Mary Ann Larrimore's Believe This Bob ($5.80) enjoyed a pocket trip en route to a lifetime-best 1:49.4 victory in Sunday (July 24) afternoon's featured $11,000 Open 1 Handicap Pace at Tioga Downs.

The eight-year-old Beach Romeo gelding ceded the lead to 7-5 favourite Fireyourguns (Jim Meittinis) in the first 100 yards, enjoying a cozy pocket trip through splits of :26.2 and :55.1. On the backstretch, Believe This Bob found himself boxed as Piece Of The Rock (Vinny Ginsburg) sustained first-over pressure to force a :27.2 third quarter. Fireyourguns responded in kind to turn aside Piece Of The Rock at head-stretch, but Mike Simons was able to angle Believe This Bob out of the pocket to give chase upon cornering. Ultimately, Believe This Bob lifted to the lead in the final yards, collaring Fireyourguns by half a length. Lauxmont Capri (Jim Taggart Jr.) stayed on for third off a traffic-troubled stalking trip, another one and a half lengths back.

Joe Skowyra trains Believe This Bob, now a 37-time winner and a winner in four of his last six Open events in the Southern Tier.

No one hit the 50-cent Pick 5, resulting in a carryover of $556.05 to Friday (July 29) evening's card. First post is set for 6:30 p.m. Eastern.

(Tioga Downs)