Making her much-anticipated return to the races off her 2014 Horse of the Year campaign, the 3 Brothers Stables' JK Shesalady sustained a first-over bid to beat seven New York Sire Stakes foes as part of an all-stakes card on Monday afternoon at Tioga Downs.
The three-year-old daughter of Art Major-Presidential Lady was in no hurry through an initial :55.2 half mile, stalking from fourth as Single Me (Brett Miller) took command from Bettor N Better (Yannick Gingras) with a circuit to go. On the backstretch, Tim Tetrick moved the undefeated JK Shesalady first-over, steadily closing in on Single Me through three-quarters in 1:22.3, working up to the lead at the top of the stretch. Off the corner, JK Shesalady kicked clear by two lengths, kept to task in a 1:51.2 victory over Single Me and a stalking Divine Caroline (David Miller).
Nancy Johansson trains JK Shesalady, who improved her career record to 13 wins in as many starts.
The three other New York Sire Stakes winners on the afternoon were Bettorhaveanother ($2.50, Jim Morrill, Jr., 1:51), Bettor Be Steppin ($2.30, Corey Callahan, 1:51.2), and Rock Me Gently ($11.20, Scott Zeron, 1:52).
The Memorial Day program also featured the first leg of the new Graduate series for four-year-old trotters and pacers, with two $37,500 divisions carded on each gait.
Both pacing divisions resulted in track records, as Doo Wop Hanover ($2.20) powered clear of his six rivals on the backstretch en route to a 1:47.4 score. The four-year-old Rocknroll Hanover entire drew off by 7-1/2 lengths after sustaining his middle move, keeping clear of Rock Out (Scott Zeron) and Mattamerican (Mark MacDonald), both of whom passed early pacesetter Lyonssomewhere (Andy Miller) after the latter tired from dictating a :53.4 half mile.
Hall-of-Fame driver John Campbell was in the bike for Doo Wop Hanover's mile, which knocked two fifths of a second over the previous all-age pacing record at Tioga. Steve Elliott trains Doo Wop Hanover for owners Peter Blood and Rick Berks.
Not even 40 minutes later, Rockeyed Optimist ($3.90) broke the track record for four-year-old pacing geldings, turning aside Three of Clubs (Brian Sears) in a 1:48.1 Graduate win. Tim Tetrick drove the Rocknroll Hanover gelding, pushing clear with a circuit to go before prevailing in an extended battle through the far turn. Limelight Beach (Yannick Gingras) stayed on well from the pocket to maintain third after pushing the pace early.
Another Elliott trainee, Rockeyed Optimist is owned by Anthony Perretti, Virginia Berkner, the A and B Stable, and Joseph Battaglia.
Four-year-old trotters contested their Graduate divisions earlier in the afternoon, with distaffer Shake It Cerry ($2.90) beating the boys in the five-horse first division. After getting away at the back of the pack, the Donato Hanover mare steadily advanced to the front through a :55.2 half mile, opening up at will for a 1:52.4 score over Sumatra (David Miller) and Datsyuk (Charlie Norris).
Trainer Jimmy Takter handled the driving duties aboard Shake It Cerry, who is owned by Solveig's Racing Partners.
Likewise, Opulent Yankee ($6.20) drew clear of his rivals at head-stretch in the other Graduate division, edging clear of the late-rallying Madewell Hanover (Chris Ryder) and Resolve (Åke Svanstedt) in a 1:52.3 triumph. Andy Miller drove the Muscles Yankee gelding for trainer Julie Miller and owners Little E, LLC, Arthur Geiger, Jason Settlemoir and David Stolz.
Tim Tetrick led all drivers on the card, registering a grand slam on the 13-race program.
(Tioga Downs)