by James Witherite, Tioga Downs racing media

Nichols, NY — Sunday (Aug. 9) afternoon’s program at Tioga Downs was headlined by a sextet of Tompkins-Geers Stakes for 2- and 3-year-old pacers, with six different drivers and five different trainers prevailing in the races worth a combined $246,930 in purses.

Five 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings contested a single $56,664 split and Tony Alagna trainees Revenge Shark ($3.50, part of entry, Brett Miller up) and Dreams Beachboy (Scott Zeron) took the top two spots.

Revenge Shark held off entrymate Dreams Beachboy to take the $56,664 Tompkins-Geers Stake for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

After My Hero Ron (Matt Kakaley) established the lead early and controlled a :55.2 first half, Revenge Shark commenced a first-over rally, pushing clear after the 1:22.1 third quarter and narrowly holding off his stablemate for a 1:50.2 win. My Hero Ron was a resurgent third after giving way and Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund standout Remember Me VK (Montrell Teague), while making up four lengths of ground down the grandstand side in the final quarter, only could muster a fourth-place finish.

Alagna Racing LLC and Bradley Grant own Revenge Shark, a son of Cam’s Card Shark-Western Top Cat.

While Alagna trainees swept the top two positions in the lone event for 3-year-old male pacers, Erv Miller trainees prevailed in two of three splits for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings, all of which were contested for just over $28,000.

McDave (McArdle-Southwind Piper, $5.80) and Marcus Miller prevailed off a pocket trip, just collaring 3-4 favorite Talk Show (Zeron) for a 1:52.1 triumph, while Aaron Byron mounted a belated rally with Ideal Jimmy (Western Ideal-Armbro Nectarine, $7.40) to just collar Safensound Hanover (David Miller) and Do Over Hanover (Tim Tetrick) from off cover in a 1:53.2 score.

Ed Hart trainee Rock Power (Rocknroll Hanover-Michelle’s Power, $36.60, Jim Marohn Jr.) pulled off a major upset in the other division for 2-year-old male pacers, holding off a stout first-over challenge from Manny (Mike Simons) to prevail by a half-length in 1:52.4. Favorite JJ Flynn (Tetrick) enjoyed a cozy second-over trip behind Manny, but failed to fire off the far turn.

A quartet of 2-year-old pacing fillies vied for $56,776 in their non-wagering event and Blue Moon Stride (Rocknroll Hanover-Classic Star, Andy McCarthy) held sway from a late-charging JK Fannie (Tetrick) after controlling an easy pace. The filly turned in a 1:54 effort for trainer Mark Harder.

Fred Brown photos

Ideal Nuggets held off two separate threats to take the $47,664 Tompkins-Geers Stake for 3-year-old pacing fillies.

Likewise, four 3-year-old pacing fillies competed in a non-wagering $47,664 event and Ideal Nuggets (David Miller) proved a gutsy winner in 1:53, turning aside a first-over challenge from Crescent City (Tetrick) and subsequently staving off a late charge from Strut My Stuff (McCarthy) to prevail by a half-length. Ed Lohmeyer trains the daughter of Western Ideal-Rough Sketch.

The featured overnight race was a $14,000 Open Pace, with Believe This Bob ($39.20, Byron) setting the pace and narrowly holding off a late charge from 4-5 favorite El Bloombito (Tetrick) to prevail in 1:50.1. Joe Skowyra trains the 7-year old Beach Romeo gelding for Mary Ann Larrimore.

Live racing returns to Tioga Downs on Friday (Aug. 14) evening, with first post scheduled for 6:15 p.m. (EDT).