While a power outage forced the abandonment of the last eight races on Sunday (June 28) afternoon's 12-race program at Tioga Downs, the Purple Haze Stables' Buen Camino ($3.60, part of entry) was able to capture his $61,300 New York Sire Stakes event in advance of the mid-afternoon electrical issues.
The three-year-old gelded son of Cash Hall and Baby Bella had no trouble clearing the front, passing Wings Of Royalty (Chris Lems) and Credit Creation (David Miller) to achieve the lead through a :27 initial quarter. After driver Jim Morrill Jr. rated a :30.1 second quarter with the Trond Smedshammer trainee, Buen Camino responded to mild first-over pressure from Credit Creation, edging clear off the far turn and drawing off for a two and a half length win in 1:54.3 over Wings Of Royalty. The Physician (Daniel Dubé) swung three-wide off stalling cover at the top of the stretch, rallying to take third.
Morrill won the previous race as well, taking a $12,000 Open Pace with Believe This Bob ($6.00) in 1:51.3.
Earlier in the card, War Hero ($12.80) sustained a middle move, holding off a late charge from Oh No Three O to take the $20,000 Normand Fluet Memorial Invitational Trot.
Chris Lems settled the seven-year-old Ken Warkentin just off the pacesetters before brushing to the fore with just under a circuit to go, working clear of Spice It Up Lindy through a :57.3 first half. On the backstretch, War Hero braced for a first-over challenge from Oh No Three O, accelerating to three-quarters in 1:26.1 and ultimately holding sway by a length for a 1:56.1 triumph. Oh No Three O narrowly held second over Spice It Up Lindy, who was hard pressed for racing room through the final three-eighths of the mile.
Jessica Okusko trains War Hero for owner/breeder Howard Gill.
With respect to the abandoned races (five through 12), all New York Sire Stakes and Excelsior Series events will result in an equal split of purse money and standings points among all entrants in each race. The Nichols True Value Pacing Series final (race seven) will carry over as already drawn to next Sunday (July 5) afternoon's card, but trainers are advised to contact the racing office with respect to driver nominations.
For punters who were live in the early pick three (ending in race five), the 2-1-all combination (Believe This Bob in race three, Buen Camino in race four, and "all" in the cancelled fifth race) returns $3.60 on the 50-cent base wager.
(With files from Tioga Downs)