Trainer McKenzie Sowers won three of the eight races at Tioga Downs on Saturday, May 23, including the feature with Grey Clouds, who flourished under murky skies and over a sloppy track in the $12,329 optional-claiming trot.
Grey Clouds, driven by Ron Cushing, went straight to the front and led to the quarter in :27.3. Louminator (Jim Pantaleano) was moving up along the outside at that point but broke stride, allowing Grey Clouds to back down the tempo to the half in :57.1. Vali Hanover (Tyler Miller) came first-up to challenge going down the backstretch, but Grey Clouds shook him off approaching three-quarters in 1:25.3. Grey Clouds found another gear coming into the lane and drew away to a 3-1/4-length win in 1:55.4. Beaueastel (Mike Merton) came charging late to nab Vali Hanover for place.
Grey Clouds took his first win for Sowers after place finishes at The Meadowlands and Tioga in his first two starts of the year. The seven-year-old by Chapter Seven-Crazy Grigio is owned by Robert Kluchevitz. The grey gelding is now 17-for-92 lifetime. He paid $7.22 to win.
Sowers also won with Lyons Miki ($8.72) and Eazy Hunting ($4.02), both driven by Cushing. The eighth-year trainer has 34 wins this season in 181 starts. With that total, she has already beaten her previous-best year of 28 victories. The Monticello, N.Y.-based trainer is now second in the Tioga standings with eight wins, two back of Mike Deters.
Driver James Kennedy and trainer Bruce Clark combined for a double on the program.
Tioga Downs will host its next card on Sunday, starting at 12:30 p.m.
(With files from Tioga Downs; photo of Grey Clouds winning on Sept. 2, 2023)