Tioga Downs hosted the first leg of the Miss Versatility trotting series on Sunday afternoon, which saw Autumn Escapade blaze to victory, setting a new track record for aged trotting mares and matching the fastest trotting mile ever at the track
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George Brennan was in town to pilot Autumn Escapade from post position number three. Going to the quarter, Brennan was sitting second behind Pembroke Heat Wave (Ed Hensley), who was hot on the front end turning the cold shoulder to Miss Dangles (Matt Kakaley) through fractions of :27 and :55.3.
As the field reached the half mile mark of the race Brennan took hold off Autumn Escapade and made room for the parked out Kakaley in the two-hole before pulling first over to storm to the lead and trip three-quarters in 1:23.2.
Around the final turn, Brennan asked Autumn Escapade for more as Frosty Flirt (Greg Merton) made a late bid on the leader, but the duo hung tough at the wire in a new track record time for aged trotting mares in 1:52.3. The mile also equaled the fastest mile ever trotted at Tioga Downs, established in 2010 by Manningly (Jeff Gregory), and was a new lifetime mark for Autumn Escapade.
Jonas Czernyson trains the six-year-old daughter of Victory Sam-Winning Colors K for David and Misty Miller of Cream Ridge, New Jersey.
Frosty Flirt (Greg Merton) secured second while Sea Raven (Howard Parker) got up for third.
P L Conjure (Jim Meittinis) took home the $39,000 Williams Auto Trot final in front end fashion in a lifetime best equaling 1:53.4 for trainer Tyler Raymer.
In the $40,600 Nichols True Value Pace, Dry Gulch (George Brennan) overcame post position number nine and controlled at all panels to score in 1:51.
Phil Fluet posted a driving triple on the afternoon’s 11-race card, while George Brennan and Matt Kakaley each posted driving doubles.
(With files from Tioga Downs)