Fresh off a front-end win in last week's featured event, Fireyourguns made the winning move on the far turn to prevail in going-away fashion in Sunday (May 11) afternoon's $14,000 Open I Pace at Tioga Downs.
The five-year-old American Ideal gelding was parked on the first turn before settling just behind the pacesetting pair of Prairie Jaguar (Jim Marohn Jr.) and Steelhead Hanover (Joe Pavia Jr.). With Prairie Jaguar clicking off a :54.4 half-mile and a subsequent 1:22.3 three-quarters split, Aaron Byron angled Fireyourguns out, taking second on the far turn and continuing right on to take the lead off the corner, pulling clear through the stretch for a 1:51.4 score. Prairie Jaguar held second, while Real Flight (Brandon Simpson) made a mild belated rally to take third. Odds-on favourite Steelhead Hanover was devoid of late kick after tracking the fast initial pace, fading to fourth.
Trainer Terence McClory co-owns Fireyourguns, who now has five straight wins dating back to October 2013, with Jennifer and Robert Lowe.
The $11,000 Open II Pace saw Western Trademark rally three-wide off the last turn for a 1:54.1 victory in rein to Sean Bier.
Live racing returns to Tioga Downs on Friday (May 16) evening, with first post scheduled for 6:15 p.m. EDT.
(With files from Tioga Downs)