Eastend Eddie made a round trip to victory lane Sunday afternoon in the $16,000 Open Handicap Pace at Tioga Downs.
Starting from post seven in a field of eight, Jim Marohn Jr. backed Eastend Eddie off to last as the field was led to the quarter in :27 by Sheer Brilliance (Aaron Byron). The 6-5 betting favourite Pence Hanover (Andrew McCarthy) was parked and pressing on the leader by the half mile mark of the race in 55.2.
Down the backside, Corey Braden pulled Fireyourguns three wide through a third panel in :27.3 but couldn’t even move into the second position past Pence Hanover by three quarters in 1:23. Around the final turn Marohn was still sitting last as the field straightened up in the lane, and down the stretch Eastend Eddie exploded five wide to win by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:51.2. Sheer Brilliance and Aaron Byron despite taking pressure the entire mile hung on for second, while May Day (Jim Taggart Jr.) finished third.
Ron Burke trains the five-year old gelded son of Million Dollar Cam – Armbro Cinema for Burke Racing LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC of Pennsylvania. Eastend Eddie, who was crowned Pacer of the Year last season at Tioga Downs, posted his fourth win in eighteen seasonal starts and with the win he increased his seasonal earnings to more than $41,000.
(Tioga Downs)