Making his local debut after chasing top pacers in Delaware, Mary Ann Larrimore's Believe This Bob ($4.10) had no trouble keeping clear of his seven rivals in Sunday (May 24) evening's $14,000 Open Pace at Tioga Downs, holding sway for a 1:50.3 triumph.

The seven-year-old Beach Romeo gelding split fellow leavers Road Untraveled (Brandon Simpson) and Glass Prince (Rick Dane) to assume the pacesetting duties, clicking off a :26.2 first quarter and maintaining the lead through a :55 half-mile. Believe This Bob in fact controlled the terms throughout, edging clear from the pocket-sitting Road Untraveled on the far turn. Upon encouragement from Aaron Byron through the stretch, Believe This Bob dug in to maintain a clear two-length margin over a late-rallying Glass Prince. Glass Prince, who was locked in on the backstretch by Prairie Jaguar (Jim Marohn Jr.), had room to edge off the pegs at head-stretch, narrowly defeating Road Untraveled for second. Prairie Jaguar faded to fourth off his uncovered bid.

Joe Skowyra trains Believe This Bob, now a 27-time winner.

Byron kicked off a driving grand slam in the featured event, reeling off two more wins immediately aboard Oakmont ($4.30, 1:51.3) and NBA Pick ($8.10, 1:55.2) before capturing the finale with Philana Chalice ($40.00, 1:55.2).

Corey Braden and Jim Marohn Jr. both recorded driving doubles on the night, while Edgar "Sparky" Clarke notched a training double on the 10-race card.

Monday (May 25) afternoon's all-stakes card kicks off at 1:30 p.m. Eastern time, with first-round Graduate action for four-year-olds and New York Sire Stakes events for three-year-old pacing fillies comprising the entirety of the 13-race card.

(Tioga Downs)