As track announcer Peter Kyte called it Handsome Harry was handsome indeed in the $32,700 final of the Tioga Country Club Pacing Series at Tioga Downs on Saturday night
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Andy Santeramo steered the three-year-old son of Dream Away-Princess Jocelyn to a new lifetime mark of 1:51.3. Handsome Harry was on the front as the field passed the quarter in :27.1, but had to relinquish the lead to the hard pressed Mr Jerry C and Jim Taggart Jr. However, as soon as the duo cleared to the front Santeramo was right back out to grab the racetrack and take the field to the half in 55.4.
Howard Parker and Really Rockin were first over to press the leader through a third quarter of :27.3, stopping the three-quarter tele-timer in 1:23.2. Handsome Harry easily rebuffed the challenge and quickly opened up on the field at the top of the stretch where he was on cruise control to the wire.
Really Rockin and Howard Parker hung on for second, while Up Front Red River and Tom Jackson got up for third.
It was the fourth straight win at Tioga Downs for Handsome Harry who is trained by Mark Ford for Ralph Del Priore and Harry Doyle of New York and New Jersey. Handsome Harry now sports a record of six wins, two seconds, and two thirds in ten seasonal starts with earnings of more than $46,000.
VP of Racing and simulcast Jason Settlemoir interviewed Andy Santeramo in the winner’s circle following the race. “He is such a nice horse to drive, handy, and very fast,” said Santeramo with a chuckle. “He is probably one of the nicest three-year-olds I have ever driven."
Jimmy Marohn, Jr., who is nearing the 1,000-win milestone, picked up right where he left off on Friday night, by posting a driving grand slam on Saturday night’s 10-race card. The resident of Wallington, New Jersey has recorded 108 victories this year and 997 in his career earning over $5 million in purses.
(With files from Tioga Downs)