Trotslikethewind shipped in to Tioga Downs on Saturday night and left with the lion’s share of the $16,500 purse in the Open Handicap Trot
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Greg Grismore got away fifth with Trotslikethewind as heavy favourite Aruba Vacation (Fern Paquet, Jr.) cut through fractions of :27.3 and :58. Trotslikethewind moved to the outer flow and caught cover behind Get Chipped (Michael Merton), but was unable to keep up as Get Chipped pressed at the leader’s throat through the third quarter trotted in :28 reaching three-quarter pole in 1:26. As the field turned for home Trotslikethewind inched closer to the dueling leaders and split the rivals in the stretch to win in a new lifetime best of 1:55.2. Get Chipped (Mike Merton) held strong for second after a tough first over grind, while Aruba Vacation (Fern Paquet Jr.) hung on for show.
It was the initial win of the season for Trotslikethewind who is a six-year old daughter of Pegasus Spur–Familiar Goal.
Tioga Downs hosts one of its marquee events of the year on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m., featuring the eliminations of the $500,000 Empire Breeders’ Classic for three-year old New York-bred pacers.
The fields feature some of last year’s freshman sensations Feel Like A Fool, Fashion Delight and the undefeated See You At Peelers. Also highlighting Tioga’s Sunday afternoon card is the $10,000 guaranteed Pick Six on the final six races of the afternoon.
(Tioga Downs)