The last time Atlanta competed in a pari-mutuel race, she won the $238,610 Empire Breeders Classic at Vernon Downs on May 28 in a track-record time of 1:50.3. She returns to action on Sunday (June 24) at Tioga Downs in the second of three $40,600 New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) divisions on the card.
Atlanta, driven by Scott Zeron, is the overwhelming 4-5 morning-line favourite in the second division. Trained by Rick Zeron for owners Holland Racing Stable, Howard Taylor and Bradley Grant, the daughter of Chapter Seven has won all three of her 2018 starts and boasts seven career victories. Her main rivals in the second division are a pair of Åke Svanstedt trainees in Ciao Dolce (Jason Bartlett) and Plunge Blue Chip (Svanstedt), coupled as the 3-1 second choice.
Ciao Dolce, by Credit Winner, is owned by Kjell Anderson. She has won her last two races, both in NYSS action. Plunge Blue Chip, by Muscle Mass, is owned by Svanstedt, Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc. and Tomas Andersson. She is two-for-three in 2018, with her only loss this season a second-place finish against Atlanta in the Empire Breeders Classic final. She has won 11 times in 13 career starts.
In the first division of the NYSS, Lucky Ava (Svanstedt) is the 2-1 morning-line favourite. Owned by trainer Svanstedt in partnership with Little E LLC and Van Camp Trotting, she is four-for-five as a sophomore. The daughter of Lucky Chucky has captured three NYSS legs already this season. The second morning-line choice is Tribute To Seven (Zeron). Trained by Linda Toscano for owner Richard Gutnick, the daughter of Chapter Seven is two-for-six in 2018, including winning a leg of the NYSS.
In the final division of the NYSS to be contested on Sunday, the morning line choice at 3-1 is Fury Road (Svandstedt). Trained by Svanstedt for owner Knutson Trotting Inc., the Muscle Mass filly has won two NYSS events already this season. She has five wins and five seconds in her racing career. The second choice in the third division at 7-2 is the Chapter Seven filly Repentance (Scott Zeron). She is owned by Diamond Creek Racing and trained by Linda Toscano. She is one-for-three in her sophomore season and was fifth in the Empire Breeders Classic final.
The 15-race card for Sunday (June 24) at Tioga Downs is set to start at 1 p.m.
For more information, go to www.tiogadowns.com.