by Dustin Ross, for Tioga Downs

Nichols, NY — Howard “Pacing” Parker and Rummy took the $85,000 final of the Rags To Riches Series on Sunday afternoon (June 17) at Tioga Downs. With the $42,500 winner’s share of the purse, the 6-year-old gelded son of Cam’s Card Shark doubled his lifetime earnings.

Fred Brown Photography

Rummy rallied on the outside to win the Rags To Riches final.

Parker enjoyed the pocket trip through fractions of :26.2, :54.3, and 1:25.1 before finding racing room at the top of the stretch. Randy’s Road and Mike Simons were on top halfway through the stretch, but Rummy and Parker were relentless, getting up to win by a neck in 1:54.1. Randy’s Road and Mike Simons were second while Larry Stalbaum and Lord Maximus N finished third.

South Park Hanover came from off the pace with Chuck Connor, Jr. to win the $15,000 Open Handicap Pace in 1:51.3. The 5-year-old son of Artiscape came in front of the stands for the first time and found himself trailing the field. The “Rifleman” Chuck Connor tipped to the outside and enjoyed a second over trip through the middle fractions.

Passing the three-quarter mark in 1:23.3, South Park Hanover went three wide and swept to the front, cruising home a winner by more than two lengths. Tyler’s Echo N and Pat Berry got up for second, while Ray Schnittker and Tuffofthetoughest hung on for third.

The old campaigner Mini Me made it to the Tioga Downs winner’s circle in his fifth start of the year. The 8-year-old Incredible Finale gelding made the trip from Hazel Park to win an $11,000 conditioned race in 1:52.4 with Jim Taggart, Jr. in the sulky.

Tioga Downs continues live racing action every Friday and Saturday night at 6:50 p.m. and Sunday afternoons at 1:15 p.m.