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

Nichols, NY — The New York State Fair Stakes rolled into town at Tioga Downs on Saturday night, and a few of the shining stars from the New York Sire Stakes program shined brightest.

Hometown favorite Aruba Vacation extended his winning streak to five in one of four divisions for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters with usual pilot Fern Paquet Jr. returning to the sulky after a week hiatus. Paquet put Aruba Vacation on the lead and never looked back trotting through fractions of 28, 59.4, and 1:28.2 before pulling the ear plugs and opening up on the field with ease to stop the timer in 1:58.1. It was the seventh win in nine starts on the year for the homebred son of Dream Vacation-Dixie Hit for trainer Guy Howard. Other division winners included Whata Winner, 1:57 (Jim Doherty Jr.), Blacktuxwhitesocks, 1:56.1 (Jeff Gregory), and Waldorf Hall, 1:56.4 (Frode Fladen).

Division winners for the 3-year-old colt and gelding pace included: Bullish Blue Chip, 1:53.1 (Jeff Gregory), Jerry’s Brown Gold, 1:53.3 (Bruce Ranger), and Capital Blue Chip, 1:53.2 (Jeff Gregory).

Tioga Downs continues racing on Sunday, August 15th at 1:30 pm and will feature its guaranteed $6,000 Pick Six on race four through nine. For more information please visit us online at www.tiogadowns.com.