Natameri, Cant Say No Win Tioga Opens
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Natameri and Cant Say No grabbed the co-features at Tioga Downs on Saturday (Sept. 17).
Natameri took the $15,000 Michael Gene Slavin Memorial Open Pace.
Natameri went to the front and led to the quarter in :26.3. Our Majordan A went by with a circuit to go and led to the half in :55. Natameri came first over heading to the final turn. Our Majordan A had a short lead to three-quarters in 1:23.
As they made the turn for home, Natameri took control. Keystone Tenacious became the major danger and went all out after the leader. Natameri dug in as second place finisher Keystone Tenacious kept coming. Natameri held strong and won is 1:51.3. Straight Up Cool finished third.
Natameri is a four-year-old horse by American Ideal. He is owned by the Purple Haze Stables and trained by Jessica Okusko. It was his seventh win in nine starts this season. He now has 13 victories. Mike Simons drove the $7.20 winner.
Cant Say No won the $15,000 Open Trot.
Marion Gondolier got the first call but Cant Say No took over just before hitting the first quarter in :28. Marion Gondolier took the lead back with a lap to go and was first to the half in :56.3. Cant Say No made a first-over move heading for the final turn. Marion Gondolier was first to three-quarters in 1:25.2.
Cant Say No took over as they reached the stretch but had to brace for a late rush by second-place finisher Altus Hanover. Cant Say No wins in 1:55. Meadowbranch Ricky finished third.
Cant Say No is a five-year-old horse by Explosive Matter. He is owned by Jemaxpo Stable and trained by Tee Wine. It was his seventh win this season. He now has 16 victories. Mike Merton drove the $3.80 winner.
Mike Watson trained four winners on the card. He got his wins with Look In My Eyes ($3.20 to win), Bilbo Hanover ($27.20), Rifleman ($7.50), and Crack A Smile ($2.80).
With just two cards left in the 2022 season, Wally Hennessey leads all drivers with 127 wins. Mike Merton is second with 99 tallies. Corey Braden (49), Brandon Parker (44), and Aaron Byron (42) rounds out the top five.
The trainer’s title is going down to the wire. Mike Deters and Patti Harmon are in a flat-footed tie for first with 43 wins each. Gaston Lareau is third with 27 first place finishes. Jim McDonald (26), and Joe Skowyra (23) round out the top five.
Tioga Downs returns to live racing for its last weekend of the season. The track will race on Friday (Sept. 23) and end the season on Saturday (Sept. 24). Post time for both days is 3 p.m. (EDT).
(Tioga Downs)