Nichols, NY — Vlos used his early tactical speed to capture Sunday afternoon’s $16,500 Open pace at Tioga Downs with driver Fern Paquet Jr.

Fred Brown photo

Vlos captured Sunday’s Open Pace at Tioga Downs in 1:51.3.

Leaving from post position five in a field of eight, Paquet got away with a soft opening quarter of 27.4 and was uncontested through a half-mile in 56. As the field headed towards three-quarters, Vlos was asked for pace and he responded clicking off a 26.4 third quarter to reach three-quarters in 1:22.4. Down the stretch it was a full on assault as Hay Goodlooking (Rick Plano) and the field closed in on the leader but came up short in 1:51.3. Eric Mollor trains the 8-year old son of Dragon Again–Sweet Tender for Bella Rosa Racing of New Jersey. It was the first win of the year for Vlos who recorded his twenty-eighth win in ninety lifetime starts with earnings of more than $476,000.

There was also a minor accident in the Open pace when Voice Of Truth (Jim Meittinis) broke a hopple hanger around the final turn and stumbled. Golden Terror and Dan Noble were then caught up with Voice Of Truth and Dan Noble was unseated and thrown to the racetrack. However, all horses and drivers involved escaped without any serious injury.

— Dustin Ross

Scarborough Downs
In classic battle of the sexes fashion, IPO Blue Chip, the lone mare in Sunday’s (5/20) $6,000 Free for All Trot, bested an accomplished field of boys en route to inscribing her name on the track record ledger by equaling one of the longest-standing benchmarks held at Scarborough Downs for aged mares. The 5-year-old daughter of Yankee Glide flew over a lightning fast strip on Sunday, stopping the teletimer in 1:57.4 to match the clocking of the legendary Kit Lobell (Bernt Lindstedt), winner of the 1990 edition of Scarborough’s Legislator Trot. IPO Blue Chip, owned by Kevin Gee of Falmouth, Maine, and trained by Scarborough’s leading conditioner, Randy Bickmore, was masterfully driven in the record-setting performance by Shawn Thayer. “She’s a great little mare. She’s one of the best in my stable,” said Gee. “Shawn told me in the winner’s circle that we could have beaten that [all age] track record today, she had tons left. We’ll save it for next week. But today, she won easy. It was great to see.”

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
Jasperthat A was the runner-up in last Sunday’s open for pacing mares at Saratoga and this week was dismissed at odds of 11-1 while starting from post six. With a pair of formidable invaders coming to the Spa for the $18,500 feature, Jasperthat A had her work cut out for her and got away last in the eight horse field. While the fractions were quick up front, the closers sat patiently and ganged up late in the mile with Jasperthat A (Village Jasper) getting the best of them in the stretch to register the 1:54.3. Mark Beckwith drove for trainer Kirsten Proctor as the 8-year-old mare recorded her third victory of the season and the first against open company. Age Of Consent (Jim Devaux) came on for second while longshot Paper Princess (Bruce Aldrich Jr) ran third at odds of 55-1. The trifecta that these longshots comprised returned $1,913.

Raceway Park
Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. captured six races on the Sunday card at Racewway Park. Wrenn’s wins came with Viking Mia in the second race, Dragon A Harley in the third race, Da Vinci’s Dream in the fifth race, Almost Perfect in the sixth race, Oakbrook Raider in the 13th and Lil Be Dazzeld in the 14th.