After a relaxed mid-pack start, Bourbon Bay ($7.70) sustained a push to the fore en route to a 1:54.2 victory in Saturday (June 13) evening's $14,000 Open Trot at Tioga Downs.
The four-year-old Sand Vic gelding was away slowly, settling into the fourth spot after Tag Up And Go (Kyle DiBenedetto) and Its Payday Friday (Dan Clements) both broke stride in the early stages. After Awsome Valley (Aaron Byron) crossed and cleared from the extreme outside to establish the lead through a :28.1 first quarter, lessee/driver John Cummings Jr. strode to the top spot with Bourbon Bay, brushing with a circuit to go before reaching race's mid-point in :57.2. Heading to the far turn, Awsome Valley edged out of the pocket to give chase, but Bourbon Bay held sway under a drive, prevailing by a length in 1:54.2. Tag Up And Go recovered from his early break, closing second-over on the backstretch and holding third.
Megan Wilson handles the training duties of Bourbon Bay, who scored his fourth local win in as many starts on the season.
The sub-featured $10,000 Open II Trot saw Valley Of Sin ($9.50) kick cover on the far turn, drawing clear of Twin B Spike Man (Aaron Byron) for a 1:54.3 triumph. Jim Meittinis drove the five-year-old Yankee Glide entire for trainer John Butenschoen. For Valley Of Sin, it was his second victory in as many starts since coming back off a 22-month layoff.
Live racing returns to Tioga on Sunday (June 14) afternoon, with a 12-race program kicking off at 1:30 p.m. Eastern time.
(Tioga Downs)