Dont Know Chip and driver Mark MacDonald reigned supreme in Sunday afternoon’s $18,000 Open Trot at Tioga Downs while Eastend Eddie and Jim Marohn clicked to win the $18,000 Open Handicap Pace.
Leaving from post one in a full field of nine, MacDonald got away fourth as Aruba Vacation (Fern Paquet, Jr.) led the field by an opening quarter in :28. MacDonald moved Dont Know Chip to the outside to brush to the front, but Paquet would not release Dont Know Chip and forced him into the first over position by a half in :57.4. Down the backside the duo raced side-by-side with Dont Know Chip continuing to take it to Aruba Vacation.
At the three-quarter mile mark of the race in 1:25.4, Dan Noble sent Tacs Delight three-wide to challenge the dueling leaders. The trio entered the lane together, but Dont Know Chip would not be denied and continued to surge past the tiring Aruba Vacation in the lane to win by a length over Tacs Delight in 1:54.2. Aruba Vacation (Fern Paquet, Jr.) hung on for third, while Spice It Up Lindy (Jim Meittinis) got up for fourth.
In the $18,000 Open Handicap Pace, the public sent Big Bam Ray (Dan Noble) off as the 2-5 betting favourite in a field of nine. Noble and Big Bam Ray were troubled with excess cover down the backside and were forced three-wide as the field went by three quarters in 1:24. The biggest threat to Noble and Big Bam Ray was Eastend Eddie who was being towed into the race every step sitting on Noble’s helmet. Down the stretch Noble began to open up four-wide off the turn, but Marohn tipped five-wide and surged by Big Bam Ray to win in 1:51.4. It was the second straight win in the open for Eastend Eddie, and his fourth straight at Tioga Downs.
Ron Burke trains the four-year old son of Million Dollar Cam–Armbro Cinema for Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi. Whogoesfirst (Mike Simons) finished third, while Yankees In Six (Corey Braden) rounded out the superfecta despite a tough first over trip.
Tioga Downs continues live racing on Thursday, July 19 at 6:50 p.m. featuring the Tompkins-Geers for two-year old colt and filly trotters.
(Tioga Downs)