by Dustin Ross, regional racing operations manager, Tioga Downs

Nichols, NY — Something New and Todd Ratchford pulled off a minor upset in the $80,000 Rags To Riches Final on Sunday afternoon (June 29) at Tioga Downs.

Something New was a 1:54.3 winner in the Rags To Riches Final.

The field was battling right out of the gate with Actionuke and Corey Braden circling the field from post position eight in :27 seconds. Passing by the fans and the stands for the first time Howard Parker sent last year’s champion Rummy to the front end as stablemate Devonshire Hanover was right behind him and cleared to the lead at the half-mile pole in :55.4. Todd Ratchford set up Something New third over in the outer flow and sent the 8-year-old Artsplace gelding three wide as the field hit three-quarters in 1:24.

Something New was relentless through the final panel and opened up by four lengths to stop the timer in 1:54.3. Strad Hanover (Stephane Bouchard) took the pylon path to finish second, while Triple Dragon (Jack Baggitt, Jr.) finished third. Last year’s champion Rummy raced well for being used hard in the first half of the mile and still managed to hold on to fourth place.

Todd Ratchford trains Something New for owner Maryann Plano, who took home the $40,000 payday, and with the win increased his seasonal earnings to more than $62,000.

Fred Brown Photography

Year Of The Dragon (#3) nosed out Maxine’s Menace in the Tioga State Bank Final.

Howard “Pacing” Parker and Year Of The Dragon got up just in time at the wire to take down the $36,200 Tioga State Bank Pacing Series Final in 1:53.1. It was the third win in a row at Tioga Downs for the 4-year-old Dragon Again gelding who is campaigned from the Paul Szalay, Jr. stable for Janet Herdegen. Maxine’s Menace and Jimmy Marohn, Jr. cut the fractions and hung on for second, while Wild Artist and Mike Simons got up for the show spot.

Brian Allen made the trip down from upstate New York to drive Gelato Man, who he also trains, in the $41,400 final of the Royal Motors Trotting Series. The trip was well worth it as the 4-year-old Incredible Abe stallion went pillar to post in a lifetime best, track record equaling 1:55.4. Gelato Man increased his seasonal earnings to more than $37,000 in his fifth victory for owner Ralph J. Del Priore, Jr. Matrix Hall and Jim Morrill, Jr. finished second, while Like A Breeze and Corey Braden got up for third.

Michael Scores and Stephane Bouchard took down the $10,000 Winners Over Pace with a seasonal mark of 1:51.4, while Magic Force and Jim Morrill, Jr. shook loose late in the $15,000 Open Handicap Pace to set their seasonal mark of 1:52.4.

Howard Parker teamed up with trainer Paul Szalay, Jr. on Sunday afternoon to score a driving double.

Tioga Downs continues live racing action on Friday, July 4, with a post time of 6:50 p.m. with fireworks immediately following live racing. For more information please visit www.tiogadowns.com or call 1-888-WIN-TIOGA.