It was a day dedicated to sophomore pacing stars at Tioga Downs on Sunday afternoon, with Hulas Z Tam, Barks Like A Dog, Malicious, and Dr Dreamy winning their respective Empire Breeder’s Classic

eliminations.

Malicious (David Miller) took home the first $12,500 division for the colt pacers by cutting through fractions of :26.3, :57.2 and 1:24.1 before sprinting home in :27.2 holding off Jo Pas Fod (John Campbell) in 1:51.3. Windfall Blue Chip (Brian Sears) tried a first-over grind, but tired and finished third. Fourth-place finisher Ok Commander (Doug McNair) also qualified for next Sunday’s $217,250 final.

Trainer Dr. Ian Moore co-owns the son of Bettors Delight-Silky with Serge Savard of Saint-Bruno, QC and R G McGroup Ltd of Bathurst, NB. It was the first start of the year for the eight-time winner, who stashed away close to $350,000 in his rookie season.

In the second division for the colts, Dr Dreamy (Brian Sears) throttled to the front out of post position one and never slowed the pace through fractions of :27.2, :55.3 and 1:23.1 before fighting off Major Work Of Art (Phil Fluet) in the stretch to win in 1:51.3. Art Two D Two (Joe Pavia, Jr.) used a two-hole trip to finish third , while S N P Bluechip (Doug McNair) finished fourth and will also start in next Sunday’s finale.

The two fifth place finishers Flexjet and TGIF were drawn to see who would join the eight horses in next week’s final, and Flexjet came out of the draw in the race, with TGIF being labeled as the first also eligible.

George Teague, Jr. trains the son of Art Major-Candy Stripes, who won seven of his nine starts last season and banked close to $180,000 for Only Money Inc, George Teague Jr Inc, Ted Gewertz and Teague Racing Partnership.

The 2009 New York Sire Stakes Champion Hulas Z Tam (Pat Lachance) got away last in the first division for the fillies, but used a second-over trip to capture her first start of the year in 1:53.4. Shaky Hanover (Jason Bartlett) cut out fractions of :28.2, :58 and 1:25.2 before tiring in the stretch to finish third, while Galimony (George Brennan) finished second. Love And Honor (D. R. Ackerman) paced late through the stretch to finish fourth and also qualify for next Sunday’s $202,200 final.

The daughter of Bettors Delight-Tsunami Hanover went 6-for-7 in her freshman campaign and stashed away more than $256,000 in earnings for owners Z Tam Racing LLC, Margaret Key and Patrick Lachance.

In the second division for the fillies, Barks Like A Dog (Ray Schnittker) made the front and lulled the field to sleep through fractions of :27.4 and :57.4 before pacing a third quarter in :27.1 to separate themselves from the field and win in 1:53.1. Rough Sketch (Jim Morrill, Jr.) finished second, Tia Maria Hanover (Jim Marohn, Jr.) was third, and Ladybones (Brian Sears) finished fourth.

Lady Major and Maxs Leading Lady both finished fifth in their respective divisions and were drawn to see who would get the final spot in the final, with Lady Major drawing in. Maxs Leading Lady will be the first also eligible.

It was the first win of the season for the Bettors Delight-Poodle Party miss, who went 4-for-10 last year and banked just over $133,000. She is owned by New York partners Ray Schnittker, Ted Gewertz and Charles Iannazzo.

(Tioga Downs)