Livonjaxandqueens dug in down the lane to win the $22,143 Open Handicap Pace by a head at Tioga Downs on Sunday, June 28.
Livonjaxandqueens, driven by Braxten Boyd, went to the front and led to the quarter in a quick :26.1 and was in uncontested control past the half in :55. Flag Party (Joe Chindano Jr.) slid out of third and made his way alongside the pacesetter, racing a half-length back at three-quarters in 1:22. As they reached the stretch, pocket-sitter Red Blooded (Jim Pantaleano) attacked at the pylons while Hunting Zone (Colin Kelly) went around a tiring Flag Party to go after the leader. Red Blooded kept coming into deep-stretch, but Livonjaxandqueens held on to win in 1:51. Hunting Zone finished third, three-quarters of a length back
Livonjaxandqueens scored his first Tioga Open win of the year to improve his seasonal record to four-for-14 for trainer Jim Rothfuss. The six-year-old American Ideal-Its De Lovely stallion, owned by Howard and Andrew Ouriel, is now 28-for-102 lifetime. He paid $4.42 to win.
Braxten Boyd and Lauren Tritton each had a driving triple on the 14-race card. Drivers Jim Pantaleano and Tom Merton and trainers Shane Tritton, McKenzie Sowers and Mike Deters all took two wins.
Tioga Downs will host its next card on Friday, July 3, starting at 6:15 p.m.
(With files from Tioga Downs)