After a pair of narrow misses, driver Aaron Byron brushed early with Fireyourguns ($3.80) in Tioga Downs’ $14,000 Open Handicap Pace on Monday, June 2.
Fireyourguns never looking back en route to a five and a quarter-length victory.
Just off the flank of the pocket-sitting Golden Gun (driven by John Cummings Jr.) on the first turn, the five-year-old American Ideal gelding stalked Prairie Jaguar (Jim Marohn Jr.) through a :27.1 first quarter before pushing to the fore. With a circuit to go, Fireyourguns was able to clear the front, but maintained a hot pace through a :54.2 half mile while Prairie Jaguar maintained a close tracking trip from the pocket.
On the backstretch, Fireyourguns accelerated well clear of the others, extending his lead gradually en route to a powerful 1:50 victory. Prairie Jaguar held second, while Life Up Front (Bruce Aldrich Jr.) sustained a gradual bid to take third.
Fireyourguns, owned by Jennifer and Robert Lowe in partnership with trainer Terence McClory, took a new lifetime mark in his fifth win of 2014.
Live racing resumes at Tioga Downs on Friday, June 6, with first post scheduled for 6:15 p.m. EDT.
(Tioga)