Top Aged Pacers Square Off in Tioga Afternoon Action

Tioga Downs puts up the big bucks as they attracted the top free for all mare and horse pacers in their featured races this afternoon. On the card filled with Sires’ Stakes competition are the $158,000 Artiscape Mares Pace and the $184,000 Roll With Joe Open Pace.

First up of the two is the Artiscape. Ron Burke has four of his top mares entered in the contest, while Chris Oakes’s star mare Economy Terror is a part of the five-horse entry of Bettor B Lucky, Ginger And Fred, Rocklamation and Camille. This appears to be a good race to go bargain hunting, with the five-horse entry having a tremendous resume to attract the attention of bettors. Two horses raise questions in this dectet, Drop The Ball and Royal Cee Cee N, coincidently the two morning line long shots.

Drop The Ball winning the 2012 Allerage Pace
(Red Mile Photo)

Drop The Ball was caught in a bad shuffle in the Golden Girls last week and was able to shake loose and get third. That was her first start on lasix and she showed improvement off of the speed she showed in the Betsy Ross, where she eventually quit. She has the post to get away in a stalking position, which has always been her forte, but Callahan has to be aggressive with her and not wait for the stretch. If she can get a second over trip, perfect, third over, questionable. She just cannot be on the lead or first over, it will be practically forfeiting her chances.

Royal Cee Cee N catches my eye as she drew post 8, a post that requires (usually) a horse to race from off the pace. Her last start can be put into the garbage, as Royal Cee Cee N is not the kind of horse that can race on the lead, especially against some of these horses like Anndrovette, who likes to be on top. She showed a good closing effort the last time she was on a three turn oval at Harrah’s Philadelphia in the Betsy Ross, where she was shuffled and did not have room until late to finish third. Pierce will have to be aggressive with his mare, too and give her a good trip and opportunity to show what she’s got.

Overall, this race does have a speed factor similar to what occurred in the Betsy Ross. Feeling You drew the rail and it is very likely that she will leave to get a pocket trip, which brings Camille into the race from the second tier; Tetrick will likely challenge for the lead aboard Anndrovette, while Big Mcdeal raises questions. She [Big Mcdeal] showed that she can race well on the lead throughout her sophomore campaign, but has appeared to been experimenting with racing styles in her last few starts. She is a possibility to throw off the pace scenario. Theoretically, we will see a quarter around :26 and change and a half in :54-:53, as the leader will attempt to rate. The tempo will quicken and most horses on the lead may be finished.

The five-horse entry has two horses that raise question marks, Economy Terror and Rocklamation. Rocklamation has the racing tendency that of the horses we like in this event, while Economy Terror is questionable on how she will race from the far outside. Of our two contenders, Drop The Ball has the best shot, but I’d still advise to put Royal Cee Cee N in any exotics as she could be a spoiler.

It’s hard to tell how the betting will be distributed in the Roll With Joe. Betterthancheddar looks to be the value of the race at his 5-1 morning line, but all the buzz around him could make him the post time favorite. Pet Rock gets the second tier and will likely take money after that phenomenal trip he went in the Open last week.

Considering Betterthancheddar will perhaps be the favorite, he is the horse to beat. He was shuffling in the stretch to try and find a seam in the Molson and did not get one until late. Brennan will likely give him the perfect trip or attempt to get the lead, a near impossible task based on the paper.

A Rocknroll Dance winning the 2012 Battle of Brandywine
(USTA Photo)

A Rocknroll Dance also has a shot. This horse has been cursed with several bad draws this year and should be aggressive since he has a few starts in his belt. He won the Meadowlands Pace on the rail and he drew the rail again. Though that has no significance, rather the way he races on the rail. Exempt his first start of the year when he started from post 1, since he was coming off a layoff. He will leave and try to get a pocket trip, which would be perfect with the open stretch at Tioga. He has been improving with every start and could be sharp at the right time.

A fast pace looks to be the expected scenario in this race. Golden Receiver will go for the top and with A Rocknroll Dance trying to leave, Pet Rock will get a pocket and likely try to sit third. Betterthancheddar will eventually challenge or await cover to ride. Speed is also likely from Aracache Hanover, Sapphire City, Warrawee Needy and perhaps Rockincam. With the likelihood that Brennan could get parked with Betterthancheddar, he may not be the value we may think he is today. Of course, there is a huge possibility that Sweet Lou sits off the pace and gets a perfect trip to win this race. But what appears likely is that Betterthancheddar and A Rocknroll Dance will finish in the top four, so they are ones to consider in exotics and perhaps in the win column. It will be your call.

First race post at Tioga is 1:30P.M. eastern. 

Sevruga Takes Photo in Cutler Thriller

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ— The KDM Stables trotter Sevruga set the fractions for the mile and held off all challengers to take the Cutler in a gate-to-wire 1:51 effort. Guccio finished alongside Wishing Stone in second and Modern Family was with the three on the wire, but got fourth.

Sevruga took the top, with Modern Family tucking into the pocket and Opening Night backing into the three-hole. Sevruga trotted the quarter in :27, at that point Dave Miller sent Undercover Strike first over. Him and Sevruga battled by the half in :55.4 (:28.4), with Modern Family third and Wishing Stone gapping cover in fourth. Sevruga was holding off Undercover Strike, as Wishing Stone tipped three wide and Mister Herbie went four wide.

Sevruga (6) defeats three rivals in Cutler photo (Lisa Photo)

Through three-quarters in 1:22.1 (:26.4), Sevruga kicked to a 2 length lead. Modern Family left the pylons and began to trot down Sevruga. Wishing Stone was coming off cover and Guccio was making up lost ground. Sevruga still had a narrow advantage over Wishing Stone and Guccio was moving up as well, with Modern Family in contention. Sevruga held on to the lead by a nose at the wire, with Guccio and Wishing Stone dead-heating for second and Modern Family finished fourth.

Sevruga ($16.60) is by SJ’s Caviar, out of the mare Stunning Lindsey by Malabar Man. He is owned by KDM Stables Incorporated, trained by Julie Miller and Andy steered the trotter to a 1:51 lifetime mark.

Also on the Cutler card was the $100,000 Meadowlands Maturity for four-year-old pacers, where the Burke-trained Sweet Lou sat off a mild pace to nose-out Warrawee Needy in 1:49.

Hillbilly Hanover took the lead, with Bolt The Duer getting into the pocket and Warrawee Needy was first over in pursuit of the lead through a :27.1 quarter. Warrawee Needy cleared the front past the three-eighths and Hurrikane Kingcole began to chase down the leader. The two were wheel-to-wheel at the half in :54.4 (:27.3). Hurrikane Kingcole cleared the lead into the far turn, Mel Mara was left first over and Sweet Lou was second over.

Hurrikane Kingcole led the field by over a length at three-quarters in 1:21.4 (:27). Warrawee Needy snuck out of the pocket and took over the lead. Sweet Lou fanned off cover, closing hard down the center. Bolt The Duer was showing late pace with Domethatagain, but Warrawee Needy and Sweet Lou hit the wire together in a photo finish that Sweet Lou got in 1:49.

Sweet Lou ($11.20) is by Yankee Cruiser, out of the mare Sweet Future by Falcons Future. He is owned by Burke Racing Stables LLC, Weaver-Bruscemi, Lawrence Karr and Phillip Collura, trained by Ron Burke and Yannick Gingras piloted the four-year-old to a 1:49 victory, a seasonal-mark. 

Favorites Prevail in Levy, Matchmaker Finals

YONKERS, NY— After a month of competition in preliminaries, the finals for the George Morton Levy Memorial and Blue Chip Matchmaker were contested as the feature races on Saturday night at Yonkers Raceway.

Through soft fractions, Feeling You sat behind pacesetter Camille and paced up the passing lane to score as the second favorite in 1:52.4 in the $285,000 Blue Chip Matchmaker. Camille took the front from Feeling You at the quarter in :28. Eighthunrdollarbill sat in third and Anndrovette got away fourth. Approaching the apex of the clubhouse turn for the second time, Anndrovette began her first over bid after tempo setter Camille. Meanwhile, Feeling You sat in the pocket through the half timed in :57 (:29).

Feeling You winning Matchmaker - Mike Lizzi Photo

Anndrovette applied stronger pressure heading to three-quarters. Rocklamation tracked her cover, as did Ramon Disomma four lengths away from Camille. Feeling You was anxious for room in the pocket as the tempo quickened to 1:24.3 (:27.3).

Camille began to weaken into the stretch and Anndrovette surpassed her. Feeling You had an opportunity to pace and exploded up the passing lane, getting up by a half-length to win the Matchmaker, over Anndrovette and Camille in 1:52.4 (:28.1).

Feeling You ($6.10), a six-year-old daughter of Cambest out of the mare Ripreza Hanover by Artsplace, is owned by Stephen Oldford, Oldford Farms LLC and Tyler Buter, trained by Amber Buter and Tyler Buter steered the mare.

Razzle Dazzle stole the Saturday night feature, the $450,000 George Morton Levy Memorial, as he rated the mile and held off all challenges to win as the public choice in 1:51.3.

Razzle Dazzle took command from the rail, while Versado tucked into second and Foiled Again got away in third. Razzle Dazzle paced the quarter in :27. Dancin Yankee pulled the pocket from fifth, flushing out Annieswesterncard from fourth. He then stalled to attempt to flush out his stablemate Foiled Again while Razzle Dazzle got a :56 breather (:29).

Razzle Dazzle holding off Foiled Again in the final yards to
win the Levy - Mike Lizzi Photo

Foiled Again led the two wide flow into the backstretch. Annieswesterncard stalled second over and Dancin Yankee was third over far off the lead. Versado sat the pocket as he watched Foiled Again and Razzle Dazzle battle at three-quarters in 1:23.3 (:27.3).

Foiled Again flattened out into the stretch as Razzle Dazzle had more pace in the tank. Versado made a move to the passing lane, while Annieswesterncard was making up ground. Foiled Again flew back at Razzle Dazzle with one final bid, but came up a neck short at the wire. Versado finished third and Annieswesterncard was fourth in 1:51.3 (:28).

Razzle Dazzle ($4.10) is a six-year-old gelding by Real Desire, out of the mare Town Feather by Big Towner. He is owned by Ira Kristal, trained by Mark Silva and Brian Sears steered the pacer to a gate-to-wire effort in the Levy. 

Escape The News stalks ‘Speedy Needy’ to win leg two of Aquarius

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ— The Burke trained Escape The News, off a second place finish in leg one of the Aquarius, sat a pocket trip as Warrawee Needy paced fast fractions to win leg two of the Aquarius series in 1:48.4.

A quintet of four-year-old pacers lined up behind the gate for the second preliminary and Warrawee Needy, with Escape The News and Yo Cheyenne Rocky, were the quickest. Warrawee Needy cleared the lead at the quarter in :26.2. Nobody challenged him and he paced the half in :53.4 (:27.2).

Escape The News slingshots past 'Needy' to win

Escape The News began to tip out of the pocket as Warrawee Needy took the field by three-quarters in 1:21.1 (:27.2). Bakin On The Beach was closing in first over in third into the stretch. Warrawee Needy had a 2-length advantage on Escape The News at the top of the lane. Escape The News began to pace him down entering the eighth pole and approaching the wire, Escape The News got up in time to win it by a half-length in 1:48.4 (:27.3). Warrawee Needy was second, Bakin On The Beach was third and In Commando finished fourth.

Escape The News ($5.80) is a four-year-old gelding by Artiscape, out of the mare Ideal News by Western Ideal. He is owned by Burke Racing Stables, Weaver Bruscemi, Jjk Stables and Howard Taylor, trained by Ron Burke and Yannick Gingras guided him to a pocket-trip victory.