Oldford Racing, LLC's Stratocaster ($7.60) worked to fend off pressure though the far turn in Sunday (July 17) afternoon's featured Open 2 Pace at Tioga Downs, subsequently edging clear of a belated rally from Dees Rocketman to prevail by one and three-quarter lengths.

John Cummings Jr. floated forward with the five-year-old Rocknroll Hanover entire, letting Winyard Hanover (Jim Meittinis) clear from post nine through a :27 first quarter before pushing to the fore with a circuit remaining in the one-mile event. Stratocaster subsequently faced stern pressure on the backstretch from the first-over Vangura (Corey Braden), who forced a :56 middle half. Stratocaster repelled that challenge off the corner, sprinting off as Dees Rocketman (Fern Paquet Jr.) mounted a late charge off third-over positioning. Stratocaster's lead was never threatened in the straight, and he went on to a convincing 1:52 victory. Dees Rocketman charged into second, while an all-out Winyard Hanover checked in a beleaguered third from the pocket. Favourite Rollin Ring Afire (Jim Marohn Jr.) failed to fire from a second-over trip, finishing eighth in the field of nine.

Allen Sisco trains Stratocaster, now a 23-time winner. For Cummings, the driving win was one of three on the 13-race card. Jim Marohn Jr. also recorded a hat trick on the afternoon.

Buoyed by the defeat of two odds-on favourites in the day's first five races, the 50-cent Pick 5 returned $557.75.

(Tioga Downs)