Trotting Triple Crown winner Marion Marauder made his aged pari-mutuel debut on Sunday (June 11) at Tioga Downs, and he did so in fine fashion, as the O’Brien Award winner triumphed in his $50,000 third-leg division of the Graduate Series.
With his regular pilot, Scott Zeron in tow, Marion Marauder ($6.60) started from the rail in Race 5 and utilized a cautious approach early.
Zeron and the Paula Wellwood trainee sat back off the speed in the early going. Dia Monde (driven by Jody Jamieson) shot out to the lead early and led the field past the opening quarter-mile pole in :28.2. Dia Monde’s time on the point was short lived, though, as the post-time choice, Dayson (Yannick Gingras), moved to the lead and proceeded to click off the opening half-mile pole in :57.
Zeron had Marion Marauder in gear through the third quarter, as the duo was up and battling overland in second by the time Dayson passed the three-quarters pole in 1:25.1. Zeron and the millionaire had reeled-in and passed Dayson by the head of the lane.
When all was said and done, Marion Marauder posted a one-length victory in 1:52.4. Dia Monde rallied to finish second, while Cufflink Hanover (Jason Bartlett) came on for third.
Marion Marauder is owned by Jean Wellwood of Stratford, Ont. and Devin Keeling of Cambridge, Ont.
The Erv Miller-trained and Marcus Miller-driven Trolley ($4.60) had previously kicked off Sunday’s Graduate action in the first of the trotting divisions (Race 3). The favoured son of Donato Hanover was up to the test against his four other foes and prevailed with a one and a quarter-length win in a track-record-lowering 1:52.1 while racing as the chalk.
After having lined up in Post 3, Miller raced Trolley wide down to the quarter pole (:27.3) and grabbed the lead in the second quarter of the dash. He proceeded past the half-mile pole in :54.4 and went on to click off three quarters in 1:23.4. Trolley carried a half-length advantage into the stretch and expanded his lead slightly before trotting under the wire in a new life’s mark of 1:52.1.
Tight Lines (Jeff Gregory), who had raced first-over late, finished second, while Double L Lindy (Ake Svanstedt), who had worked out a two-hole trip, finished further back in third.
Trolley – who is owned by Paymaq Racing, Leland Mathias, Greg Gillis and Louis Willinger – has now won four of his 11 career races and boasts an overall bankroll of more than $230,000.
Fresh off of his Canadian-record performance from one week ago at Mohawk Racetrack, Somebeachsomewhere gelding Dr J Hanover ($7.00) continued his speed show, as the Tony Alagna-trained and Doug McNair-driven bay motored to a sharp 1:48.3 victory in the Graduate Series’ $75,000 third leg for four-year-old pacers.
After having lined up in Post 2, Dr J Hanover shot through the lane and was first to every call. He cut the quarter in :26.3, paced down to the half-mile pole in :54.4, and turned it back on before spinning off three quarters in 1:21.
Dr J Hanover needed to utilize a :27.3 final quarter to fend off a game challenge from Boston Red Rocks (Tim Tetrick), who challenged the leader from the second panel onward and just finished second, three quarters of one length in arrears. Check Six (Yannick Gingras) finished third.
Dr J Hanover is owned by Brad Grant (Milton, Ont.), Robert Leblanc (New York, NY), Steven Wienick, (Delray Beach, FL) and Irwin Samelman (Las Vegas, NV). Dr J Hanover has now won 10 of his 30 career starts and has banked over $400,000 in purses.
The card also featured a $12,000 Open I Pace which was won by Betterlatethnnever ($5.00) in 1:51, and a $10,000 Open II Pace which was won by BJs Guy ($28.40) in 1:50.2.