by James Witherite, Tioga Downs racing media

Nichols, NY — Driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Linda Toscano swept the 3-year-old Tompkins-Geers Stakes divisions at Tioga Downs on Monday (July 4) afternoon, with both Missile J ($3.80) and Cut and Paste ($3.60) prevailing in convincing fashion.

Fred Brown photo

Missile J was simply superior to his rivals and sailed home in 1:51.2.

In the $66,375 Tompkins-Geers for pacing colts and geldings, Missile J pushed clear of Mr D’s Dragon (Jim Meittinis) midway on the first turn, controlling a :57.1 first half before accelerating clear on the backstretch. The 3-year-old American Ideal gelding used a :26.3 third quarter to get the jump on his eight rivals, ultimately besting pocket foe Mr D’s Dragon by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:51.2. Fine Diamond (Matt Kakaley) circled belatedly to save third while detached from the top pair.

Missile J, a seven-time winner, is owned by the KJ Stables, LLC and the Purple Haze Stables, LLC.

Cut and Paste took advantage of a pocket trip through the first eleven-sixteenths of the $53,375 filly division, tracking Mother of Art (Mark MacDonald) before vaulting clear on approach to the far turn. As soon as Tetrick vacated the pocket with the Well Said filly, she sprinted clear with authority. The six-time winner mounted a six-length margin over eventual runner-up Encore Deo (Mike Simons) before Tetrick geared her down in the last 70 yards to a 1:53 triumph. Ghose Runner (Tom Jackson) used a third-over trip to take third, just missing Encore Deo for the place spot. Early pacesetter Mother of Art faded on the far turn, finishing last of the seven fillies.

Cut and Paste is owned by the Stake Your Claim Stable, the Camelot Stable, and Fred Wallace.

Tetrick completed a driving hat trick on the nine-race card with Nitro Seelster ($3.60) in the $11,000 Open Pace, fanning three-wide off the far turn and out-sprinting Andreos Kardia (Aaron Byron), who found a seam up the pegs in the last sixteenth with an abundance of pace, in 1:51.2.

Live racing returns to Tioga Downs on Friday (July 8), with first post slated for 6:30 p.m. Eastern.