Wind Of The North ($4.60) and trainer/driver Jeff Long breezed by in the stretch and held on to win the $12,000 Open Trot at Tioga Downs on Saturday night (June 24).
Lucid Thoughts (Tom Jackson) led from just after the first quarter then all the way to the top of the stretch. Wind Of The North, who is owned by Daryl Bier and Joann Dombeck while trained by Long, went three-wide to charge to the front. The seven-year-old gelding by Cantab Hall had to hold off the late-charging Prairie Fortune (Jim Meittinis) in deep stretch. Wind Of The North found something extra to win in 1:54.2 by half a length. First leader On The Podium (Mike Merton) finished third.
Long also won with Too Much Man ($4.20) on Saturday night. The three-year-old Deweycheatumnhowe gelding, who is owned by Ed Reich and trainer Paul Long, had it a lot easier going gate-to-wire in 1:58. Too Much Man won for the second straight start. Joey Pro (Mickey Mc Nichol) came in second and Just Like Bud (Corey Braden) got third.
David Glasser and Celebrity Stimulus ($4.80) were victorious in the $6,000 CKG Billings Amateur Driving Series race on Saturday night at Tioga.
Celebrity Stimulus charged right out of the gate and lead from the outset. The seven-year-old gelding by Cantab Hall, who is owned by Glasser Racing LLC and trained by John Butenschoen, put up the fractions of :28.2, :58 and 1:27.1 en route to victory in 1:57.4. Sams Honeybee (Tony Verruso) came up late to finish second. Jelectric (Bob Davis) was third.
“I've had Stim parked and been unable to get him to the front where he likes it best. Tonight, we were able to get there," said Glasser via email. "In the third quarter, I tried to open up some distance and tonight we had the racing luck and he was ready. Team Butenschoen always sends him ready to go, I just am not always able to get him his best trip. Tonight I was!”
For the president of a litigation support company, it was his third winner this season and his 35th of his amateur driving career.
Tioga Downs returns to action Sunday afternoon (June 25) with a 12-race card starting at 1 p.m.
(With files from Tioga Downs & Billing Series)