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

Nichols, NY — A total of 19 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters and 35 3-year-old filly trotters dropped in for the New York State Fair Stakes on Sunday afternoon (August 9) at Tioga Downs. Director of Racing Jason Bluhm split the colts into three divisions, two six-horse fields and one seven, while the girls split into three nine-horse fields, along with one eight-horse field.

Fred Brown Photography

Brandnewgirlfriend has won nine of her ten career starts.

Leading the way for the women is New York’s sophomore trotting star Brandnewgirlfriend for co-owner and trainer Paul Kelley. It will be the third stop for the daughter of Conway Hall-Tiffany Gold at Tioga Downs, where she captured the Tompkins-Geers and Zweig stakes in a lifetime best of 1:56. In her ten career starts Brandnewgirlfriend has posted nine wins, good for a $132,289 career and seasonal bankroll as the sophomore trotter was unraced at the age of two.

In her last start in a New York Sire Stakes race at Yonkers, Brian Mattison and Brandnewgirlfriend lulled them to the three-quarter pole in 1:32.2 then sprinted home in :28 to capture the lion’s share of the $43,160 purse. Mattison has once again been listed on the driving duties for the trotting filly.

On the boys’ side, Tip The Tide and Howard Okusko, Jr. will look to get back on track after an equipment break at Batavia where the duo did not finish. Prior to the break Tip The Tide had won five straight, including a Tompkins-Geers event on July 19 at Tioga Downs.

The $80,000 Conway Hall-Olympics colt was purchased by the Purple Haze Stable at the Harrisburg sale in 2007. To date Tip The Tide has won six races, all in 2009, and in 23 career starts has banked over $70,000, carrying a mark of 1:56.2 from Vernon Downs. Howard Okusko, Jr. has been listed on the driving assignment for trainer Jessica Okusko and has drawn post position one in the third event for sophomore trotting colts.

Tioga Downs kicks off its three-day weekend of racing on Friday (6:50 p.m.), Saturday (6:50 p.m.), and Sunday afternoon with a 1:30 p.m. post time. For more information on Tioga Downs visit www.tiogadowns.com.