from harness publicists across North America

Sunday’s (Aug. 2) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Tioga Downs, Running Aces and Vernon Downs.

Fireyourguns narrowly prevails in four-horse photo at Tioga

Nichols, NY — After working clear of Elite Awards with just over a circuit to go, Fireyourguns ($2.60) narrowly held off a late charge from that same rival — and two others — to capture Sunday afternoon’s $12,000 Open Pace at Tioga Downs.

Fred Brown photo

Fireyourguns held off a host of late pursuers to prevail in Sunday’s $12,000 Open Pace at Tioga Downs.

Aaron Byron floated forward with the 6-year-old American Ideal gelding, clearing pacesetters Elite Awards (Corey Braden) and Eastend Eddie (Jim Marohn Jr.) just after a :27.1 initial quarter.

Fireyourguns then travelled with an uncontested lead through middle sections of :55.3 and 1:23.3, but faced a pair of stern challenges on the far turn when Elite Awards pulled the pocket and Eastend Eddie was carried three-wide off the corner. Those two charged valiantly upon straightening for home, as did Electrofire (Mike Simons), who fanned four-wide in the final 150 yards. Fireyourguns, though all-out, narrowly held off his trio of pursuers, prevailing in 1:51.3 over fast going.

Trainer Terence McClory co-owns Fireyourguns with Jennifer and Robert Lowe.

In addition to his win with Fireyourguns, Byron teamed up with Galex ($18.00, 1:53.2) and Dragon Fever ($9.20, 1:53.1) to lead all drivers with three wins on the 11-race card.

Live racing returns to Tioga Downs on Friday (Aug. 7) evening, with first post at 6:15 p.m. (EDT).

— James Witherite

Running Aces
El Azteca (Gerry Longo), a consistent money-making trotter since arriving at Running Aces almost two months ago, broke through with his first Open class triumph on Sunday night, besting Jailer (Tim Maier) and Silence Son (Nick Roland) in 1:56.4 in the $8,000 event. After sitting third through an opening :28.2 quarter, the 6-year-old son of Panama Hanover moved to the front before the :58 halfway station. From there he cruised home an open length winner for owner Marco Rios and trainer Bob Johnson. It was the eighth seasonal win for El Azteca and boosted his 2015 earnings to $38,172. A race later, Rev Me Up (Tim Maier) captured a $5,500 conditioned event over a classy six-horse field of mares with career earnings of $1,275,201. The Mark P’Pool trainee topped Bad Feeling (Dean Magee) and Call Me Up (Travis Bowman) for her eighth win this year and 40th lifetime. The 8-year-old daughter of Park Place increased her career earnings to $594,528 with the 1:55.2 score. Drivers Steve Wiseman, Luke Plano and Gerry Longo all notched doubles on the program.

Vernon Downs
Enjoying a pocket trip behind Ideal Fashion until mid-stretch, Some Or Lis ($38.20) prevailed narrowly, scoring an 18-1 upset in Sunday afternoon’s featured $7,000 upper-level conditioned pace at Vernon Downs. Andy Gardner kept the 6-year-old Lis Mara gelding close to favored pacesetter Ideal Fashion (Chris Lems) through a :26 initial quarter, tracking intently through a :57.4 middle half before commencing his bid with clear sailing off the turn. The two dueled past mid-stretch, and Some Or Lis was able to just wear down Ideal Fashion for a 1:53.2 score. Fiftyshadesdarker (John MacDonald) kicked cover at head-stretch, rallying to take third while three lengths in arrears of the top pair. Richard Dow owns and trains Some Or Lis. Chris Lems and Fern Paquet Jr. led all drivers on the 10-race card, each recording three victories. Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Friday (Aug. 7) evening, with post time set for 6:45 p.m. (EDT).