Archangel prepped for the Hambletonian on Saturday night at Tioga Downs with a stakes record performance of 1:54.3 in the Tompkins-Geers.
Starting from post number three in a field of six, catch-driver Fern Paquet Jr. wasted no time getting Archangel to the front through an opening quarter in :28.2. The duo then strolled through a leisurely :58.1 half-mile before getting down to business and opening up on the field by three-quarters in 1:26.1. Paquet kept the colt's mind on business in the stretch, but was well within himself across the wire in 1:54.3.
Peter Arrigenna, who trains and co-owns the three-year-old son of Credit Winner and Michelles Angel, was full of emotion in the winner’s circle following the victory.
“We really took our time with him at two and he has really come along this year as a three-year-old and has just been super. Next Saturday we will be heading to the Hambletonian eliminations with him at The Meadowlands, and I am just so proud of him.”
Archangel has won seven straight this year as a sophomore, with his one blemish coming in his first start of the year where he finished second to the other Tompkins-Geers division winner on Saturday night, Coraggioso.
Coraggioso and Phil Fluet scored a front end victory in easy fashion of 1:55.1 for his fifth win in eight seasonal starts. The three-year-old son of Conway Hall and Electra Hanover is owned in partnership by Joe Spadaro and Tom Durkin.
Kristins Victory (Jim Meittinis) also established a stakes record in the Tompkins-Geers on Saturday night, this one for three-year-old filly trotters. The mile of 1:55.1 erased the previous mark held by Lassies Goal from 1998 at Scioto Downs. Karen Garland trains Kristins Victory for Stephen Smith of New Jersey, and the win was the first of the year for the daughter of Cash Hall and Treasured Victory.
Capturing the second divisions for three-year-old filly trotters was Fortunista (Mike Merton) in 1:56.2. The Credit Winner-Meadowbranch Mary filly is trained by Gilberto Garciaherrera, who also co-owns with Barbara Donald Arnstine.
Tioga Downs will also once again be offering a $5,000 guaranteed Pick 4 in coordination with the USTA’s strategic wagering program on Sunday, July 22 on the last four races of the day (post time 1:30 p.m.).
(With files from Tioga Downs)