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

Nichols, NY — Eighteen sophomore trotting colts have been entered into the $303,340 Zweig Memorial Trot on Friday night (July 10) at Tioga Downs. Sixteen of the trotters are eligible to the $1.7 million Hambletonian on Saturday, August 8, at The Meadowlands.

In the first $151,670 division the entry of Cruisealong, Citation Lindy, and Even Better Odds have been given the nod as the morning line favorite. Citation Lindy, who is trained and driven by Ray Schnittker, finished second in a Dickerson Cup division at The Meadowlands last week behind Explosive Matter. The Cantab Hall-Benedicta colt will leave from post position two. He is three for seven on the season, has a mark of 1:54.4 at Harrah’s Chester, with earnings of more than $84,000.

Entrymate Even Better Odds, who is trained by Chuck Sylvester, will be driven by Tim Tetrick and the duo will leave from post position five in race number eight. The Cantab Hall-Better Odds colt has been lightly raced thus far in 2009, sporting a record of one win in three starts on the season.

The entry will have to take on the top two trotters from the Empire State in Judge Joe (D.R. Ackerman) and Russell Hill (John Campbell). These two New York bred trotters were scheduled to duel it out on June 26 at Yonkers Raceway in a sire stake event, but Judge Joe was scratched sick that night. Judge Joe, a 3-year old Credit Winner-Judge Judy colt, is a perfect four for four in 2009 with a mark of 1:57.2 at Hazel Park and earnings of more than $69,000.

Russell Hill has posted five wins in eight starts in 2009 including the $206,275 Empire Breeders Classic Final at Vernon Downs. The Conway Hall-Southwind Maywood colt is trained by Jimmy Takter, while Hall of Famer John Campbell will be at the controls.

The $151,670 second division is led by Goodtimes runner-up Truth In Action for trainer Blair Burgess and driver Tim Tetrick. The Cantab Hall-Cressida Hanover colt missed by a half-length to Federal Flex (Jody Jamieson) in the final at Mohawk on June 27. Truth In Action has yet to miss the board in six starts in 2009 and has posted three wins, with a mark of 1:56.1 and earnings of more than $105,000.

Also in the second division, looking to get back on track, is 2008 New York Sire Stakes champion Donttelllmywife. The Malabar Man-Nowerland Sweet T gelding was a perfect seven for seven in 2008, and currently holds a record of one win and two seconds in four starts in 2009. Usual pilot Jeff Gregory has been listed to drive Donttellmywife for trainer George Ducharme.

The fields for the Zweig Memorial Open Trot are listed below:

Race 8 — Purse: $151,670
HN–PP–Horse–Driver–Trainer
1–1–Cruisealong–Mike Lachance–Ron Gurfein
1A–2–Citation Lindy–Ray Schnittker–Ray Schnittker
1B–5–Even Better Odds–Tim Tetrick–Chuck Sylvester
2–3–Hurrikanebiggeorge–Jeff Gregory–John McDermott
3–4–Russell Hill–John Campbell–Jimmy Takter
4–6–Judge Joe–D.R. Ackerman–Doug Ackerman
5–7–Neighsay Hanover–Howard Parker–Trond Smedshammer
6–8–Celebrity Cowboy–Jim Marohn, Jr.–Staffan Lind
7–9–Salutation Hanover–Wally Hennessey–Ronald Burke

Race 9 — Purse: $151,670
HN–PP–Horse–Driver–Trainer
1–3–Copy Catch–John Campbell–Jimmy Takter
1A–4–Road Rash–Marcus Johansson–Marcus Johansson
2–1–Spin Spankey Spin–Fern Paquet, Jr.–Dan Daley
3–2–Tad The Stud–Ray Schnittker–Ray Schnittker
4–5–Knoxtrot Hall–Mike Lachance–Linda Toscano
5–6–Donttellmywife–Jeff Gregory–George Ducharme
6–7–Truth In Action–Tim Tetrick–Blair Burgess
7–8–Manningly–Wally Hennessey–Larry Rathbone
8–9–Calchips Brute–Jim Marohn, Jr.–Trond Smedshammer

Co-featured on the Friday night card at Tioga Downs is the Zweig Memorial trot for 3-year-old filly trotters. A field of 27 were split into three nine-horse fields going for $45,447 per division. A total of 15 of the 27 trotting fillies are eligible for the Hamletonian Oaks, seven of which are in the first division, slated for race number five on the card.

Leading what looks to be the strongest division for the fillies is Whispering Wind and Mike Simons for trainer Roland Mallar. The Broadway Hall-Wild Pine filly has posted four wins in seven starts, with two Pennsylvania Sire Stake victories at The Meadows. In her last start Whispering Wind came first over to win by more than four lengths in 1:55.4.

Looking to rebound from an usual miscue at Goshen is 2008 New York Sire Stakes champion She’s So Savvy. The Malabar Man-Twitty filly is trained by Jessica Okusko and is driven by Howard Okusko, Jr. Thus far in 2009 She’s So Savvy has posted two wins, a second, and a third in five starts with a mark of 1:58.1 in a qualifier at Vernon Downs.

In the second divison Michelle’s Way will look to make it three in a row in New York. The Conway Hall-Miss Michelle H filly has posted a 50 percent win rate in 2009 by posting three wins in six starts for trainer Ken Rucker. The $95,000 yearling has drawn post position three, and Jim Morrill, Jr. has been listed on the driving assignment.

Brandnewgirlfriend will be seeking her fifth win in a row on Friday night for trainer Paul Kelley, but will have to do so from post position nine. The Conway Hall-Tiffany Gold daughter was purchased for $80,000 at the Harrisburg Yearling Sale in 2007, but was unraced as a 2-year-old. Brandnewgirlfriend has posted three straight New York Sire Stake victories, including one at Buffalo Raceway and two at Yonkers.

In the third and final division Southwind Wasabi, who finished third in last year’s $700,000 Breeders Crown to Honorable Daughter, will look for victory. The Windsong’s Legacy-Winky’s Star filly was purchased for $22,000 at the Harrisburg Sale in 2007 and has banked over $169,000 in just 13 lifetime starts. John Campbell has been listed to drive by trainer and co-owner Chuck Sylvester.

Below are the fields for the three divisions of the Zweig Filly Trot:

Race 5 — Purse: $45,447
PP–Horse–Driver–Trainer
1–Wedding Dress–John Campbell–Chuck Sylvester
2–Celebrity Athena–Marcus Johansson–Staffan Lind
3–Please Lady–Mike Lachance–Ron Gurfein
4–Atia–Wally Hennessey–Paul Kelley
5–Noisy Nellie–Jeff Gregory–Jonas Czernyson
6–She’s So Savvy–Howard Okusko, Jr.–Jessica Okusko
7–Toni’s Wink–Howard Parker–Oyvind Hegdal
8–Whispering Wind–Jim Marohn, Jr.–Roland Mallar
9–I Wanted Wings–Tim Tetrick–Ross Croghan

Race 6 — Purse: $45,447
PP–Horse–Driver–Trainer
1–Gabby’s Gambol–John Campbell–Trond Smedshammer
2–Neith’s Song–Jim Marohn, Jr.–Jonas Czernyson
3–Michelle’s Way–Mike Lachance–Ken Rucker
4–Gift Card–Tim Tetrick–Frank Antonacci
5–So You De Vie–Howard Parker–Oyvin Hedgal
6–On With The Show–Howard Okusko, Jr.–Judith Blaun
7–No Ifs Here–Ray Schnittker–Ray Schnittker
8–Up In Class–Jeff Gregory–Jan Johnson
9–Brandnewgirlfriend–Wally Hennessey–Paul Kelley

Race 7 — Purse: $45,447
PP–Horse–Driver–Trainer
1–Sister Marcy–Howard Okusko, Jr.–David Dewhurst
2–O Dana O–Ray Schnittker–Karen Garland
3–Southwind Wasabi–John Campbell–Chuck Sylvester
4–Porque–Jeff Gregory–Linda Toscano
5–Fleur De Vie–Howard Parker–Oyvind Hegdal
6–Naughty Nana–Wally Hennessey–Brian Connor
7–Lindy’s RN–Tim Tetrick–Frank Antonacci
8–Celebrity Juliet–Mike Lachance–Staffan Lind
9–Valotta–Jim Marohn, Jr.–Jonas Czernyson