After letting the dust settle through a :26.3 first quarter, Fireyourguns ($3.70) was sure to make good on a 4-5 promise, kicking clear of his five rivals in Sunday (June 7) afternoon's $14,000 Open Pace at Tioga Downs.
Fresh off a decisive win at Buffalo, the six-year-old American Ideal gelding tracked early leavers Believe This Bob (Dan Clements) and Thatll Be The Rei (Jim Marohn Jr.) before vacating the pegs, working clear of them with a circuit to go. He controlled the terms throughout, sprinting off through a :26.4 third quarter--but only opening up a little bit of ground as Believe This Bob worked to keep the pocket closed. At the top of the stretch, Fireyourguns began increasing his margin, ultimately pulling clear by three and a quarter lengths for a resounding 1:49.2 victory under minimal encouragement from Aaron Byron. Thatll Be The Rei rallied late to take second, as Believe This Bob tired off his chasing effort to finish third.
Trainer Terence McClory shares ownership of Fireyourguns with Jennifer and Robert Lowe. He is now boasts a perfect four-for-four record in 2015.
Earlier in the day, Tioga Downs hosted their annual Scholarship Race, made possible by the generosity of the Harness Horse Breeders of New York State and the Southern Tier Harness Horsemen's Association. Five local high school seniors joined local horsemen in double-seated jog carts for the five-eighths-mile exhibition event. Adam Layman of Tioga Central High School (teamed with Dan Clements) won the race with Diamond Princess, sweeping three-wide in the final yards to prevail in 1:15. His victory earned him $3,200 toward his studies of Engineering Science at SUNY Broome. In all, the five participating students shared $9,700 in scholarship funds.
Racing returns to Tioga Downs on Friday (June 12) evening, with post time scheduled for 6:15 p.m. Eastern time.
(Tioga Downs)