by John Horne, for Tioga Downs

Nichols, NY — Tioga Downs will welcome freshman pacers and trotters for a leg of the Kindergarten Classic on Friday (Sept. 14). All classes will race for a purse of $10,000.

A non-betting race for the Kindergarten Classic will feature a field of four pacing fillies. The Linda Toscano trained Alkippe (Tim Tetrick) should be the one to beat. The filly by Sweet Lou-Capelo Rose has two wins in five lifetime starts. Her main rival should be Michelon’s Filly (Marcus Miller). Trained by Erv Miller, the filly by Captaintreacherous-New Album is two-for-six lifetime.

Starita (Tim Tetrick) is the 9-5 morning line favorite in the the first of two divisions for trotting fillies. Trained by Joe Holloway, the Trixton-Morning Star miss was fourth in the Jim Doherty final at The Meadowlands. She won a Reynolds Memorial race at Tioga Downs her last time out.

The second morning line choice is the Nifty Norman trained entry of Antonia (Mike Simons) and Big Weezy (David Miller) at 2-1. Antonia is a filly by Donato Hanover-Tactical Caviar. She is two-for-five this season. Big Weezy is a filly by Trixton-Keepsake Hanover. Her only trip to the winner’s circle came at Tioga Downs when she won a Tompkins-Geers Memorial race.

The second division for trotting fillies features the Jim Campbell trained duo of Cloud Nine Fashion (Tim Tetrick) and Fashion Rachel (David Miller). Cloud Nine Fashion (Muscle Hill-I’m On Cloud Nine) is a perfect four-for-four in her career. She captured a Reynolds Memorial race at Tioga Downs her last time out. Fashion Rachel (Possess The Will-Raising Rachel) has won three times and finished second three times in six career races. They are the morning line favorites at 7-5.

The second morning line choice at 3-1 is the John Butenschoen trained Stella Jane (Tyler Buter). The filly by Crazed-Naughty Nana won a leg of the Kindergarten Classic at the Meadowlands for her only lifetime win in seven starts.

In the Kindergaton Classic race for pacing colts and geldings, the 8-5 morning line choice is a trio trained by Erv Miller. Cub Fan (Tyler Buter) is a gelding by So Surreal-Pardon. He is one-for-four in his career. Sweet Troy (Atlee Bender) is a gelding by Sweet Lou-Magestic Blue Chip. He has three seconds and two thirds in six lifetime starts. Cole On The Beach (Marcus Miller) is a colt by Somebeachsomewhere-Talkative. He will make his first career start on Friday.

The second choice at 5-2 is Escapetothebeach (Tim Tetrick). Tony Alagna trains the colt by Somebeachsomewhere-Shelliscape. He has two seconds and a third in six lifetime starts.

The morning line favorite for the Kindergarten Classic featuring trotting colts and geldings is the entry of Battenberg (Marcus Miller) and Caesars Crazy (Tyler Buter). Battenberg (Trixton-Coffeecake Hanover) is trained by Joe Holloway. He has a win and a second in three starts. Caesars Crazy (Muscle Hill-Crazy Grigio) is trained by John Butenschoen. He is one-for-one is his young career.

The second choice at 3-1 is the Ron Burke trained Cheap Tricks (Mike Merton). The gelding by Trixton-Maud Blue Chip has two seconds and a third in five lifetime starts.

The Friday (Sept. 14) card starts with the non-betting race at 6 p.m. The 13-race card follows starting at 6:15 p.m.

For more information go to www.tiogadowns.com.