by Dustin Ross, for Tioga Downs

Nichols, NY — Leading New York Sires Stake driver Jim Morrill, Jr. and trainer Linda Toscano set two track records in New York State Fair action at Tioga Downs on Saturday night, August 11. The 14-race pari-mutuel card featured 12 State Fair divisions for 2-year-old pacing colts and fillies worth more than $200,000.

Share The Delight nipped Riggins in a track record clocking of 1:54.

Share The Delight remained undefeated in three career starts when the Bettor’s Delight colt set a new track record of 1:54. The Four Horsemen Stable and Algonquin Farms own the winner of nearly $40,000.

Morrill geared the colt up for a thrilling stretch challenge against race favorite Riggins and got up just in time to slip a nose in front at the wire.

“I had to steady him a little before I could get him going,” explained Morrill of his very close victory at the wire. “I think this is a very good horse.”

“We felt we were competitive tonight,” said Harvey Nagler, part of The Four Horsemen Stable, of facing Saratoga track record holder Riggins.

Linda Toscano trains the colt, who set a track record last week in a New York Sires Stake event at Saratoga before it was broken later on the card by Riggins.

Earlier in the evening, Bono Blue Chip demolished the previous pacing colt track record with a 1:54.1 score in his State Fair division. His 7-3/4 length score dropped the former standard of 1:55 by four-fifths of a second.

Bono Blue Chip, a son of Art Major, is trained by Ed Hart, who started 10 young pacers in the State Fair events. Stephane Bouchard directed the winner, who is owned by Robert Hiemstra and Cynthia Massari.

“I was just a passenger tonight,” explained Bouchard of the lifetime best mile. “I didn’t have to urge him at all. He did it all on his own. He was fantastic tonight.”

Hart revealed that the colt’s next stop will likely be the C$1 million Metro at Mohawk Racetrack in two weeks.

Trainer Toscano was also back in the winner’s circle for another record-breaking performance with 2-year-old pacing filly JK Majorette. The daughter of Art Major and driver Morrill remained perfect in three career starts with a 1:55.3 score, shaving two-fifths off her previous 1:56 record. She is owned by 3 Brothers Stables.

Fred Brown Photography

Up Front Hotsey was a 1:54.4 winner in her division of the Miss Versatility.

Up Front Hotsey and Andrew McCarthy pulled off the upset victory in the first division of the Miss Versatility at Tioga Downs on Saturday night. The mile of 1:54.4 tied the track record for 4-year-old trotting mares that was set by Ginger Girl. The SJ’s Caviar daughter is owned by Ed Mullinax and Frank Dettore of Ohio, and is trained by Noel Daley. Mystical Sunshine and Jim Morrill, Jr. got up for second while Birminghim and Stephen Condren held on for show.

Wildfire Julie and Howard Parker took the second division of the Miss Versatility in 1:55 to complete the sweep for trainer Noel Daley.

The next stop for the Miss Versatility Series will be at Vernon Downs on Thursday, September 13, before heading to the final, which will be held in Delaware, Ohio, on Jug Day (Thursday, September 20).

A total of 13 State Fair divisions were contested on Saturday night as part of the New York Sires Stake program and were worth more than $200,000. State Fair action continues Sunday with events for 3-year-old colt and filly trotters. Post time is 1:15 p.m.