On a windy, rainy night at Tioga Downs, the first leg of the Morrisville College Sale late closer was contested with three divisions going behind the gate
. The series is for trotters three to five years old that are non-winners of five races or $60,000 lifetime through April 14, 2012.
In the first $10,000 division, race favourite Opinion Hanover left from the gate to take the field through fractions of :29.2, 1:00.3, and 1:28.4. Unchallenged throughout, Sean Bier cruised through the wire with the four- year-old gelding in 1:57.4. Mr Fenwick was second and Permanent Joy rounded out the tri.
In the second division, To Cash A Tune benefitted from a perfect steer by driver Mike Merton. The duo sat along the rail third through fractions of :27.4, :58, and 1:27.3 while the battle raged early with Dangerismybusiness and In Nomine Patri locked in a muscle tussle on the front end. In the stretch, Dangerismybusiness tired and Merton moved To Cash A Tune up the inside for a two length victory in 1:59. South Jersey Bugsy got up for second and In Nomine Patri held on the third.
The third and final division featured an upset winner with a 21-1 shot crossing the wire first. Just like his namesake wasn’t built in a day, Rome and driver Jim Marohn Jr. patiently sat fourth along the pylons while race leader Client Nine carved out the fractions of :28.1, :58 and 1:27.1. At the top of the stretch, Marohn angled out Rome and rolled past the race leaders stopping the timer in 1:58.3.
Tioga’s 2011 Pacer of the Year Leanback Coco got back on track with her first win in the 2012 meet in the $16,500 Fillies & Mares Open Handicap Pace. Driver Jim Meittinis sat a perfect pocket trip and edged out in the stretch to slip past a tiring All About Kisses to a three and a half length victory in 1:53.4. Smoke Pan Mirrors closed from far back to finish second while Just A Glimpse came on late to finish third.
Driver Jim Marohn Jr. had five winners on Friday’s card while Mike Merton notched win number 1,999 in the sixth race. Merton will have four chances for win number 2,000 on Saturday night’s card beginning with the 7/2 second choice Technicalybroadway in the second race. Saturday’s 12-race card kicks off at 6:50 p.m.
(With files from Tioga Downs)