It’s safe to say that driver Jim Marohn Jr. was in the zone on Monday, May 18 at Tioga Downs, as the reinsman made no less than seven visits to the winner’s circle during the track’s 11-race live program.
Marohn, who is Tioga’s defending driving champion, has been competing in the Southern Tier on a more limited schedule this season compared to years past due to increased opportunity and success at the Meadowlands; but the 33-year-old reinsman has pounced on every opportunity possible to remain competitive at Tioga.
Monday’s card at Tioga was no exception.
After a second-place effort with Gold Deuce in first race on the program, ‘The Mighty Mite, Part Two’ reeled off five consecutive wins. He teaming with Nine Innings ($4.80, 1:54), Oh My Joepa ($7.70, 1:53.1), Prairie Jaguar ($3.40, 1:53.1), Oakmont ($3.00, 1:54), and Rage N Ryan ($6.30, 1:53.1).
Marohn would return to sweep the late double, although his win with Hurricane Breeze ($6.70, 1:56.1) in a ‘non-winners of two’ pace would have to be shared with the late-rallying At the Rail (driven by Mike Simons) in a dead heat.
Marohn closed out his seven-win evening aboard Twin B Flirt ($6.40, 1:54.1) in a first-level conditioned pace.
In total, Marohn teamed up with trainer Tony Dinges for three victories, while Mike Deters trainees added two other triumphs.
The $14,000 Open Pace – one of two races in which Marohn did not participate – was won by Dragon Fever ($15.80), who prevailed after fanning three-wide off a tracking trip.
Live racing will return to Tioga on Friday evening (May 22).
First-race post time for the card is 6:15 p.m. Eastern Time.
(With files from Tioga Downs)