by Dustin Ross, regional racing operations manager, Tioga/Vernon Downs

Nichols, NY — The Rags To Riches claiming series kicks off this weekend at Tioga Downs on Sunday afternoon (June 7) with a post time of 1:30 p.m.

Four fields have been drawn that include three nine-horse fields and one eight-horse field. The series is set up in which a horse must have started in a claiming race for a base price of $10,000 or less between April 1 and May 25.

The top four finishers from each of the four races, along with the two fastest fifth-place finishers will move on to next week’s semifinals on Sunday, June 14. The field will then be split into two nine-horse fields going for $10,000 each division, with the top four finishers in each, along with the fastest fifth-place finisher, moving on to the final on Sunday, June 21.

The design is set up after the NCAA tournament bracket, and gives the smaller owners a good chance at going for big money. The nine horses that make it to the final will be given the opportunity to go for $75,000, not bad for a $10,000 claimer.

In the first division, My Wicked Willie from the Mark Kesmodel stable will be looking for his fourth win in five starts. Shipping in from Yonkers, the 10-year-old son of Village Connection has been racing between the $10,000 and $25,000 claiming ranks for the last five starts. Jason Bartlett has been listed to drive My Wicked Willie from post position three.

The second division holds plenty of talented pacers for the series, including one of last year’s contenders, Hobby Art Benka for trainer Joe Sansone. Hobby Art Benka was conditioned by Lonny Hale last year for the Rags To Riches and successfully made it to the semifinals, but an eighth-place finish knocked him out of his shot at the final.

Derek Bromac N will be looking to qualify for next week’s semifinals with his last start being in the Open Handicap Pace at Vernon Downs on May 30. The 9-year-old Holmes Hanover gelding is a family run pacer with Rick Plano the trainer and Luke Plano the driver for owner Maryann Plano of Sacramento, Calif.

Slated as race number six on the 12-race card, the third division of the Rags To Riches includes the old time war horse Franco Catapult N for trainer James Tronolone. Recently claimed from John McDermott at Pocono Downs on May 1, Franco Catapult N posted a victory on May 22 at Pocono Downs in 1:53.2. Howard Parker has been listed to drive the 10-year-old son of Falcon Seelster for owner Bud Coughlin of Benton, Pa.

Another Yonkers Raceway ship-in will look for victory in the fourth and final division, slated for race number eight on Sunday afternoon. After Life for trainer Anna Glide was looking for six straight wins at Yonkers last week, but got parked from post position seven for a claiming tag of $20,000 and finished last. The 13-year-old son of Life Sign-Lights On has raced 336 times in his racing career, with earnings of more than $652,000. After Life will be aiming to reach the $75,000 final on Sunday, June 21, in what most likely will be the biggest purse he will ever race for again in his racing career.

The fields for the first leg of the Rags To Riches pacing series are as follows:

Race 4–$8,500 1st Division
HN-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-False Alarm-Ken Holliday-Sherri Holliday
2-Camityourinmyway-Greg Merton-John Sherota
3-My Wicked Willie-Jason Bartlett-Mark Kesmodel
4-Forever Blue-Howard Parker-James Tronolone
5-Eagle South-Jim Taggart, Jr.-Dustin Miller
6-Deceived By Trust-Jordan Stratton-Brian Horlacher
7-Samovar Hanover-Howard Parker-Kris Hite
8-Just Catch Ya-Tony Schadel-Linda Schadel

Race 6–$8,500 2nd Division
HN-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Escape Attack-Andrew McCarthy-James Quinn
2-Michael C Hanover-Matt Kakaley-Dean Santantonio
3-Hobby Art Benka-Jim Morrill, Jr.-Joe Sansone
4-Scotts Rolls Royce-Jimmy Whisman-Todd Luther
5-Jadestone-Jordan Stratton-Brian Horlacher
6-Mick Jag N-Larry Stalbaum-Jennifer Lappe
7-Derek Bromac N-Luke Plano-Rick Plano
8-Cajun Moon-Tony Schadel-Linda Schadel
9-Fifth Street-Billy Dobson-Jimmy Salerno

Race 8–$8,500 3rd Division
HN-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Boundless Honor-Anthony Napolitano-Patty Harris
2-Classic Patrol-Billy Dobson-Shawn Christner
3-Mcardles Charm-Mark Gingrich-Bucky Angle, Jr.
4-Mattnifesto-Pat Berry-Paul Blumenfeld
5-Stettin Hanover-Billy Dobson-Lonny Hale
6-Franco Catapult N-Howard Parker-James Tronolone
7-Glossy N-Jim Pantaleano-Ismailaki Kazani
8-Camco Kyle-Greg Merton-Kevin Johnson
9-Artful Sky-Jim Taggart, Jr.-Brett Smith

Race 10–$8,500 4th Division
HN-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Road Hazard-Andy Santeramo-Vito Fuoco
2-Devonshire Hanover-Howard Parker-James Tronolone
3-Big John B-Jordan Stratton-Jim Doherty, Jr.
4-Live Basically N-Greg Merton-Joe DeCarlo
5-Camsurge-Jason Bartlett-Ron Cushing
6-Scarlet Champion-Jim Taggart, Jr.-Brett Smith
7-Rickards Ed-Matt Kakaley-Scott Cox
8-Flight Sign-Jason Bartlett-Mark Ford
9-After Life-Jim Pantaleano-Anna Glide

Tioga Downs kicks off live racing action on Friday, June 5, with a post time of 6:50 p.m. featuring an 11-race card. Ten races will begin at 6:50 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, with the weekend wrapping up on Sunday, June 7, with a post time of 1:30 p.m. For more information on Tioga Downs visit www.tiogadowns.com.