by Dustin Ross, regional racing operations manager, Tioga Downs

Nichols, NY — Schoolkids and Jim Morrill, Jr. captured the $89,500 Kindergarten Series Final for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers on Sunday afternoon (September 14) at Tioga Downs.

Schoolkids held off Drop Red to win the Kindergarten Series Final for colts.

The duo left from the rail and led throughout fractions of :27.2, :55.2, and 1:22.3 before being pressured by Drop Red and Kyle DiBenedetto through the stretch. Morrill asked Schoolkids for all he had and he responded, digging in to hang on for the victory in 1:51.2, which destroyed the previous track record for 2-year-old colt pacers of 1:52.4. The mile of 1:51.2 was just a tick off the world record for 2-year-old pacing colts on a five-eighths-mile track, set by Artsplace in 1990 at Pompano Park and equaled last year by Badlands Nitro at Dover Downs.

Tracy Brainard trains the son of I Am A Fool, out of the Precious Bunny mare Game Bunny, for the Bulletproof Enterprises. It was the third win in seven starts for Schoolkids, who increased his freshman bankroll to more than $65,000. Drop Red hung on for second, while Spring Again and Joe Pavia, Jr. hung on for third despite being parked out for three-quarters of the mile.

Fred Brown Photography

Billie Bluechip was a 1:56 winner in the Kindergarten Series Final for fillies.

In the $80,500 Kindergarten Series Final for the 2-year-old pacing fillies, Joe Pavia, Jr. and Billie Bluechip stopped the timer first in 1:56. It was the fourth win in nine starts for the daughter of Western Hanover, out of the Camluck mare Molly Can Do It. Pavia also trains the filly for Steven Held, Dijo Racing Inc., and Michael Rich. With the winner’s share of the purse, Billie Bluechip sports a bankroll of more than $61,000 on the year.

Frankyluvsmeatbals and Rick Plano established a new track record for 3-year-old gelding pacers of 1:51.1 in the $10,000 Winners Over Pace. Plano sent the son of The Panderosa after the leader and cleared to open up on the field and storm home an easy winner.

Jim Morrill, Jr., Jimmy Marohn, Jr., and Bruce Aldrich, Jr. each posted driving doubles on the afternoon’s 12-race card.

For more information on Tioga Downs please visit www.tiogadowns.com or call 1-888-WIN-TIOGA.