Nichols, NY — Not often do Mike Deters trainees go unnoticed at Tioga Downs, but on Saturday night (May 28), Meadowbranch Ricky flew under the radar and played upsetter in the Tioga feature.

Meadowbranch Ricky and Jim Taggart Jr. surge to win the Saturday night feature at Tioga. Fred Brown Photo.

Saturday’s penultimate race, the non-winners of $7,801 in their last five starts, featured eight trotters targeting their share of the $10,000 purse. Driven by Jim Taggart Jr, Meadowbrach Ricky, the seven-year-old son of Muscle Massive-Meadowbranch Jill, was taken back to last at odds of 7-1, trailing the field to the opening quarter mile marker.

Castyourcrown (Byron/Deruntz) lead to the opening quarter in :27.3, and clipped the half-mile marker in :57.4. The race favorite, Spotlessreputation (Jones/Weidman), made a break just before the half mile point. Taggart was patient with ‘Ricky’ allowing him to trail the field while moving third-over with three-eighths to trot. Down the backstretch, Castyourcrown separated himself from the field by two lengths, getting three quarters in 1:26.3.

In the final turn, Beguin Dugoutier F (Merton/Lareau) found his best stride and accelerated from second-over, towing Meadowbranch Ricky into contention. ‘Ricky’ moved four wide and timed his stretch-rally correctly, hitting the wire first in 1:57. Beguin Dugoutier F finished second. Castyourcrown dug in to hold on for third.

The betting public may have been surprised, but trainer Mike Deters was not. “I made a bunch of changes,” Deters said. “He had been very pacey and he couldn’t function. Thankfully, I made the right changes.”

Meadowbranch Ricky paid $16.20 to win. This was his twenty-third win from 138 career starts.

THROUGH THE SHADES: Tioga Downs’ hosts the New York Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotting colts tomorrow, Sunday May 29. The fourteen-race card begins at 1pm. Every Sunday at Tioga Downs is “Family Day,” featuring bounce houses, $1 food specials, free coloring books, fan participation games for prizes and more.