by Dustin Ross, for Tioga Downs

Nichols, NY — The Tioga Throwdown Trotting Series, along with the Sackett’s Creek Pacing Series, got underway at Tioga Downs on Saturday, May 12. The Tioga Throwdown held three divisions on the evening’s card along with three divisions of the Sackett’s Creek.

The Best proved that in the first division of the Sackett’s Creek Pacing Series. Josh Marks spent no time getting him to the front, passing the opening quarter-mile. The 3-year old son of Pro Bono Best has won all of his starts in 2007 thus far for trainer Lonny Hale. The Best backed the field down through easy fractions of: 29.2, :58.4, and 1:27.4 before sprinting through the stretch in a brisk :27.3 final quarter.

In the first division of the Tioga Throwdown Series it was all Sand Prince and Joe Pavia, Jr. in 1:57. Sand Prince could see them all going past the quarter-mile mark, but found himself on top all alone by five lengths as they reached the top of the stretch. It was the eighth win of the season for the 5-year-old son of Mr Vic, increasing his seasonal bankroll to more than $49,000.

American Fury shipped west from East Rutherford, New Jersey to Nichols, New York and found his first start at Tioga Downs to be a winning one with a front-end effort in 1:52.4. It was the second win of the year for the 5-year-old Real Artist gelding, who is owned by Forrest L. Bartlett of Shiloh, North Carolina and is trained by William Bright.

Mike Simons, Tim Curtin, and Howard Parker all enjoyed driving doubles on the night.

Tioga Downs will continue its racing action with 13 action packed races on Sunday, May 13, with a post time of 1:15 p.m. Expert handicapper Dave Brower will be trackside on the apron giving his handicapping selections for the day, while Hall of Fame announcer Roger Huston will be giving the call on Tioga’s first Sunday afternoon race card of 2007.