Empire Breeders Classic winner Non Stick was handed defeat for the second time of her career in a $40,600 New York Sire Stakes event on Sunday afternoon at Tioga Downs, unable to make any impact behind Fad Finance, the very filly who evaded Non Stick at Vernon last month.
Fad Finance ($7.20) made an early push to the fore, clearing Earn Your Wings (Jason Bartlett) upon straightening after a :27.4 first quarter. The three-year-old Credit Winner filly faced no pressure to speak of through the final circuit, edging away after rating a :57.1 middle half. Fad Finance evaded her six foes en route to a 1:54.3 mile, keeping two lengths clearance on Earn Your Wings up to the winning post. Gin And Lindy (Scott Zeron) rallied off cover to take third in the last yards, while Non Stick failed to make any impact from first-over, finishing fourth.
Jim Morrill, Jr. drove Trond Smedshammer trainee Fad Finance, now a six-time winner, for the Purple Haze Stables, Marc Goldberg and the Rojan Stables.
In the other $40,600 Sire Stakes events, odds-on favourites prevailed.
Swinging Royalty ($3.20, Chris Lems) made all the pace en route to an easy 1:56.2 win, and Open Access ($3.40, Matt Kakaley) dueled clear of Goosebump Hanover (Morrill) before holding off a belated three-wide bid from Monarchs Sequel (Mark MacDonald) to prevail in 1:56.
In the afternoon's sub-featured $11,000 Open Pace, Believe This Bob ($9.50, Mike Simons) held sway of Clear Vision's late push for a narrow 1:50.2 triumph, while Its Payday Friday ($3.90, Dan Clements) outlasted a late bid from Prairie Fortune in the $11,000 Open Trot.
Racing returns to Tioga Downs on Friday afternoon, with first post slated for 6:30 p.m.
(Tioga Downs)