Racing Roundup: Don’t Know Chip captures Open Trot at Tioga

from harness publicists around North America

Sunday’s (July 15) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Tioga Downs, Saratoga Casino and Raceway and Running Aces.

Don’t Know Chip captures Open Trot at Tioga

Nichols, NY — Don’t Know Chip and driver Mark MacDonald captured Sunday afternoon’s $18,000 open trot at Tioga Downs in 1:54.2. Leaving from post one in a full field of nine, MacDonald got away fourth as Aruba Vacation (Fern Paquet Jr.) led the field by an opening quarter in 28. MacDonald moved Don’t Know Chip to the outside to brush to the front, but Paquet would not release Don’t Know Chip and forced him into the first-over position by a half in 57.4. Down the backside the duo raced side by side with Don’t Know Chip continuing to take it to Aruba Vacation.

At the three-quarter mile mark of the race in 1:25.4, Dan Noble sent Tac’s Delight three wide to challenge the dueling leaders. The trio entered the lane together, but Don’t Know Chip would not be denied and continued to surge past the tiring Aruba Vacation in the lane to win by a length over Tac’s Delight. Aruba Vacation (Fern Paquet Jr.) hung on for third, while Spice It Up Lindy (Jim Meittinis) got up for fourth.

In the $18,000 open handicap pace, the public sent Big Bam Ray (Dan Noble) off as the 2-5 betting favorite in a field of nine. Noble and Big Bam Ray were troubled with excess cover down the backside and were forced three wide as the field went by three quarters in 1:24. The biggest threat to Noble and Big Bam Ray was Eastend Eddie who was being towed into the race every step sitting on Noble’s helmet. Down the stretch Noble began to open up four wide off the turn, but Marohn tipped five wide and surged by Big Bam Ray to win in 1:51.4. It was the second straight win in the open for Eastend Eddie, and his fourth straight at Tioga Downs.

Ron Burke trains the 4-year old son of Million Dollar Cam–Armbro Cinema for Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi. Whogoesfirst (Mike Simons) finished third, while Yankees In Six (Corey Braden) rounded out the Superfecta despite a tough first over trip.

— Dustin Ross

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
Don’t Blame Her broke her own track record on Sunday afternoon at Saratoga Casino and Raceway. The 9-year-old mare set the all-age record for pacing mares in June with a 1:52.3 score by going last to first. In the final Sunday matinee until September, Don’t Blame Her (Village Connection) again put the swoop to the group to draw away by a half dozen lengths in the $18,500 feature. Joe Bongiorno drives the classy mare for owners Bob and Barbara Bongiorno of Colts Neck, NJ. The Conor Flynn trained mare broke her own record by stopping the timer in 1:52.1 in her romp in this week’s fillies and mares open. Longshot HF’s Super Star (Chris Long) closed for second while Eyewitness Account (Wally Hennessey) held for third. Don’t Blame Her has now won three of her last four starts in the midst of what has been another huge year for the veteran distaffer. The Flynn-Bongiorno combo had three winners on the afternoon program.

Running Aces
Restless Yankee will get a well-deserved respite next week after dominating the $8,800 Open Pace at Running Aces for the third consecutive week on Sunday night. Horses that win the weekly Open features are asked to take a one week break from the action after three consecutive victories over the five-eighths-mile oval. Restless Yankee (Nick Roland) wired the field in 1:52.4 including an eye-popping :54.4 back half. Two weeks ago the son of Relentless Yankee set the all-time track record at Running Aces with a 1:51.2 effort. Thedeadliestcatch (Kevin Anderson) drafted along second the entire mile, but was a little better than three lengths back at the finish line. Mac T’s Diamond (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) was third best. Nick Roland scored a back-to-back hat trick with three victories on both the Saturday and Sunday programs. He now heads the driver’s dash standings with 40 winners. Runner-up Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. came up with an impressive four-bagger on Sunday to swell his total to 37.

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