Storyeum was solid gold in Sunday afternoon’s $16,500 Open Handicap pace at Tioga Downs for white-hot driver Ed Hensley, who celebrated a five-win performance on the 13-race card
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Hensley left from post position four in a field of seven and settled in the pocket behind 2-5 favorite Hes Gorgeous (Greg Merton), however, Hensley was not happy with the pocket trip and moved Storyeum right back to the front through fractions of :56, and 1:24.3. Heavy favourite Hes Gorgeous sat the two-hole trip but couldn’t pick up the leader down the stretch and Storyeum went on to record his fifth win of the year in 1:52.3. Hes Gorgeous (Greg Merton) hung on for second, while Western Smoocher (Rick Plano) got up for third.
In the opening divisions of the Nichols True Value Pace, Modern Day Clyde and Corey Braden used a two-hole trip to bust loose in the lane and post a huge upset over heavy favourite JK Kinahurra for trainer Colby Hubble. The 34-1 long shot gunned by the leaders down the stretch to score in 1:53.4 for his fifth win in nine seasonal starts.
Dry Gulch was the heavy bet favourite in the second division and didn’t let his backers down as Merton stepped through fractions of :26.2 and :56. Down the backside, Cracker Pullet and Mike Micallef pulled the pocket on Dry Gulch and these two engaged in a cut throat duel around the final turn after three quarters in 1:24.1. However, Merton asked for more and Dry Gulch responded by putting away the deuce popper to win in 1:52.2 for his sixth win of the year. Magical New Day (Greg Grismore) moved up the pylons and just missed at the wire, while Rockstar Temper (Howard Parker) came from last to take down the show spot.
In the third and final division Ed Hensley steered Who Your Frens Are to a new lifetime mark of 1:53.4 with a second over trip for trainer Bobbi Martin. It was the fifth win in eleven seasonal starts for the five-year old son of Camotion–Southwind Raven.
Ed Hensley posted five driving victories on Sunday afternoon’s thirteen-race card to leap back into first place in the drivers’ standings.
(Tioga Downs)