:50 p.m. They will be dark the following Saturday (June 17) due to a Travis Tritt concert.

For more information, please go to www.tiogadowns.com.