Super Duper Cooper Takes Open; Warren Wins 2,000th
Super Duper Cooper went back-to-back in the $21,528 Open Handicap Trot at Tioga Downs with a first-over move to take the feature on Saturday, Aug. 29.
Braxten Boyd settled Super Duper Cooper into fourth as Makes Me Charlie (Ridge Warren) went to the front and led through opening panels of :27.3 and :56.1. Super Duper Cooper marched as they straightened for the backstretch, and the gelding pushed up through three-quarters in 1:24.2 to engage the pacesetter on the last turn. He strode by Makes Me Charlie at the top of the lane and trotted clear to a two-length score in 1:54.4. El Toro Loco (Tom Merton) came on for second over Makes Me Charlie.
Super Duper Cooper, a five-year-old son of E L Titan-Pink Power, is owned by Pollack Racing LLC and trained by Enrico Robinson. The win was his seventh of the year in 25 appearances and 19th of his career from 76 starts. He paid $3.28 to win.
Ridge Warren won twice on the card to hit the 2,000-career-victory mark. The reinsman went back-to-back in the 10th and 11th races, securing the milestone as he got Raven Banner N ($3.28) home off a three-wide move for owner-trainer Brienne Sinclair. The nine-year-old Bettors Delight-Caitlin Banner gelding paced the mile in 1:53.1 in the 1-3/4-length win.
Warren recorded his first win at Maywood Park in 2007. He has hit three digits in wins in his last six years, including 188 this season. His lifetime totals now read 2,000 wins and $23,007,195 in earnings in 18,145 starts.
Driver Mitchell Cushing had a big night with four winners on the 12-race card. He was first with Double Account ($16.50), Buddywontletyadown ($3.86), Father Mike ($5.38) and Solesseo Matuca A ($5.02). Braxten Boyd drove three winners. Enrico Robinson and Jamie Daley had training doubles.
Tioga Downs hosts its next card with the Empire Breeders Classic for three-year-old pacers of each sex on Sunday. First post is set for 12:30 p.m.
(Tioga Downs & Standardbred Canada; photo of Super Duper Cooper winning on Aug. 29)