Tioga Downs’ 2008 Horse of the Year, Winbak Dimensions, started off the 2011 race season in mid-season form on Sunday afternoon at Tioga Downs
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Matt Kakaley hustled Winbak Dimensions to the front from post three and let through an opening panel of :27.4 before releasing the favourite, JK Kinahurra, and Jason Bartlett. Kakaley then sat the pocket behind Bartlett through fractions of :56.4 and 1:24.1 before pulling to the outside for the stretch drive. Winbak Dimensions stopped the teletimer in 1:51.4 to record the 32nd win of his career. The eight-year old is owned by William and Jack Heinz of Ohio and is conditioned by one of Tioga Downs’ leading trainers since day one in 2006, Jim Perry.
Four divisions of the Kenneth J Pacing Series also highlighted Sunday afternoon’s racing program with Black Ace Hanover turning in one of the most impressive wins on the day. Jason Bartlett steered the three-year old gelded son of Cams Card Shark–Bet Again Hanover for trainer Scott Blackler. The mile of 1:54.3 established a new lifetime mark for Black Ace Hanover.
The other divisional winners were Willies Dragon (Kyle Di Benedetto - 1:53.4), Gotta Love Him (Matt Kakaley - 1:53.4) and All Tricked Out (Kyle Di Benedetto - 1:54).
Matt Kakaley and Jason Bartlett each posted driving triples on the afternoon’s thirteen race card, while Kyle Di Benedetto chalked up a double. After the first weekend of racing in the 2011 race season, Greg Grismore leads all drivers with four wins followed by Jason Bartlett and Matt Kakaley with three, and Ed Hensley, Lewayne Miller, Bruce Aldrich Jr., and Kyle Di Benedetto with two.
(Tioga Downs)