by John Horne, for Tioga Downs

Nichols, NY — Jim Marohn Jr. and Scott Zeron would each win two divisions of the Tompkins-Geers Stake at Tioga Downs on Sunday afternoon (July 2).

Marohn would be the first to win taking Mac’s Jackpot (Somebeachsomewhere) and going almost the whole way in the lead during the first of two divisions worth $33,935 for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings, Mac’s Jackpot ($4.70), who is owned Jeffrey Snider and trained by Jim Campbell, would hold off Northwest Yankee (Brett Miller). It was the seventh win in his career and set a lifetime best at 1:50.2. The Wall (Scott Zeron) was third.

Fred Brown photo

Mac’s Jackpot set a new lifetime mark of 1:50.2 in his Tompkins-Geers division at Tioga Downs.

The next Tompkins-Geers race was for 3-year-old fillies with a purse of $25,960. This time it was Scott Zeron’s turn, winning with World Apart (Art Major). Owned by South Mountain Stables, Bay’s Stables, Little E LLC, radio Racing Stable and trained by Linda Toscano, World Major would go right to the front and never look back.

The big favorite and Breeders Crown champion Someomensomewhere (Jim Marohn Jr.) would follow the whole way but would fall short to finish second. World Apart ($12.40) put up fractions of :26.4, :56, 1:23.4, 1:52.2 , to capture her first win as a 3 year-old. Sweet Emotion (Brett Miller) would take third.

It would be the filly version of the Tompkins-Geers Stakes worth $25,960) to follow. Ideal Plan (Western Ideal) would be the next winner for Marohn Jr. Owned by West Wins Stable, Jim Fielding, and Kevin McKinlay, Ideal Plan ($12,20), who is trained by Casie Coleman, would lead until the backstretch until Oceania (Jim Taggart Jr.) would take over. That filly led until just after the top of the stretch. Tori Hanover (Scott Zeron) would then take a short lead before Ideal Plan would find her second wind and go by to win by a head in 1:53.1. For Ideal plan it was her third win of the season. Tori Hanover was second with Shepulledthegoalie flying late to finish third.

Independant One (Jim Taggert Jr.) would take the second Tompkins-Geers division with a purse of $34,435 for 3 -ear-old colts and geldings. The favorite, Jo Pa’s Somebeach (Brett Miller), would lead all the way to the top of the stretch. Independant One ($11.80), who is trained by John Butenschoen, would come out of the pocket and wear down Jo Pa’sSomebeach (third) in the stretch to hold off a furious late charge by Art Scene (Scott Zeron) to win in a lifetime best 1:51.3. Art Scene was second. Independant One, who is owned by William Wiswell and Pinske Stables, would win for the fourth time this season.

The final Tompkins-Geers division worth $25,460 was for 3 year-old fillies. Zeron would team up with trainer Toscano once again. This time with Robin J (Roll With Joe) who is owned by Kenneth Jacobs. Magic Forces (Marcus Miller) would lead the way until just before the half. Looking like she was shot out of a cannon, Robin J ($4.20) would fly by to win by five lengths to establish a new life time mark of 1:51.2. Touchamatic (Brett Miller) would finish second with No Chaser (Tom Jackson getting third. For Robin J it was her second win of the season and her eighth career victory.

Tioga Downs returns to live racing on Tuesday (July 4) starting at 1 p.m. The 13-race card will feature the New York Sire Stakes for 2-year-old trotting colts.

For more information please go to www.tiogadowns.com