Eastend Eddie and Jim Marohn Jr. made it back-to-back victories in the $16,000 Open Pace on Sunday afternoon at Tioga Downs.
Getting away third in a field of six from post position number three, Marohn watched as Sheer Brilliance (Aaron Byron) put up fractions of :27.4 and :55.2. As the field straightened up and headed towards three-quarters, Marohn tipped Eastend Eddie first over through a brisk :27-second third quarter and raced neck and neck with Sheer Brilliance by the 1:22.2 marker. Around the final turn and into the stretch, Eastend Eddie slowly powered by a stubborn Sheer Brilliance to win by a length and a half in 1:50.1.
The win was the sixth of the year for Eastend Eddie, a five-year-old son of Million Dollar Cam and Armbro Cinemam who recorded his fourth win in his last five starts for trainer Ron Burke.
Aaron Byron, Rick Plano, and Jim Meittinis each posted driving doubles on the afternoon’s 11-race card.
Tioga Downs continues live racing action on Thursday, July 18 with a post time of 6:50 p.m. featuring sophomore trotters in the Tompkins-Geers Grand Circuit stakes.
(Tioga Downs)