The $16,438 Winners Over Trot at Tioga Downs on Saturday, July 20 got off to an unusual beginning when, in a field reduced from eight to six by scratches, the three lowest priced horses at post time all left the gate on the gallop.
While May Baby and Seven Sins lost all chance, Makadushin N Cheez caught back quick and driver Ridge Warren slid his charge over to the rail in fourth as Heavens Pic set honest fractions for Aaron Byron, clicking off a half in :58.
On the backstretch, Warren sent Makadushin N Cheez on a purposeful first-over bull rush to eyeball the leader by the 1:26.2 three quarters. Off the final turn, Heavens Pic was spent and succumbed to the pressure as Makadushin N Cheez edged away to an easy 1:55 win, a new personal best.
Promise For Life was second best for Bruce Aldrich, Jr. while Swans Eye (Jim Taggart Jr.) got in third.
David Dewhurst trains the winner, a five-year-old Conway Hall-Tawesome More gelding, for his own interests along with Joe and Molly D'Agostino and Phil Kadushin.
Sunday afternoon's racing features the promise of future stars as the New York Sire Stakes for freshman pacing fillies will be contested in a single $108,200 USD division with four Excelsior races to complement it. Post time is 1 p.m.
(Tioga Downs)