Last year’s two-year old champion See You At Peelers started off the year with her fourteenth consecutive victory in the first division of the Empire Breeders’ Classic on Sunday afternoon at Tioga Downs
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Settling in third through the early parts of the race Marcus Johansson tipped the three-year old daughter of Bettors Delight–West Side Glory to the outside and took control of the race. Swinging Beauty and Scott Zeron settled in second as the field passed through fractions of :56.1 and 1:23.2 before Johansson stepped clear of Swinging Beauty in a new national season’s, stakes and track record of 1:50.4. Swinging Beauty paced home second, while Miss Annie J (Jason Bartlett), and Whats New Pussycat (George Brennan) both qualified for next week’s $279,175 (est.) final.
“To win fourteen straight is really tough. She had an unbelievable stretch drive today and 1:50.4 is pretty respectable. Everyone asked me who was going to pick up the drive on her this year and I gave Marcus (Johansson) a shot. He has been with me for quite a while now and he deserves a shot at a good filly like her,” said Jimmy Takter, trainer of See You At Peelers. “On a big track I think she is outsized and would maybe be in a little too tough, but on a half or five eighths I wouldn’t be afraid of anyone” said Takter when asked if See You At Peelers could go with the boys.
In the first division for the three-year old pacing colts, Roadside Delight (George Brennan) left like a rocket from the rail and quickly opened up a four or five length advantage before the first eighth of a mile. Brennan then grabbed hold of Roadside Delight and rated him through fractions of :26.3 and :56 before stepping on the gas in the third quarter to reach three quarters in 1:22.2. Feel Like A Fool and Brian Sears were sitting fourth on the rail and were forced into a first over grind through the :26.2 third quarter with Fashion Delight (David Miller) sitting the pocket. However, Roadside Delight had no real threats through the stretch and cruised home a winner in a national season’s, stakes and track record of 1:50.1.
“He was very good today, I didn’t know too much about him coming in and that’s why I tried to step away from them in third quarter. I didn’t have to go that much but I didn’t want anyone to get close to him. He is the real deal, a very nice colt,” said George Brennan after his victory in the EBC elimination with Roadside Delight.
Taking home the second division for three-year old pacing colts was Fantaddy (Scott Zeron) who came first over at Samandar and cleared the leader around the final turn. Fantaddy won well in hand in 1:52, with Samandar holding second, Flipper J third, and Bettors Green finishing fourth also qualifying for next week’s $289,925 (est.) final.
In the second division for pacing fillies, New Album and George Brennan watched Some Girls Do cut through torrid fractions of :26.1 and :54.3 before coming first over to eventually clear the tiring leader and hang on right at the wire in 1:52. Shyaway closed four-wide down the stretch for second, Southwind Jazmin hung on for third, while Song In A Major followed the cover flow to finish fourth and also qualify for next week’s final.
The nine pacing colts qualifying for next Sunday night’s Empire Breeders’ Classic in alphabetical order are: American Arena, Bettors Green, Fantaddy, Fashion Delight, Feel Like A Fool, Flipper J, Roadside Delight, and Samandar. Drawing in for the final spot was Sir Ziggys Z Tam.
The nine pacing fillies qualifying for next Sunday night’s Empire Breeders’ Classic final in alphabetical order are: Miss Annie J, New Album, See You At Peelers, Shyaway, Song In A Major, Southwind Jazmin, Swinging Beauty, and Whats New Pussycat. Drawing in for the final spot was Winbak Corazon.
(Tioga Downs)