Higher And Higher captures Tioga Friday night feature

Nichols, NY— Higher And Higher made her first appearance back at Tioga Downs on Friday night since her sixth place finish in this year’s Artiscape pace on June 10.

Trainer, driver and co-owner Daryl Bier got Higher And Higher away fifth from post position number seven as the field passed the quarter in :27. All Spirit (Jim Marohn, Jr.) quickly shuffled from fourth as the fielded headed by the three-eighths to take control from Kiddie McCardle past the half in :55.2. Down the backside and headed towards three-quarters, Daryl Bier edged Higher And Higher from fifth to begin the first over grind and began to press the leader by three-quarters in 1:23.3.

Around the final turn Higher And Higher stuck a head in front and put away All Spirit, but Kiddie McCardle escaped the pocket and charged three wide. However, through the stretch Higher And Higher proved too much and prevailed in 1:52.1 for her seventh win of the year. Kiddie McCardle finished second, while All Spirit hung on for third.

Mike Merton posted a driving grand slam on the night’s nine-race card, while Jim Meittinis scored a double.

— Dustin Ross

Hoosier Park
Don’t Sugar Me recorded her first Open-level win in the featured $24,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday with trainer/driver Terry Cullipher at the lines. In gate-to-wire fashion, the 4-year-old mare equaled her lifetime best with a 1:53.1 performance. Leaving from post five, Cullipher sent Don’t Sugar Me to the front as the gate folded and remained uncontested through first half fractions of :27.1 and :58.1. Forever Showin Off and Charlie Conrad benefited from a pocket trip as Ed Hensley and Keep On Flirtin followed intently in third. Carmen O, the other entry from the Cullipher barn, was along the rail in fourth. After the half, the field began to tighten and Don Eash had Hoponit aimed at the leader first over with Do Me Honor and Pete Wrenn in tow. As the battle began to unfold around the three-quarter mark in 1:26.2, Don’t Sugar Me saved her best for last as she began to sprint away from the field. With a final quarter clocking in :26.4, Don’t Sugar Me cruised to a 1-1/4 length victory over Do Me Honor who rallied late in the lane. Hoponit and Eash survived a long first over journey to round out the trifecta. As the public’s second choice, Don’t Sugar Me returned $9.60 to her backers. Sired by Dontgetinmyway, Don’t Sugar Me is nearing the $200,000 mark in career earnings. With the lion’s share of the purse the brown mare now sports a bankroll of more than $190,000 for owner Gary Hayes. Don’t Sugar Me scored her sixth win in 14 outings this season.

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
The $18,500 Open Trot at Saratoga Casino and Raceway appeared wide open as none of the favorites from the previous few weeks’ features were competing on Friday night. Gelato Man (Incredible Abe) has been rounding into mid-season form and on Friday, the veteran recorded his first feature win of the season. Driver Kim Crawford pulled first over with the 8-year-old trotter and cruised past the favored leader en route to the win in 1:55.3. The final time served as a lifetime mark for the Angus MacDonald trained Gelato Man in his 139th career start. Yankee Manny (Frank Davis) came on for second in the feature while Grand Victory (Mark Beckwith) earned the show spot. The win was one of two on the evening for the Crawford-MacDonald combo as they also teamed up for a career best win with young trotting mare Steuben Loretta.

Vernon Downs
Leading drivers Chris Lems, Rick Plano and Jimmy Whittemore all benefited from successful showings during Friday night’s 10-race program at Vernon Downs. Lems led the way with the trotters Royalty For Life (1:58.4) and Danijill (1:57) in events one and three, respectively, while posting his sixth two-win outing at the 27-program meeting. Defending champ Whittemore and Plano, last year’s runner-up, each produced three victories on a single Vernon program for the fifth time during the track’s 59th season. Whittemore won with the trotter Hall Of Mirrors (1:59.4) in the second stanza, the pacer Donna Party (1:55.2) in race seven and trotter Cedarridgetag (1:56.4) in the eighth event, while Plano finished first with the trotter She’s All In (1:56.1) in the sixth session, the pacer The Bruiser (1:55.4) in the ninth race and capped off the program with a score behind the trotter Nowerland Nathan (1:57.4) in race 10. At evening’s end, Lems held a 44-42 advantage over Plano, and a 12-win bulge over Whittemore atop the track’s dash-winning standings.